liar."

Chvabrine's face changed.

"This I cannot overlook," he said; "you shall give me satisfaction."

"Certainly, whenever you like," replied I, joyfully; for at that moment
I was ready to tear him in pieces.

I rushed at once to Iwán Ignatiitch, whom I found with a needle in his
hand. In obedience to the order of the Commandant's wife, he was
threading mushrooms to be dried for the winter.

"Ah! Petr' Andréjïtch," said he, when he saw me; "you are welcome. On
what errand does heaven send you, if I may presume to ask?"

I told him in a few words that I had quarrelled with Alexey Iványtch,
and that I begged him, Iwán Ignatiitch, to be my second. Iwán Ignatiitch
heard me till I had done with great attention, opening wide his single
eye.

"You deign to tell me," said he, "that you wish to kill Alexey Iványtch,
and that I am to be witness? Is not that what you mean, if I may presume
to ask you?"

"Exactly."

"But, good heavens, Petr' Andréjïtch, what folly have you got in your
head? You and Alexey Iványtch have insulted one another; well, a fine
affair! You needn't wear an insult hung round your neck. He has said