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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'snote 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 letti