Chapter 14 - Page 2

in the scheme of his
own sitting-room. We found Dubkoff and Woloda engaged in cards,
while seated also at the table, and watching the game with close
attention, was a gentleman whom I did not know, but who appeared
to be of no great importance, judging by the modesty of his
attitude. Dubkoff himself was in a silk dressing-gown and soft
slippers, while Woloda--seated opposite him on a divan--was in his
shirtsleeves, as well as (to judge by his flushed face and the
impatient, cursory glance which he gave us for a second as he
looked up from the cards) much taken up with the game. On seeing
me, he reddened still more.

"Well, it is for you to deal," he remarked to Dubkoff. In an
instant I divined that he did not altogether relish my becoming
acquainted with the fact that he gambled. Yet his expression had
nothing in it of confusion--only a look which seemed to me to say:
"Yes, I play cards, and if you are surprised at that, it is only
because you are so young. There is nothing wrong about it--it is
a necessity at our age." Yes, I at once divined and understood
that.

Instead of dealing, however, Dubkoff rose and shook hands with
us; after which he bade us both be seated, and then offered us
pipes, which we declined.

"Here is our DIPLOMAT, then--the hero of the day!" he said to me,
"Good Lord! how you look like a colonel!"

"H-m!" I muttered in reply, though once more feeling a complacent
smile overspread my countenance.

I stood in that awe of Dubkoff which a sixteen-year-old boy
naturally feels for a twenty-seven-year-old man of whom his
elders say that he is a very clever young man who can dance well
and speak French, and who, though secretly despising one's youth,
endeavours to conceal the fact. Yet, despite my respect for him,
I somehow found it difficult and uncomfortable, throughout my
acquaintanceship with him, to look him in the eyes, I have since
remarked that there are three kinds of men whom I cannot face
easily, namely those who are much better than myself, those who
are much worse, and those between whom and myself there is a
mutual determination not to mention some particular thing of
which we are both aware. Dubkoff may have been a much better
fellow than myself, or he may have been a much worse; but the
point was that he lied very frequently without recognising the
fact that I was aware of his doing so, yet had determined not to
mention it.

"Let us play another round," said Woloda, hunching one shoulder
after the manner of Papa, and reshuffling the cards.

"How persistent you are!" said Dubkoff. "We can play all we want
to afterwards. Well, one more round,