"V-va!" the prince would spread out his hands. "What is Lichonin?
Lichonin is my friend, my brother, and bosom crony. But then, does
he know what loffe is? Is it possible that you northern people
understand loffe? It's we, Georgians, who are created for loffe.
Look, Liubka! I'll show you right away what loffe is!" He would
clench his fists, bend his body forward, and would start rolling
his eyes so ferociously, gnash his teeth and roar with a lion's
voice so, that a childish terror would encompass Liubka, despite
the fact that she knew this to be a joke, and she would dash off
running into another room.
It must be said, however, that for this lad, in general
unrestrained in the matter of light, chance romances, existed
special firm moral prohibitions, sucked in with the milk of his
mother Georgian; the sacred adates concerning the wife of a
friend. And then, probably he understood--and it must be said that
these oriental men, despite their seeming naiveness--and, perhaps,
even owing to it--possess, when they wish to, a fine psychic
intuition--he understood, that having made Liubka his mistress for
even one minute, he would be forever deprived of this charming,
quiet, domestic evening comfort, to which he had grown so used.
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