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 be pleased, my friends, if I
went away. Nothing will induce me to go. I'll go on sitting here and
drinking to the end, on purpose, as a sign that I don't think you of the
slightest consequence. I will go on sitting and drinking, because this is a
public-house and I paid my entrance money. I'll sit here and drink, for I
look upon you as so many pawns, as inanimate pawns. I'll sit here and
drink ... and sing if I want to, yes, sing, for I have the right to ... to
sing ... H'm!"
But I did not sing. I simply tried not to look at any of them. I assumed
most unconcerned attitudes and waited with impatience for them to
speak FIRST. But alas, they did not address me! And oh, how I wished, how
I wished at that moment to be reconciled to them! It struck eight, at last
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