The prince went. The big man says, "I ain't afraid of any one," says he. "I am not going to have any explanation with such a baby. I won't do it, and that's the end of it."
Well, they talked and talked, and then the matter died out, only the big guest ceased to come to us any more.
As a result of this,—this row, I might call it,—he was regarded as quite the cock of the walk. He was quick to take offence,—I mean Nekhliudof,—as to so many other things, however, he was as unsophisticated as a new-born babe.
I remember once, the prince says to Nekhliudof, "Whom do you keep here?"
"No one," says he.
"What do you mean,—'no one'!"
"Why should I?" says Nekhliudof.
"How so,—why should you?"
"I have always lived thus. Why shouldn't I continue to live the same way?"
"You don't say so? Did you ever!"