“As regards women, I don’t altogether agree with Tolstoi,” said the officer complacently.
“A woman’s just a female,” replied Ivanoff, “In every thousand men you might find one worthy to be called a man. But women, bah! They’re all alike—just little naked, plump, rosy apes without tails!”
“Rather smart, that!” said Von Deitz, approvingly.
“And true, too,” thought Novikoff, bitterly.
“My dear fellow,” continued Ivanoff, waving his hands close to the other’s nose, “I’ll tell you what, if you were to go to people and say, ‘Whatsoever woman looketh on a man to lust after him hath committed adultery with him already in her heart,’ most of them would probably think that you had made a most original remark.”
Von Deitz burst into a fit of hoarse laughter that sounded like the barking of a dog. He had not understood Ivanoff’s joke, but felt sorry not to have made it himself.
Suddenly Novikoff held out his hand to him.
“What? Are you off?” asked Von Deitz in surprise.
Novikoff made no reply.
“Where are you going?” asked Sanine.