"I always do it before a contre-dance. This is my fourth," said Ferdinand.
In another and more respectable restaurant, Zapora's friends were also discussing what had happened.
"It is a shame," said one of them, "that a respectable man like Zapora should have to fight with such a senseless fool."
"Zapora had no business to fall into the trap."
"He fell into it by accident, but after that there was no way out of it."
"It is a strange thing," said an old nobleman, "that such a good-for-nothing young fellow as Adler should not only be admitted into society, but also be at liberty to force a quarrel of this kind upon a man like Zapora. Formerly that sort of thing would have been impossible. It is because public opinion is getting slack that respectable men have to stake their lives. Nevertheless I am sorry for Zapora."
"Isn't he a good shot?"
"Quite fair, but the other is more—he is a real virtuoso."
At about six o'clock Ferdinand retired to his room in the hotel. He wanted a little rest between his dinner-party and his night orgy; but he could not sleep, and began pacing up and down. Then he noticed that the windows opposite were those of Zapora's office.
The street was narrow; the office was on the ground floor, and his own room on the first floor; Ferdinand could therefore closely observe what was going on. The judge was talking to his clerk and to a barrister, and showing them some papers. After some time the barrister took his leave and the clerk went out of the room. The judge was left alone.