The man with the hearty voice spoke Russian, but with a French accent;
and another speaker answered him more reservedly. "What," said
the first, "are you on board this boat, too, my dear fellow;
you whom I met at the imperial fete in Moscow, and just caught
a glimpse of at Nijni-Novgorod?"

"Yes, it's I," answered the second drily.

"Really, I didn't expect to be so closely followed."

"I am not following you sir; I am preceding you."

"Precede! precede! Let us march abreast, keeping step,
like two soldiers on parade, and for the time, at least,
let us agree, if you will, that one shall not pass the other."

"On the contrary, I shall pass you."

"We shall see that, when we are at the seat of war;
but till then, why, let us be traveling companions.
Later, we shall have both time and occasion to be rivals."

"Enemies."

"Enemies, if you like. There is a precision in your words,
my dear fellow, particularly agreeable to me. One may always
know what one has to look for, with you."

"What is the harm?"