“You lie, wretch,” I cried, with furry, “you lie, shamelessly.”
Alexis was enraged.
“That shall not pass so,” he said, grasping my hand. “You shall give me satisfaction.”
“When ever you like,” I replied, joyfully, for at that moment I was ready to tear him to pieces. I ran at once to see Ivan Ignatius, whom I found with a needle in his hand. According to orders from the Commandant’s wife, he was stringing mushrooms which were to be dried for winter use.
“Ah! Peter Grineff, be welcome. Dare I ask on what business God sends you here?”
In a few words I told him of my quarrel with Alexis, and begged him, Ignatius, to be my second. Ignatius heard me to the end with great attention, opening wide his only eye.
“You deign to say that you want to kill Alexis, and desire that I should witness the act? Is that what you mean, dare I ask?”
“Precisely.”
“Ah! what folly; you have had some words with Alexis. What then? A harsh word can not be hung up by the neck. He gives you impertinence, give him the same; if he give you a slap, return the blow; he a second, you a third; in the end we will compel you to make peace. Whilst if you fight—well, if you should kill him, God be with him! for I do not like him much; but if he should perforate you, what a nice piece of business! Then who will pay for the broken pots?”
The arguments of the prudent officer did not shake my resolution.