Sarudine was held back by Malinowsky and Von Deitz, while
Ivanoff and the other officers kept Novikoff in check. Ivanoff filled
up the glasses, and shouted out something, addressing no one in
particular. The gaiety was now forced and insincere, and Novikoff felt
suddenly that he must get away.
He could bear it no longer. Smiling foolishly, he turned to Ivanoff and
the officers who were trying to engage his attention.
"What is the matter with me?" he thought, half-dazed. "I suppose I
ought to strike him ... rush at him, and give him one in the eye!
Otherwise, I shall look such a fool, for they must all have guessed
that I wanted to pick a quarrel...."
But, instead of doing this, he pretended to be interested in what
Ivanoff and Von Deitz were saying.
"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.
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