Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Part IV - III
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268 THE CONFESSION OF A FOOL
Dinner degenerated into a perfect orgy. The scan-
dalous conduct of the men revolted me.
They treated Marie’s two friends as if they were
prostitutes, and when every one was more or less
intoxicated I saw one of the officers present repeatedly
kissing my wife.
I waved my billiard cue above their heads and
demanded an explanation.
"He’s a friend of my childhood, a relative! Don’t
make yourself a laughing-stock, you silly !
" replied
Marie. "Moreover, it is a Russian custom to kiss in
public, and we are Russian subjects."
"Rubbish!" exclaimed one of the convives. "A
relative? Humbug!"
I nearly committed a murder then. I had every
intention to . . . but the thought of leaving my children
without father and mother arrested my arm.
When the company had left I had a scene with Marie.
"Prostitute!
"
"Why?"
"Because you submit to being treated like one."
"Are you jealous?
"
" Yes, I am jealous ;
jealous of my honour, the dignity
of my family, the reputation of my wife, the future of
my children ! It is because of your unworthy conduct
that we are ostracised by all decent women. To allow
a stranger to kiss you in public ! Don’t j-ou realise that
you are mad, that you neither see, nor hear, nor under-
stand what you are doing, that you are absolutely devoid
of all sense of duty? I shall have you shut up if you
don’t mend your ways, and, to begin with, I forbid you
to have anything more to do with those two women !
"
"It’s all your fault ! You egged me on !
"
" I wanted to see how far you would go !
"
"See how far I would go! What proof have you
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