"What on?" I ask.
How did he call it? His initiation or his enlightenment; I can't remember exactly.
"I have the honor," says I, "to congratulate you."
And he sits there very red in the face, yet he smiles. Didn't they have fun with him though!
Well and good. They went afterwards to the billiard-room, all very gay; and Nekhliudof went up to the billiard-table, leaned on his elbow, and said,—
"It's amusing to you, gentlemen," says he, "but it's sad for me. Why," says he, "did I do it? Prince," says he, "I shall never forgive you or myself as long as I live."
And he actually burst into tears. Evidently he did not know himself what he was saying. The prince went up to him with a smile.
"Don't talk nonsense," says he. "Let's go home, Anatoli."
"I won't go anywhere," says the other. "Why did I do that?"
And the tears poured down his cheeks. He would not leave the billiard-table, and that was the end of it. That's what it means for a young and inexperienced man to....