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Updated: May 1, 2025
He calmly pulled a cambric handkerchief out of his pocket, and put it to his blood-stained curls. I stared at him, as though I were turned to stone, and did not stir. 'Go up to the barrier, if you please! Koloberdyaev observed severely. I obeyed. 'Is the duel to go on? he added, addressing Bizmyonkov. Bizmyonkov made him no answer.
'No, better let him kill me! I must own it was an agreeable reflection, too, that I, an obscure provincial person, had forced a man of such consequence to fight a duel with me. The morning light found me still absorbed in these reflections; and, not long after it, appeared Koloberdyaev.
The consultation of the worthy seconds did not last long. A quarter of an hour later, they both came into my bedroom. Koloberdyaev announced to me that 'we're going to fight to-day at three o'clock with pistols. In silence I bent my head, in token of my agreement. Bizmyonkov at once took leave of us, and departed.
The prince was, without exaggeration, as fresh as a rose; his brown eyes looked out with excessive cordiality from under the peak of his cap. He was smoking a cigar, and on seeing Koloberdyaev shook his hand in a friendly way. Even to me he bowed very genially.
'Gentlemen! he added, turning to the seconds, 'everything, I hope, will be kept secret? 'Of course! cried Koloberdyaev; 'but, prince, allow me ... And he himself bound up his head. The prince, as he went away, bowed to me once more. But Bizmyonkov did not even glance at me. Shattered morally shattered went homewards with Koloberdyaev.
He was rather pale and inwardly agitated, like a man unused to such jobs, but he was, nevertheless, very polite and chilly. I felt, as it were, conscience-stricken in his presence, and did not dare look him in the face. Koloberdyaev began telling me about his horse. This conversation was very welcome to me. I was afraid he would mention Liza.
Koloberdyaev did most; Bizmyonkov rather watched him. It was a magnificent day as fine as the day of that ever-memorable walk. The thick blue of the sky peeped, as then, through the golden green of the leaves. Their lisping seemed to mock me. The prince went on smoking his cigar, leaning with his shoulder against the trunk of a young lime-tree....
One note of invitation from Liza, the one note I had received from her, I was on the point of putting in my bosom, but on second thoughts I flung it in a drawer. Koloberdyaev was snoring feebly, with his head hanging from the leather pillow.... For a long while, I remember, I scrutinised his unkempt, daring, careless, and good-natured face.
'Kindly take your places, gentlemen; ready, Koloberdyaev pronounced at last, handing us pistols. The prince walked a few steps away, stood still, and, turning his head, asked me over his shoulder, 'You still refuse to take back your words, then? I tried to answer him; but my voice failed me, and I had to content myself with a contemptuous wave of the hand.
Mr. Shtukaturin!... My name is Tchulkaturin.... I could think of nothing to say to him in reply to this last insult, and could only gaze after him with fury. 'Till to-morrow, I muttered, clenching my teeth, and I at once looked for an officer of my acquaintance, a cavalry captain in the Uhlans, called Koloberdyaev, a desperate rake, and a very good fellow.
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