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Whatever Bogdanich may be, anyway he is an honorable and brave

old colonel! You're quick at taking offense, but you don't mind

disgracing the whole regiment!" The staff captain's voice began

to tremble. "You have been in the regiment next to no time, my

lad, you're here today and tomorrow you'll be appointed adjutant

somewhere and can snap your fingers when it is said 'There are

thieves among the Pavlograd officers!' But it's not all the same

to us! Am I not right, Denisov? It's not the same!"

Denisov remained silent and did not move, but occasionally looked

with his glittering black eyes at Rostov.

"You value your own pride and don't wish to apologize," continued

the staff captain, "but we old fellows, who have grown up in and,

God willing, are going to die in the regiment, we prize the honor

of the regiment, and Bogdanich knows it. Oh, we do prize it, old

fellow! And all this is not right, it's not right! You may take

offense or not but I always stick to mother truth. It's not

right!"