I don't have to be sparing of them."
And, truly, he was a great master at walking. Once, for the sake
of a joke, having put a pedometer in his vest pocket, he towards
evening counted up twenty versts; which, taking into consideration
the unusual length of his legs, equalled some twenty-five
versts.[Footnote: A verst is equal to two-thirds of a mile.--
Trans] And he did have to run about quite a bit, because the fuss
about Liubka's passport and the acquisition of household
furnishings of a sort had eaten up all his accidental winnings at
cards. He did try to take up playing again, on a small scale at
first, but was soon convinced that his star at cards had now
entered upon a run of fatal ill luck.
By now, of course, the real character of his relations with Liubka
was a mystery to none of his comrades; but he still continued in
their presence to act out the comedy of friendly and brotherly
relations with the girl. For some reason he could not, or did not
want to, realize that it would have been far wiser and more
advantageous for him not to lie, not to be false, and not to
pretend.
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