I had been certain the day before that I should be the first to arrive. But it was not a question of being the first to arrive. Not only were they not there, but I had difficulty in finding our room. The table was not laid even. What did it mean? After a good many questions I elicited from the waiters that the dinner had been ordered not for five, but for six oโclock. This was confirmed at the buffet too. I felt really ashamed to go on questioning them. It was only twenty-five minutes past five. If they changed the dinner hour they ought at least to have let me knowโthat is what the post is for, and not to have put me in an absurd position in my own eyes and … and even before the waiters. I sat down; the servant began laying the table; I felt even more humiliated when he was present. Towards six oโclock they brought in candles, though there were lamps burning in the room. It had not occurred to the waiter, however, to bring them in at once when I arrived. In the next room two gloomy, angry-looking persons were eating their dinners in silence at two different tables. There was a great deal of noise, even shouting, in a room further away; one could hear the laughter of a crowd of people, and nasty little shrieks in French: there were ladies at the dinner. It was sickening, in fact. I rarely passed more unpleasant moments, so much so that when they did arrive all together punctually at six I was overjoyed to see them, as though they were my deliverers, and even forgot that it was incumbent upon me to show resentment.
Zverkov walked in at the head of them; evidently he was the leading spirit. He and all of them were laughing; but, seeing me, Zverkov drew himself up a little, walked up to me deliberately with a slight, rather jaunty bend from the waist. He shook hands with me in a friendly, but not over-friendly, fashion, with a sort of circumspect courtesy like that of a General, as though in giving me his hand he were warding off something. I had imagined, on the contrary, that on coming in he would at once break into his habitual thin, shrill laugh and fall to making his insipid jokes and witticisms. I had been preparing for them ever since the previous day, but I had not expected such condescension, such high-official courtesy. So, then, he felt himself ineffably superior to me in every respect! If he only meant to insult me by that high-official tone, it would not matter, I thoughtโI could pay him back for it one way or another. But what if, in reality, without the least desire to be offensive, that sheepshead had a notion in earnest that he was superior to me and could only look at me in a patronising way? The very supposition made me gasp.
โI was surprised to hear of your desire to join us,โ he began, lisping and drawling, which was something new. โYou and I seem to have seen nothing of one another. You fight shy of us. You shouldnโt. We are not such terrible people as you think. Well, anyway, I am glad to renew our acquaintance.โ
And he turned carelessly to put down his hat on the window.
โHave you been waiting long?โ Trudolyubov inquired.
โI arrived at five oโclock as you told me yesterday,โ I answered aloud, with an irritability that threatened an explosion.
โDidnโt you let him know that we had changed the hour?โ said Trudolyubov to Simonov.
โNo, I didnโt. I forgot,โ the latter replied, with no sign of regret, and without even apologising to me he went off to order theย hors dโลuvres.
โSo youโve been here a whole hour? Oh, poor fellow!โ Zverkov cried ironically, for to his notions this was bound to be extremely funny. That rascal Ferfitchkin followed with his nasty little snigger like a puppy yapping. My position struck him, too, as exquisitely ludicrous and embarrassing.
โIt isnโt funny at all!โ I cried to Ferfitchkin, more and more irritated. โIt wasnโt my fault, but other peopleโs. They neglected to let me know. It was … it was … it was simply absurd.โ
โItโs not only absurd, but something else as well,โ muttered Trudolyubov, naively taking my part. โYou are not hard enough upon it. It was simply rudenessโunintentional, of course. And how could Simonov … hโm!โ
โIf a trick like that had been played on me,โ observed Ferfitchkin, โI should …โ
โBut you should have ordered something for yourself,โ Zverkov interrupted, โor simply asked for dinner without waiting for us.โ
โYou will allow that I might have done that without your permission,โ I rapped out. โIf I waited, it was …โ
โLet us sit down, gentlemen,โ cried Simonov, coming in. โEverything is ready; I can answer for the champagne; it is capitally frozen…. You see, I did not know your address, where was I to look for you?โ he suddenly turned to me, but again he seemed to avoid looking at me. Evidently he had something against me. It must have been what happened yesterday.
All sat down; I did the same. It was a round table. Trudolyubov was on my left, Simonov on my right, Zverkov was sitting opposite, Ferfitchkin next to him, between him and Trudolyubov.
โTell me, are you … in a government office?โ Zverkov went on attending to me. Seeing that I was embarrassed he seriously thought that he ought to be friendly to me, and, so to speak, cheer me up.
โDoes he want me to throw a bottle at his head?โ I thought, in a fury. In my novel surroundings I was unnaturally ready to be irritated.
โIn the Nโโ office,โ I answered jerkily, with my eyes on my plate.
โAnd ha-ave you a go-od berth? I say, what ma-a-de you leave your original job?โ
โWhat ma-a-de me was that I wanted to leave my original job,โ I drawled more than he, hardly able to control myself. Ferfitchkin went off into a guffaw. Simonov looked at me ironically. Trudolyubov left off eating and began looking at me with curiosity.
Zverkov winced, but he tried not to notice it.
โAnd the remuneration?โ
โWhat remuneration?โ
โI mean, your sa-a-lary?โ
โWhy are you cross-examining me?โ However, I told him at once what my salary was. I turned horribly red.
โIt is not very handsome,โ Zverkov observed majestically.
โYes, you canโt afford to dine at cafรฉs on that,โ Ferfitchkin added insolently.
โTo my thinking itโs very poor,โ Trudolyubov observed gravely.
โAnd how thin you have grown! How you have changed!โ added Zverkov, with a shade of venom in his voice, scanning me and my attire with a sort of insolent compassion.
โOh, spare his blushes,โ cried Ferfitchkin, sniggering.
โMy dear sir, allow me to tell you I am not blushing,โ I broke out at last; โdo you hear? I am dining here, at this cafe, at my own expense, not at other peopleโsโnote that, Mr. Ferfitchkin.โ
โWha-at? Isnโt every one here dining at his own expense? You would seem to be …โ Ferfitchkin flew out at me, turning as red as a lobster, and looking me in the face with fury.
โTha-at,โ I answered, feeling I had gone too far, โand I imagine it would be better to talk of something more intelligent.โ
โYou intend to show off your intelligence, I suppose?โ
โDonโt disturb yourself, that would be quite out of place here.โ
โWhy are you clacking away like that, my good sir, eh? Have you gone out of your wits in your office?โ
โEnough, gentlemen, enough!โ Zverkov cried, authoritatively.
โHow stupid it is!โ muttered Simonov.
โIt really is stupid. We have met here, a company of friends, for a farewell dinner to a comrade and you carry on an altercation,โ said Trudolyubov, rudely addressing himself to me alone. โYou invited yourself to join us, so donโt disturb the general harmony.โ
โEnough, enough!โ cried Zverkov. โGive over, gentlemen, itโs out of place. Better let me tell you how I nearly got married the day before yesterday….โ
And then followed a burlesque narrative of how this gentleman had almost been married two days before. There was not a word about the marriage, however, but the story was adorned with generals, colonels and kammer-junkers, while Zverkov almost took the lead among them. It was greeted with approving laughter; Ferfitchkin positively squealed.
No one paid any attention to me, and I sat crushed and humiliated.
โGood Heavens, these are not the people for me!โ I thought. โAnd what a fool I have made of myself before them! I let Ferfitchkin go too far, though. The brutes imagine they are doing me an honour in letting me sit down with them. They donโt understand that itโs an honour to them and not to me! Iโve grown thinner! My clothes! Oh, damn my trousers! Zverkov noticed the yellow stain on the knee as soon as he came in…. But whatโs the use! I must get up at once, this very minute, take my hat and simply go without a word … with contempt! And tomorrow I can send a challenge. The scoundrels! As though I cared about the seven roubles. They may think…. Damn it! I donโt care about the seven roubles. Iโll go this minute!โ
Of course I remained. I drank sherry and Lafitte by the glassful in my discomfiture. Being unaccustomed to it, I was quickly affected. My annoyance increased as the wine went to my head. I longed all at once to insult them all in a most flagrant manner and then go away. To seize the moment and show what I could do, so that they would say, โHeโs clever, though he is absurd,โ and … and … in fact, damn them all!
I scanned them all insolently with my drowsy eyes. But they seemed to have forgotten me altogether. They were noisy, vociferous, cheerful. Zverkov was talking all the time. I began listening. Zverkov was talking of some exuberant lady whom he had at last led on to declaring her love (of course, he was lying like a horse), and how he had been helped in this affair by an intimate friend of his, a Prince Kolya, an officer in the hussars, who had three thousand serfs.
โAnd yet this Kolya, who has three thousand serfs, has not put in an appearance here tonight to see you off,โ I cut in suddenly.
For one minute every one was silent. โYou are drunk already.โ Trudolyubov deigned to notice me at last, glancing contemptuously in my direction. Zverkov, without a word, examined me as though I were an insect. I dropped my eyes. Simonov made haste to fill up the glasses with champagne.
Trudolyubov raised his glass, as did everyone else but me.
โYour health and good luck on the journey!โ he cried to Zverkov. โTo old times, to our future, hurrah!โ
They all tossed off their glasses, and crowded round Zverkov to kiss him. I did not move; my full glass stood untouched before me.
โWhy, arenโt you going to drink it?โ roared Trudolyubov, losing patience and turning menacingly to me.
โI want to make a speech separately, on my own account … and then Iโll drink it, Mr. Trudolyubov.โ
โSpiteful brute!โ muttered Simonov. I drew myself up in my chair and feverishly seized my glass, prepared for something extraordinary, though I did not know myself precisely what I was going to say.
โSilence!โ cried Ferfitchkin. โNow for a display of wit!โ
Zverkov waited very gravely, knowing what was coming.
โMr. Lieutenant Zverkov,โ I began, โlet me tell you that I hate phrases, phrasemongers and men in corsets … thatโs the first point, and there is a second one to follow it.โ
There was a general stir.
โThe second point is: I hate ribaldry and ribald talkers. Especially ribald talkers! The third point: I love justice, truth and honesty.โ I went on almost mechanically, for I was beginning to shiver with horror myself and had no idea how I came to be talking like this. โI love thought, Monsieur Zverkov; I love true comradeship, on an equal footing and not … Hโm … I love … But, however, why not? I will drink your health, too, Mr. Zverkov. Seduce the Circassian girls, shoot the enemies of the fatherland and … and … to your health, Monsieur Zverkov!โ
Zverkov got up from his seat, bowed to me and said:
โI am very much obliged to you.โ He was frightfully offended and turned pale.
โDamn the fellow!โ roared Trudolyubov, bringing his fist down on the table.
โWell, he wants a punch in the face for that,โ squealed Ferfitchkin.
โWe ought to turn him out,โ muttered Simonov.
โNot a word, gentlemen, not a movement!โ cried Zverkov solemnly, checking the general indignation. โI thank you all, but I can show him for myself how much value I attach to his words.โ
โMr. Ferfitchkin, you will give me satisfaction tomorrow for your words just now!โ I said aloud, turning with dignity to Ferfitchkin.
โA duel, you mean? Certainly,โ he answered. But probably I was so ridiculous as I challenged him and it was so out of keeping with my appearance that everyone including Ferfitchkin was prostrate with laughter.
โYes, let him alone, of course! He is quite drunk,โ Trudolyubov said with disgust.
โI shall never forgive myself for letting him join us,โ Simonov muttered again.
โNow is the time to throw a bottle at their heads,โ I thought to myself. I picked up the bottle … and filled my glass…. โNo, Iโd better sit on to the end,โ I went on thinking; โyou would be pleased, my friends, if I went away. Nothing will induce me to go. Iโll go on sitting here and drinking to the end, on purpose, as a sign that I donโt think you of the slightest consequence. I will go on sitting and drinking, because this is a public-house and I paid my entrance money. Iโll sit here and drink, for I look upon you as so many pawns, as inanimate pawns. Iโll sit here and drink … and sing if I want to, yes, sing, for I have the right to … to sing … Hโm!โ
But I did not sing. I simply tried not to look at any of them. I assumed most unconcerned attitudes and waited with impatience for them to speakย first. But alas, they did not address me! And oh, how I wished, how I wished at that moment to be reconciled to them! It struck eight, at last nine. They moved from the table to the sofa. Zverkov stretched himself on a lounge and put one foot on a round table. Wine was brought there. He did, as a fact, order three bottles on his own account. I, of course, was not invited to join them. They all sat round him on the sofa. They listened to him, almost with reverence. It was evident that they were fond of him. โWhat for? What for?โ I wondered. From time to time they were moved to drunken enthusiasm and kissed each other. They talked of the Caucasus, of the nature of true passion, of snug berths in the service, of the income of an hussar called Podharzhevsky, whom none of them knew personally, and rejoiced in the largeness of it, of the extraordinary grace and beauty of a Princess D., whom none of them had ever seen; then it came to Shakespeareโs being immortal.
I smiled contemptuously and walked up and down the other side of the room, opposite the sofa, from the table to the stove and back again. I tried my very utmost to show them that I could do without them, and yet I purposely made a noise with my boots, thumping with my heels. But it was all in vain. They paid no attention. I had the patience to walk up and down in front of them from eight oโclock till eleven, in the same place, from the table to the stove and back again. โI walk up and down to please myself and no one can prevent me.โ The waiter who came into the room stopped, from time to time, to look at me. I was somewhat giddy from turning round so often; at moments it seemed to me that I was in delirium. During those three hours I was three times soaked with sweat and dry again. At times, with an intense, acute pang I was stabbed to the heart by the thought that ten years, twenty years, forty years would pass, and that even in forty years I would remember with loathing and humiliation those filthiest, most ludicrous, and most awful moments of my life. No one could have gone out of his way to degrade himself more shamelessly, and I fully realised it, fully, and yet I went on pacing up and down from the table to the stove. โOh, if you only knew what thoughts and feelings I am capable of, how cultured I am!โ I thought at moments, mentally addressing the sofa on which my enemies were sitting. But my enemies behaved as though I were not in the room. Onceโonly onceโthey turned towards me, just when Zverkov was talking about Shakespeare, and I suddenly gave a contemptuous laugh. I laughed in such an affected and disgusting way that they all at once broke off their conversation, and silently and gravely for two minutes watched me walking up and down from the table to the stove,ย taking no notice of them. But nothing came of it: they said nothing, and two minutes later they ceased to notice me again. It struck eleven.
โFriends,โ cried Zverkov getting up from the sofa, โlet us all be off now,ย there!โ
โOf course, of course,โ the others assented. I turned sharply to Zverkov. I was so harassed, so exhausted, that I would have cut my throat to put an end to it. I was in a fever; my hair, soaked with perspiration, stuck to my forehead and temples.
โZverkov, I beg your pardon,โ I said abruptly and resolutely. โFerfitchkin, yours too, and everyoneโs, everyoneโs: I have insulted you all!โ
โAha! A duel is not in your line, old man,โ Ferfitchkin hissed venomously.
It sent a sharp pang to my heart.
โNo, itโs not the duel I am afraid of, Ferfitchkin! I am ready to fight you tomorrow, after we are reconciled. I insist upon it, in fact, and you cannot refuse. I want to show you that I am not afraid of a duel. You shall fire first and I shall fire into the air.โ
โHe is comforting himself,โ said Simonov.
โHeโs simply raving,โ said Trudolyubov.
โBut let us pass. Why are you barring our way? What do you want?โ Zverkov answered disdainfully.
They were all flushed, their eyes were bright: they had been drinking heavily.
โI ask for your friendship, Zverkov; I insulted you, but …โ
โInsulted?ย Youย insultedย me?ย Understand, sir, that you never, under any circumstances, could possibly insultย me.โ
โAnd thatโs enough for you. Out of the way!โ concluded Trudolyubov.
โOlympia is mine, friends, thatโs agreed!โ cried Zverkov.
โWe wonโt dispute your right, we wonโt dispute your right,โ the others answered, laughing.
I stood as though spat upon. The party went noisily out of the room. Trudolyubov struck up some stupid song. Simonov remained behind for a moment to tip the waiters. I suddenly went up to him.
โSimonov! give me six roubles!โ I said, with desperate resolution.
He looked at me in extreme amazement, with vacant eyes. He, too, was drunk.
โYou donโt mean you are coming with us?โ
โYes.โ
โIโve no money,โ he snapped out, and with a scornful laugh he went out of the room.
I clutched at his overcoat. It was a nightmare.
โSimonov, I saw you had money. Why do you refuse me? Am I a scoundrel? Beware of refusing me: if you knew, if you knew why I am asking! My whole future, my whole plans depend upon it!โ
Simonov pulled out the money and almost flung it at me.
โTake it, if you have no sense of shame!โ he pronounced pitilessly, and ran to overtake them.
I was left for a moment alone. Disorder, the remains of dinner, a broken wine-glass on the floor, spilt wine, cigarette ends, fumes of drink and delirium in my brain, an agonising misery in my heart and finally the waiter, who had seen and heard all and was looking inquisitively into my face.
โI am going there!โ I cried. โEither they shall all go down on their knees to beg for my friendship, or I will give Zverkov a slap in the face!โ
