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"And I tell you, Rostov, that you must apologize to the colonel!"

said a tall, grizzly-haired staff captain, with enormous

mustaches and many wrinkles on his large features, to Rostov who

was crimson with excitement.

The staff captain, Kirsten, had twice been reduced to the ranks

for affairs of honor and had twice regained his commission.

"I will allow no one to call me a liar!" cried Rostov. "He told

me I lied, and I told him he lied. And there it rests. He may

keep me on duty every day, or may place me under arrest, but no

one can make me apologize, because if he, as commander of this

regiment, thinks it beneath his dignity to give me satisfaction,

then..."

"You just wait a moment, my dear fellow, and listen," interrupted

the staff captain in his deep bass, calmly stroking his long

mustache. "You tell the colonel in the presence of other officers

that an officer has stolen..."