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Updated: May 18, 2025
Avdey Ivanovitch was standing in a corner, looking indifferently at the dancers. 'How old is Mr. Lutchkov? she asked suddenly. 'Oh... thirty-five, I fancy, answered Kister. 'They say he's a dangerous man... hot-tempered, Masha added hurriedly. 'He is a little hasty... but still, he's a very fine man. 'They say every one's afraid of him. Kister laughed. 'And you? 'I'm a friend of his.
Fyodor Fedoritch turned his back on him and went homewards. Lutchkov looked after him with a grin. Next day, directly after drill he went up to Kister again. 'Well, how are you getting on, Mr. Kinderbalsam? Kister was angry, and looked him straight in the face. Avdey Ivanovitch's little bilious eyes were gleaming with malignant glee. 'I'm addressing you, Mr. Kinderbalsam!
Nenila Makarievna came in and sat with them, and possibly with intention mentioned Avdey Ivanovitch. But in her mother's presence Masha was armed jusqu'aux dents, as the French say, and she did not betray herself at all. So passed the whole morning. 'You will dine with us? Nenila Makarievna asked Kister. Masha turned away. 'No, Kister said hurriedly, and he glanced towards Masha.
Among their number were good people and bad, clever and silly.... One of them, a certain Avdey Ivanovitch Lutchkov, staff captain, had a reputation as a duellist. Lutchkov was a short and not thick-set man; he had a small, yellowish, dry face, lank, black hair, unnoticeable features, and dark, little eyes. He had early been left an orphan, and had grown up among privations and hardships.
And Masha hugged her. 'With Avdey Ivanovitch? Masha repeated serenely. 'Oh, all sorts of things.... 'Do you like him? 'Oh yes, I like him. 'Do you remember how anxious you were to get to know him, how excited you were? Masha turned away and laughed. 'What a strange person he is! Nenila Makarievna observed good-humouredly.
But Kister was never off-hand in his replies; the good-hearted youth was inwardly rejoicing that, as he thought, the desire for enlightenment was awakened in a fellow-creature. Alas! it was from no desire for enlightenment that Avdey Ivanovitch questioned Kister; God knows why he did!
Masha twisted a wildflower in her hands.... She glanced sideways at Lutchkov, flushed, smiled, said, What nonsense you do talk, and gave him the flower. Avdey seized her hand. 'And so you love me! he cried. Masha turned cold all over with horror.
Avdey Ivanovitch was unattractive and no longer young; but on the other hand he enjoyed a terrible reputation and consequently he had every right to pose. He was used to the bitter, unspoken enjoyment of grim loneliness. No sort of frank, spontaneous, that is to say good, demonstration of passion suited Lutchkov; he was bound to keep a continual check on himself, even when he was angry.
With any one else Lutchkov would thereupon have kept on more than before; Kister he did not tease. 'Well, well, sprechen Sie deutsch, Ivan Andreitch, he muttered in an undertone, 'don't be angry. 'Listen, Avdey, Kister began warmly, and he sat down beside him. Why, there are nice people in the world, hang it all!
'Oh, really now, I want to know... 'But... Is it true that you are a great duellist? Tell me, is it true? said Masha, with shy curiosity. 'They do say you have killed more than one man? 'It has happened so, Avdey responded indifferently, and he stroked his moustaches. Masha looked intently at him. 'This hand then... she murmured. Meanwhile Lutchkov's blood had caught fire.
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