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"Not on any account!" exclaimed Rostov.

"I did not expect this of you," said the staff captain seriously

and severely. "You don't wish to apologize, but, man, it's not

only to him but to the whole regiment-all of us-you're to blame

all round. The case is this: you ought to have thought the matter

over and taken advice; but no, you go and blurt it all straight

out before the officers. Now what was the colonel to do? Have the

officer tried and disgrace the whole regiment? Disgrace the whole

regiment because of one scoundrel? Is that how you look at it? We

don't see it like that. And Bogdanich was a brick: he told you

you were saying what was not true. It's not pleasant, but what's

to be done, my dear fellow? You landed yourself in it. And now,

when one wants to smooth the thing over, some conceit prevents

your apologizing, and you wish to make the whole affair public.

You are offended at being put on duty a bit, but why not

apologize to an old and honorable officer?