eace is better than a
good quarrel."

"What! what! Ignatius," said the Captain's wife, who was playing
patience in a corner, "I do not quite understand?"

Ignatius, seeing my displeasure, remembered his promise, became confused
and knew not what to answer. Alexis came to his relief: "He approves of
peace."

"With whom had you quarreled?" said she.

"With Peter Grineff--a few high words."

"Why?"

"For a mere nothing--a song."

"Fine cause for a quarrel! a song! Tell me how it happened."

"Willingly: Peter has recently been composing, and this morning he sang
his song for me. Then I chanted mine:

'Daughter of the Captain, walk not forth at midnight.'

As we were not on the same note, Peter was angry, forgetting that every
one is at liberty to sing what he pleases."

The insolence of Alexis made me furious. No one but myself understood
his allusions. From poetry the conversation passed to poets in general.
The Commandant observed that they were all debauchees and drunkards, and
advised me, as a friend, to renounce poetry as contrary to the service,
and leading to nothing good.

As the pretence of Alexis was to me insupportable, I hastened to take
leave of the family. In my own apartment I examined my sword, tried
its point, and went to bed, having ordered Saveliitch to wake me in the
morning at six o'clock.

The next day at the appointed time I was behind the haystack awaiting my
adversary, who did not fail to appear. "We may be surprised," he
said; "be quick." We laid aside our uniforms, drew our swords from the
scabbards, when Ignatius, followed by five pensioners, came out from
behind a haystack. He ordered us to repair to the presence of the
Commandant. We obeyed. The soldiers surrounded us. Ignatius conducted
us in triumph, marching military step, with majestic gravity. We entered
the Commandant's house; Ignatius opened the folding doors, and exclaimed
with emphasis: "They are taken!"

Basilia ran toward us: "What does this mean? plotting an assassination
in our fortress! Ivan Mironoff, arrest them! Peter Grineff, Alexis, give
up your swords to the garret. Peter, I did not expect this of you;
are you not ashamed? As for Alexis, it is quite different; he was
transferred to us from the Guards for having caused a soul to perish;
and he does not believe in our blessed Saviour."

Ivan Mironoff approved increasingly all that his wife said: "You see!
You see! Basilia is right, duels are forbidde