You won't find that a blow with the fist ever hurt anybody
much."
"That's not the point."
"Then, what is, pray?" said Ivanoff, his thin lips curled with scorn.
"I don't believe in fighting at all, myself, but, if it must be, then
one ought to draw the line at severe bodily injuries. That's quite
clear."
"He almost knocked the other's eye out. I suppose you don't call that
severe bodily injury?" retorted Riasantzeff sarcastically.
"Well, of course, to lose an eye is a bad job, but it's not the same as
getting a bullet through your body. The loss of an eye is not a fatal
injury."
"But Sarudine is dead?"
"Ah! that's because he wished to die."
Yourii nervously plucked at his moustache.
"I must frankly confess," he said, quite pleased at his own sincerity,
"that personally, I have not made up my mind as regards this question.
I cannot say how I should have behaved in Sanine's place. Of course,
duelling's stupid, and to fight with fists is not much better."
"But what is a man to do if he's compelled to fight?" said Sina.
Yourii shrugged his shoulders.
Pages:
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404