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range of a hundred paces of the enemy. What the devil's the use of a sabre to me? I'm not a cavalryman. When it comes to the point, I shall seize hold of a rifle and--bang! So the matter's simple enough. People may say what they please; the bullet is, after all, the safest."
"Possibly so; but, even in time of peace, there are still many occasions when the sabre may come in useful--for instance, if one is attacked in street riots, tumults, etc."
"And you think I should condescend to exchange cuts with the tag-rag of the streets? No, thank you, my good friend. In such a case I prefer to give the command, 'Aim, fire'--and all's said and done."
Biek-Agamalov's face darkened.
"You are talking nonsense, Pavel Pavlich. Now answer me this: Suppose, when you are taking a walk, or are at a theatre or restaurant, some coxcomb insults you or a civilian boxes your ears. What will you do then?"
Vi?tkin shrugged his shoulders and protruded his under lip contemptuously.
"In the first place, that kind of man only attacks those who show that they are afraid of him, and, in the second, I have my--revolver."
"But suppose the revolver were left at home?" remarked Lbov.
"Then, naturally, I should have to go home and fetch it. What stupid questions! You seem to have clean forgotten the incident of a certain cornet who was insulted at a music-hall by two civilians. He drove home for his revolver, returned to the music-hall, and cheerfully shot down the pair who had insulted him--simple enough."
He did not finish his sentence, but the little, well-formed hand in which he held the reins was clenched so hard that it trembled. Lbov was seized with one of his usual paroxysms of laughter.
"Ah! you're at it again," Vi?tkin remarked severely.
"Pardon me, gentlemen, but I really couldn't--ha, ha, ha! I happened to think of a tragi-comic scene that was enacted in the 17th Regiment. Sub-Ensign Krause on one occasion had a row with some one in an aristocratic club. The steward, to prevent further mischief, seized him so violently by the shoulder-knot that the latter was torn off, whereupon Krause drew his revolver and put a bullet through the steward's skull. A little lawyer who incautiously mixed himself up in the game shared the same fate. The rest of the party rushed out of the room like so many frightened hens. But Krause quietly proceeded to the camp, and was then challenged by the sentry. 'Who goes there?' shouted the sentry. 'Sub-Ensign Krause, who is coming to die by the colours of his regiment'; whereupon he walked straight up to the colours, laid himself down on the ground, and fired a bullet through his left arm. The court afterwards acquitted him."
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