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"I'm not to blame that the conversation began in the presence of

other officers. Perhaps I ought not to have spoken before them,

but I am not a diplomatist. That's why I joined the hussars,

thinking that here one would not need finesse; and he tells me

that I am lying-so let him give me satisfaction..."

"That's all right. No one thinks you a coward, but that's not the

point. Ask Denisov whether it is not out of the question for a

cadet to demand satisfaction of his regimental commander?"

Denisov sat gloomily biting his mustache and listening to the

conversation, evidently with no wish to take part in it. He

answered the staff captain's question by a disapproving shake of

his head.

"You speak to the colonel about this nasty business before other

officers," continued the staff captain, "and Bogdanich" (the

colonel was called Bogdanich) "shuts you up."

"He did not shut me up, he said I was telling an untruth."

"Well, have it so, and you talked a lot of nonsense to him and

must apologize."