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That same evening there was an animated discussion among the
squadron's officers in Denisov's quarters.
"And I tell you, Rostov, that you must apologize to the
colonel!" said a tall, grizzly-haired staff captain, with
enormous mustaches and many wrinkles on his large features, to
Rostov who was crimson with excitement.
The staff captain, Kirsten, had twice been reduced to the
ranks for affairs of honor and had twice regained his commission.
"I will allow no one to call me a liar!" cried Rostov.
"He told me I lied, and I told him he lied. And there it
rests. He may keep me on duty every day, or may place me under
arrest, but no one can make me apologize, because if he, as commander
of this regiment, thinks it beneath his dignity to give me satisfaction,
then..."
"You just wait a moment, my dear fellow, and listen,"
interrupted the staff captain in his deep bass, calmly stroking
his long mustache. "You tell the colonel in the presence
of other officers that an officer has stolen..."
"I'm not to blame that the conversation began in the
presence of other officers. Perhaps I ought not to have spoken
before them, but I am not a diplomatist. That's why I joined the
hussars, thinking that here one would not need finesse; and he
tells me that I am lying- so let him give me satisfaction..."
"That's all right. No one thinks you a coward, but that's
not the point. Ask Denisov whether it is not out of the question
for a cadet to demand satisfaction of his regimental commander?"
Denisov sat gloomily biting his mustache and listening to
the conversation, evidently with no wish to take part in it. He
answered the staff captain's question by a disapproving shake
of his head.
"You speak to the colonel about this nasty business before
other officers," continued the staff captain, "and Bogdanich"
(the colonel was called Bogdanich) "shuts you up."
"He did not shut me up, he said I was telling an untruth."
"Well, have it so, and you talked a lot of nonsense to
him and must apologize."
"Not on any account!" exclaimed Rostov.
"I did not expect this of you," said the staff captain
seriously and severely. "You don't wish to apologize, but,
man, it's not only to him but to the whole regiment- all of us-
you're to blame all round. The case is this: you ought to have
thought the matter over and taken advice; but no, you go and blurt
it all straight out before the officers. Now what was the colonel
to do? Have the officer tried and disgrace the whole regiment?
Disgrace the whole regiment because of one scoundrel? Is that
how you look at it? We don't see it like that. And Bogdanich was
a brick: he told you you were saying what was not true. It's not
pleasant, but what's to be done, my dear fellow? You landed yourself
in it. And now, when one wants to smooth the thing over, some
conceit prevents your apologizing, and you wish to make the whole
affair public. You are offended at being put on duty a bit, but
why not apologize to an old and honorable officer? Whatever Bogdanich
may be, anyway he is an honorable and brave old colonel! You're
quick at taking offense, but you don't mind disgracing the whole
regiment!" The staff captain's voice began to tremble. "You
have been in the regiment next to no time, my lad, you're here
today and tomorrow you'll be appointed adjutant somewhere and
can snap your fingers when it is said 'There are thieves among
the Pavlograd officers!' But it's not all the same to us! Am I
not right, Denisov? It's not the same!"
Denisov remained silent and did not move, but occasionally
looked with his glittering black eyes at Rostov.
"You value your own pride and don't wish to apologize,"
continued the staff captain, "but we old fellows, who have
grown up in and, God willing, are going to die in the regiment,
we prize the honor of the regiment, and Bogdanich knows it. Oh,
we do prize it, old fellow! And all this is not right, it's not
right! You may take offense or not but I always stick to mother
truth. It's not right!"
And the staff captain rose and turned away from Rostov.
"That's twue, devil take it" shouted Denisov, jumping
up. "Now then, Wostov, now then!"
Rostov, growing red and pale alternately, looked first at
one officer and then at the other.
"No, gentlemen, no... you mustn't think... I quite understand.
You're wrong to think that of me... I... for me... for the honor
of the regiment I'd... Ah well, I'll show that in action, and
for me the honor of the flag... Well, never mind, it's true I'm
to blame, to blame all round. Well, what else do you want?..."
"Come, that's right, Count!" cried the staff captain,
turning round and clapping Rostov on the shoulder with his big
hand.
"I tell you," shouted Denisov, "he's a fine
fellow."
"That's better, Count," said the staff captain,
beginning to address Rostov by his title, as if in recognition
of his confession. "Go and apologize, your excellency. Yes,
go!"
"Gentlemen, I'll do anything. No one shall hear a word
from me," said Rostov in an imploring voice, "but I
can't apologize, by God I can't, do what you will! How can I go
and apologize like a little boy asking forgiveness?"
Denisov began to laugh.
"It'll be worse for you. Bogdanich is vindictive and
you'll pay for your obstinacy," said Kirsten.
"No, on my word it's not obstinacy! I can't describe
the feeling. I can't..."
"Well, it's as you like," said the staff captain.
"And what has become of that scoundrel?" he asked Denisov.
"He has weported himself sick, he's to be stwuck off
the list tomowwow," muttered Denisov.
"It is an illness, there's no other way of explaining
it," said the staff captain.
"Illness or not, he'd better not cwoss my path. I'd kill
him!" shouted Denisov in a bloodthirsty tone.
Just then Zherkov entered the room.
"What brings you here?" cried the officers turning
to the newcomer.
"We're to go into action, gentlemen! Mack has surrendered
with his whole army."
"It's not true!"
"I've seen him myself!"
"What? Saw the real Mack? With hands and feet?"
"Into action! Into action! Bring him a bottle for such
news! But how did you come here?"
"I've been sent back to the regiment all on account of
that devil, Mack. An Austrian general complained of me. I congratulated
him on Mack's arrival... What's the matter, Rostov? You look as
if you'd just come out of a hot bath."
"Oh, my dear fellow, we're in such a stew here these
last two days."
The regimental adjutant came in and confirmed the news brought
by Zherkov. They were under orders to advance next day.
"We're going into action, gentlemen!"
"Well, thank God! We've been sitting here too long!"
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