in the same place, deep in thought.

"Yes," he said at length, endeavouring to assume an air of indifference,
although from time to time a tear of vexation glistened on his
eyelashes. "Of course we were friends--well, but what are friends
nowadays?... What could I be to him? I'm not rich; I've no rank; and,
moreover, I'm not at all his match in years!--See what a dandy he
has become since he has been staying in Petersburg again!... What
a carriage!... What a quantity of luggage!... And such a haughty
manservant too!"...

These words were pronounced with an ironical smile.

"Tell me," he continued, turning to me, "what do you think of it?
Come, what the devil is he off to Persia for now?... Good Lord, it is
ridiculous--ridiculous!... But I always knew that he was a fickle man,
and one you could never rely on!... But, indeed, it is a pity that he
should come to a bad end... yet it can't be otherwise!... I always did
say that there is no good to be got out of a man who forgets his old
friends!"...

Hereupon he turned away in order to hide his agitation and proceeded to
walk about the courtyard, around his cart, pretending to be examining
the wheels, whilst his eyes kept filling with tears every moment.

"Maksim Maksimych," I said, going up to him, "what papers are these that
Pechorin left you?"

"Goodness knows! Notes of some sort"...

"What will you do with them?"

"What? I'll have cartridges made of them."

"Hand them over to me instead."

He looked at me in surprise, growled something through his teeth, and
began to rummage in his portmanteau. Out he drew a writing-book and
threw it contemptuously on the ground; then a second--a third--a tenth
shared the same fate. There was something childish in his vexation, and
it struck me as ridiculous and pitiable...

"Here they are," he said. "I congratulate you on your find!"...

"And I may do anything I like with them?"

"Yes, print them in the newspapers, if you like. What is it to me? Am
I a friend or relation of his? It is true that for a long time we lived
under one roof... but aren't there plenty of people with whom I have
lived?"...

I seized the papers and lost no time in carrying them away, fearing that
the staff-captain might repent his action. Soon somebody came to tell
us that the "Adventure" would set off in an hour's time. I ordered the
horses to be put to.

I had already put my cap on when the staffcaptain entered the room.
Apparently he had no