第69章

第69章intheeveningofthesamedayalivelydiscussionwastakingplaceindenisov’squartersbetweensomeofficersofthesquadron.

“butitellyou,rostov,thatyoumustapologisetothecolonel,”thetallstaff-captainwassaying,addressingrostov,whowascrimsonwithexcitement.thestaff-captain,kirsten,amanwithgrizzledhair,immensewhiskers,thickfeaturesandawrinkledface,hadbeentwicedegradedtotheranksforaffairsofhonour,andhadtwicerisenagaintoholdingacommission.

“ipermitnoonetotellmei’mlying！”criedrostov.“hetoldmeiwaslyinganditoldhimhewaslying.andthereitrests.hecanputmeondutyeveryday,hecanplacemeunderarrest,butnoonecancompelmetoapologise,becauseifhe,asthecolonel,considersitbeneathhisdignitytogivemesatisfaction,then…”

“butyouwaitabit,mygoodfellow;youlistentome,”interruptedthestaff-captaininhisbassvoice,calmlystrokinghislongwhiskers.“youtellthecolonelinthepresenceofotherofficersthatanofficerhasstolen—”

“i’mnottoblamefortheconversationbeinginthepresenceofotherofficers.possiblyioughtnottohavespokenbeforethem,buti’mnotadiplomatist.that’sjustwhyiwentintothehussars;ithoughtthathereishouldhavenoneedofsuchfinickyconsiderations,andhetellsmei’maliar…solethimgivemesatisfaction.”

“that’sallveryfine,nooneimaginesthatyou’reacoward;butthat’snotthepoint.askdenisovifit’snotutterlyoutofthequestionforanensigntodemandsatisfactionofhiscolonel？”

denisovwasbitinghismoustachewithamoroseair,listeningtotheconversation,evidentlywithnodesiretotakepartinit.tothecaptain’squestion,herepliedbyanegativeshakeofthehead.

“youspeaktothecolonelinthepresenceofotherofficersofthisdirtybusiness,”pursuedthestaff-captain.“bogdanitch”（bogdanitchwaswhattheycalledthecolonel）“snubbedyou…”

“no,hedidn’t.hesaidiwastellinganuntruth.”

“quiteso,andyoutalkednonsensetohim,andyoumustapologise.”

“notonanyconsideration！”shoutedrostov.