tion: "How true the theory is, Egotism makes sport of men. Now here the most important thing he entirely suppressed: 'Let us suppose that this person is satisfied with his situation.' Now when that was said, he ought to have replied: 'Aleksandr, your supposition is not true.' But I held my peace because it was not to my advantage to say it. It is pleasant for a man, as a theorist, to notice what tricks his egotism plays with him in practical life. You are retreating from the battle because the battle is lost for you, but egotism turns your gestures so that you are playing the man who is doing noble actions."
Had Kirsánof examined his actions during this conversation, as a theorist, he would have noticed with pleasure "How true this theory is. I wanted to preserve my own peace, to rest upon my laurels, and here I was saying, 'You have no right to risk a woman's peace of mind'; and this means—be sure you yourself understand it—that I actually have done a noble action to my own detriment, for the sake of another's peace, and for your sake, my friend, and therefore fall on your knees before the grandeur of my soul! It is pleasant for a man, as a theorist, to notice what tricks his egotism plays with him in practical life. He retreated from the battle so as not to be a fool, and gained glory because he had accomplished a heroic action of magnanimous nobility. You did not yield to the demand at the first word, so that you might not be troubled again about yourself, so that you might not be deprived of the sweet triumph in your nobility; but egotism turns your actions so that you are playing the man who presses forward into noble endeavor."
But neither Lopukhóf nor Kirsánof had time to examine their actions as theorists, or to make these pleasant observations; and the practical solution of the question seemed to both pretty hard.
XXIII.
The renewal of Kirsánof's frequent visits could be explained very naturally; five months he had been interrupted in his occupations, and he had accumulated a great deal of work; and so it took him a month and a half to sit down at it, not straightening his back. Now he had finished his neglected work, and he was more at liberty in the use of
