"And then?"
"Then the next evening and the third morning."
"And so on?"
"No. On the fourth day I had an immense cry, and later, when I had cured myself a little, not of drinking, but of love, I tried to fall in love with the first woman I met; but I could not love any more, I give thee my word of honor."
"And hast thou no hope for the future?"
Augustinovich thought a moment, and answered,—
"No, I have no respect now for women. As much as I believed in them before, as much as I honored and loved them as the highest reward of toil and effort, that much do I like them now, dost understand? That excludes love."
"But happiness."
"Not a word about happiness. So to-day I whistle when I want to cry, and therefore envy thee."
Yosef looked quickly at Augustinovich.