give them up, give them up. Paláshka, take these swords into the lumber-room. Piotr Andrevitch, I did not expect this of thee. Art thou not ashamed of thyself? Aleksey Ivanovitch is different; was he not transferred from the Guards for having caused a soul to perish? he does not even believe in our Lord; but thou! dost thou want to do the same?" Ivan Kouzmitch fully agreed with his spouse, and kept repeating: "Yes, yes, Vassilissa Yegorovna is right. Duelling is especially forbidden by the articles of war." Paláshka carried our swords to the lumber-room. I could not help laughing; Shvabrine preserved his equanimity. "With all due respect to you," said he coolly, "I cannot but remark, that you have given yourself unnecessary trouble in subjecting us to your judgment. Leave that to Ivan Kouzmitch; it is his business." "Dear me, my little father!" replied the commandant's wife, "are not husband and wife one spirit and one flesh? Ivan Kouzmitch! what art thou gaping at? Put them immediately into separate rooms, on bread and water, to knock all this nonsense out of their heads. And let Father Gherassim make them do penance, to the end that they should ask God's forgiveness, and show themselves repentant before man."
Ivan Kouzmitch could not make up his mind what to do. Maria Ivanovna looked exceedingly pale. By degrees, the storm abated; the commandant's wife regained her composure, and ordered us to embrace each other. Paláshka returned to us our swords. We left the commandant apparently at peace with each other. Ivan Ignatitch accompanied us. "How is it you are not
