The company was excited in various ways, greatly excited. The lame man flew at him.
“Allow me to observe, however, that answers to such questions are conditional. Even if we have given our decision, you must note that questions put in such a strange way …”
“In what strange way?”
“In a way such questions are not asked.”
“Teach me how, please. But do you know, I felt sure you’d be the first to take offence.”
“You’ve extracted from us an answer as to our readiness for immediate action; but what right had you to do so? By what authority do you ask such questions?”
“You should have thought of asking that question sooner! Why did you answer? You agree and then you go back on it!”
“But to my mind the irresponsibility of your principal question suggests to me that you have no authority, no right, and only asked from personal curiosity.”
“What do you mean? What do you mean?” cried Verhovensky, apparently beginning to be much alarmed.
“Why, that the initiation of new members into anything you like is done, anyway, tête-à-tête and not in the company of twenty people one doesn’t know!” blurted out the lame man. He had said all that was in his mind because he was too irritated to restrain himself. Verhovensky turned to the general company with a capitally simulated look of alarm.