‘Why don’t you undress, officer?’ the woman asked. ‘Tell me, darling, why do they call you Japanese General?’
Ribnikov gave a laugh, with his eyes still fixed upon her legs.
‘Oh, it’s just nonsense. Only a joke. Do you know the verses:
“It hardly can be called a sin,
If something’s funny and you grin!...”’
‘Will you stand me some champagne, darling.... Since you’re so stingy, oranges will do. Are you going soon or staying the night?’
‘Staying the night. Come to me.’
She lay down with him, hastily threw her cigarette over on to the floor and wriggled beneath the blanket.
‘Do you like to be next to the wall?’ she asked. ‘Do if you want to. O-oh, how cold your legs are! You know I love army men. What’s your name?’
‘Mine?’ He coughed and answered in an uncertain tone: ‘I am Captain Ribnikov. Vassily Alexandrovich Ribnikov!’
‘Ah, Vasya! I have a friend called Vasya, a little chap from the Lycée. Oh, what a darling he is!’