All of them were
equally drawn to the women, but none, save Lichonin, had enough
courage to take the initiative upon himself. But now all this
complicated, unpleasant and hypocritical business was happily
resolved into a simple, easy joke upon the older comrade.
Yarchenko resisted, and was angry, and laughing, trying to break
away. But at this moment a tall, black-moustached policeman, who
had long been eyeing them keenly and inimically, walked up to the
uproarious students.
"I'd ask you stewdent gents not to congregate. It's not allowed!
Keep on going!"
They moved on in a throng. Yarchenka was beginning to soften
little by little.
"Gentlemen, I am ready to go with you, if you like ... Do not
think, however, that the sophistries of the Egyptian Pharaoh
Ramses have convinced me ... No, I simply would be sorry to break
up the party ... But I make one stipulation: we will drink a
little there, gab a little, laugh a little, and so forth ... but
let there be nothing more, no filth of any kind ... It is shameful
and painful to think that we, the flower and glory--of the Russian
intelligentzia, will go all to pieces and let our mouths water at
the sight of the first skirt that comes our way.
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