LITMIR.BIZ

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my novel surroundings I was unnaturally ready to be irritated.

      "In the N— office," I answered jerkily, with my eyes on my plate.

      "And ha-ave you a go-od berth? I say, what ma-a-de you leave your original job?"

      "What ma-a-de me was that I wanted to leave my original job," I drawled more than he, hardly able to control myself. Ferfitchkin went off into a guffaw. Simonov looked at me ironically. Trudolyubov left off eating and began looking at me with curiosity.

      Zverkov winced, but he tried not to notice it.

      "And the remuneration?"

      "What remuneration?"

      "I mean, your sa-a-lary?"

      "Why are you cross-examining me?" However, I told him at once what my salary was. I turned horribly red.

      "It is not very handsome," Zverkov observed majestically.

      "Yes, you can't afford to dine at cafes on that," Ferfitchkin added insolently.

      "To my thinking it's very poor," Trudolyubov observed gravely.

      "And how thin you have grown! How you have changed!" added Zverkov, with a shade of venom in his voice, scanning me and my attire with a sort of insolent compassion.

      "Oh, spare his blushes," cried Ferfitchkin, sniggering.

      "My dear sir, allow me to tell you I am not blushing," I broke out at last; "do you hear? I am dining here, at this cafe, at my own expense, not at other people's—note that, Mr. Ferfitchkin."

      "Wha-at? Isn't every one here dining at his own expense? You would seem to be … " Ferfitchkin flew out at me, turning as red as a lobster, and looking me in the face with fury. "Tha-at," I answered, feeling I had gone too far, "and I imagine it would be better to talk of something more intelligent."

      "You intend to show off your intelligence, I suppose?"

      "Don't disturb yourself, that would be quite out of place here."

      "Why are you clacking away like that, my good sir, eh? Have you gone out of your wits in your office?"

      "Enough, gentlemen, enough!" Zverkov cried, authoritatively.

      "How stupid it is!" muttered Simonov.

      "It really is stupid. We have met here, a company of friends, for a farewell dinner to a comrade and you carry on an altercation," said Trudolyubov, rudely addressing himself to me alone. "You invited yourself to join us, so don't disturb the general harmony."

      "Enough, enough!" cried Zverkov. "Give over, gentlemen, it's out of place. Better let me tell you how I nearly got married the day before yesterday … ."

      And then followed a burlesque narrative of how this gentleman had almost been married two days before. There was not a word about the marriage, however, but the story was adorned with generals, colonels and kammer-junkers, while Zverkov almost took the lead among them. It was greeted with approving laughter; Ferfitchkin positively squealed.

      No one paid any attention to me, and I sat crushed and humiliated.

      "Good Heavens, these are not the people for me!" I thought. "And what a fool I have made of myself before them! I let Ferfitchkin go too far, though. The brutes imagine they are doing me an honour in letting me sit down with them. They don't understand that it's an honour to them and not to me! I've grown thinner! My clothes! Oh, damn my trousers! Zverkov noticed the yellow stain on the knee as soon as he came in … . But what's the use! I must get up at once, this very minute, take my hat and simply go without a word … with contempt! And tomorrow I can send a challenge. The scoundrels! As though I cared about the seven roubles. They may think … . Damn it! I don't care about the seven roubles. I'll go this minute!"

      Of course I remained. I drank sherry and Lafitte by the glassful in my discomfiture. Being unaccustomed to it, I was quickly affected. My annoyance increased as the wine went to my head. I longed all at once to insult them all in a most flagrant manner and then go away. To seize the moment and show what I could do, so that they would say, "He's clever, though he is absurd," and … and … in fact, damn them all!

      I scanned them all insolently with my drowsy eyes. But they seemed to have forgotten me altogether. They were noisy, vociferous, cheerful. Zverkov was talking all the time. I began listening. Zverkov was talking of some exuberant lady whom he had at last led on to declaring her love (of course, he was lying like a horse), and how he had been helped in this affair by an intimate friend of his, a Prince Kolya, an officer in the hussars, who had three thousand serfs.

      "And yet this Kolya, who has three thousand serfs, has not put in an appearance here tonight to see you off," I cut in suddenly.

      For one minute every one was silent. "You are drunk already." Trudolyubov deigned to notice me at last, glancing contemptuously in my direction. Zverkov, without a word, examined me as though I were an insect. I dropped my eyes. Simonov made haste to fill up the glasses with champagne.

      Trudolyubov raised his glass, as did everyone else but me.

      "Your health and good luck on the journey!" he cried to Zverkov. "To old times, to our future, hurrah!"

      They all tossed off their glasses, and crowded round Zverkov to kiss him. I did not move; my full glass stood untouched before me.

      "Why, aren't you going to drink it?" roared Trudolyubov, losing patience and turning menacingly to me.

      "I want to make a speech separately, on my own account … and then I'll drink it, Mr. Trudolyubov."

      "Spiteful brute!" muttered Simonov. I drew myself up in my chair and feverishly seized my glass, prepared for something extraordinary, though I did not know myself precisely what I was going to say.

      "SILENCE!" cried Ferfitchkin. "Now for a display of wit!"

      Zverkov waited very gravely, knowing what was coming.

      "Mr. Lieutenant Zverkov," I began, "let me tell you that I hate phrases, phrasemongers and men in corsets … that's the first point, and there is a second one to follow it."

      There was a general stir.

      "The second point is: I hate ribaldry and ribald talkers. Especially ribald talkers! The third point: I love justice, truth and honesty." I went on almost mechanically, for I was beginning to shiver with horror myself and had no idea how I came to be talking like this. "I love thought, Monsieur Zverkov; I love true comradeship, on an equal footing and not … H'm … I love … But, however, why not? I will drink your health, too, Mr. Zverkov. Seduce the Circassian girls, shoot the enemies of the fatherland and … and … to your health, Monsieur Zverkov!"

      Zverkov got up from his seat, bowed to me and said:

      "I am very much obliged to you." He was frightfully offended and turned pale.

      "Damn the fellow!" roared Trudolyubov, bringing his fist down on the table.

      "Well, he wants a punch in the face for that," squealed Ferfitchkin.

      "We ought to turn him out," muttered Simonov.

      "Not a word, gentlemen, not a movement!" cried Zverkov solemnly, checking the general indignation. "I thank you all, but I can show him for myself how much value I attach to his words."

      "Mr. Ferfitchkin, you will give me satisfaction tomorrow for your words just now!" I said aloud, turning with dignity to Ferfitchkin.

      "A duel, you mean? Certainly," he answered. But probably I was so ridiculous as I challenged him and it was so out of keeping with my appearance that everyone including Ferfitchkin was prostrate with laughter.

      "Yes, let him alone, of course! He is quite drunk," Trudolyubov said with disgust.

      "I shall never forgive myself for letting him join us," Simonov muttered again.

      "Now is the time to throw a bottle at their heads," I thought to myself. I picked up the bottle … and filled my glass … . "No, I'd better sit on to the end," I went on thinking; "you would

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