Lost in his thoughts, Sanine gazed at the angry face of a person
wearing spectacles, and then turned round to join Ivanoff, who appeared
perplexed. When referring Schafroff to Sanine he had foreseen a
contretemps of some sort, but not one of so serious a nature. While
it amused him, he yet felt sorry that it had occurred. Not knowing what
to say, he looked away, beyond the grave-stones and crosses, to the
distant fields.
A young student stood near him, engaged in heated talk. Ivanoff froze
him with a glance.
"I suppose you think yourself ornamental?" he said.
The lad blushed.
"That's not in the least funny," he replied.
"Funny be d----d! You clear off!"
There was such a wicked look in Ivanoff's eyes that the disconcerted
youth soon went away.
Sanine watched this little scene and smiled.
"What fools they are!" he exclaimed.
Instantly Ivanoff felt ashamed that even for a moment he should have
wavered.
"Come on!" he said. "Deuce take the lot of them!"
"All right! Let's go!"
They walked past Riasantzeff who scowled at them as they went towards
the gate. At some distance Sanine noticed another group of young men
whom he did not know and who stood, like a flock of sheep, with their
heads close together. In their midst stood Schafroff, talking and
gesticulating, but he became silent on seeing Sanine. The others all
turned to look at the last-named. Their faces expressed honest
indignation and a certain shy curiosity.
"They're plotting against you," said Ivanoff, somewhat amazed to see
the baleful look in Sanine's eyes. Red as a lobster, Schafroff came
forward, blinking his eyelids, and approached Sanine, who turned round
sharply on his heel, as though he were ready to knock the first man
down.
Schafroff probably perceived this, for he turned pale, and stopped at a
respectful distance. The students and girls followed close at his heels
like a flock of sheep behind a bell-wether.
"What else do you want?" asked Sanine, without raising his voice.
"We want nothing," replied Schafroff in confusion, "but all my fellow-
comrades wish me to express their displeasure at--"
"Much I care about your displeasure!" hissed Sanine through his
clenched teeth. "You asked me to say something about the deceased, and
after I had said what I thought, you come and express to me your
displeasure! Very good of you, I'm sure! If you weren't a pack of
silly, sentimental boys, I would show you that I was right, and that
Svarogitsch's life was an absolutely foolish one, for he worried
himself about all sorts of useless things and died a fool's death, but
you--well, you're all of you too dense and too narrow-minded for words!
To the deuce with the lot of you! Be off, I say!"