He spoke in a bass,
and during these months to his most great pride the nipples of his
breast had hardened; the most important--he already knew about
this--and undeniable sign of virile maturity. Now, in the
meanwhile, until the eyes-front severities of a military school,
he had a period of alluring freedom. Already he was permitted to
smoke at home, in the presence of grown-ups; and even his father
had himself presented him with a leather cigar case with his
monogram, and also, in the elevation of family joy, had assigned
him fifteen roubles monthly salary.
And it was just here--at Anna Markovna's--that he had come to know
woman for the first time--the very same Jennka.
The fall of innocent souls in houses of ill-fame, or with street
solitaries, is fulfilled far more frequently than it is usually
thought. When not green youths only, but even honourable men of
fifty, almost grandfathers, are interrogated about this ticklish
matter, they will tell you, sure enough, the ancient stencilled
lie of how they had been seduced by a chambermaid or a governess.
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