“Funny be d——d! You clear off!”
There was such a wicked look in Ivanoff’s eyes that the disconcerted youth soon went away.
Sanine watched this little scene and smiled.
“What fools they are!” he exclaimed.
Instantly Ivanoff felt ashamed that even for a moment he should have wavered.
“Come on!” he said. “Deuce take the lot of them!”
“All right! Let’s go!”
They walked past Riasantzeff who scowled at them as they went towards the gate. At some distance Sanine noticed another group of young men whom he did not know and who stood, like a flock of sheep, with their heads close together. In their midst stood Schafroff, talking and gesticulating, but he became silent on seeing Sanine. The others all turned to look at the last-named. Their faces expressed honest indignation and a certain shy curiosity.
“They’re plotting against you,” said Ivanoff, somewhat amazed to see the baleful look in Sanine’s eyes. Red as a lobster, Schafroff came forward, blinking his eyelids, and approached Sanine, who turned round sharply on his heel, as though he were ready to knock the first man down.
Schafroff probably perceived this, for he turned pale, and stopped at a respectful distance. The students and girls followed close at his heels like a flock of sheep behind a bell-wether.