conducted us in triumph, marching military step, with majestic gravity.
We entered the Commandant's house; Ignatius opened the folding doors,
and exclaimed with emphasis: "They are taken!"

Basilia ran toward us: "What does this mean? plotting an assassination
in our fortress! Ivan Mironoff, arrest them! Peter Grineff, Alexis,
give up your swords to the garret. Peter, I did not expect this of
you; are you not ashamed? As for Alexis, it is quite different; he
was transferred to us from the Guards for having caused a soul to
perish; and he does not believe in our blessed Saviour."

Ivan Mironoff approved increasingly all that his wife said: "You see!
You see! Basilia is right, duels are forbidden by the military code."

Meantime Polacca had carried off our swords to the garret. I could not
help smiling at this scene. Alexis preserved all his gravity, and said
to Basilia: "Notwithstanding all my respect for you, I must say you
take useless pains to subject us to your tribunal. Leave that duty to
Ivan Mironoff; it is his business."

"What! what! my dear sir," said the lady, "are not man and wife the
same flesh and spirit? Ivan Mironoff, are you trifling? Lock up
these boys instantly; put them in separate rooms--on bread and water,
to expel this stupid idea of theirs. Let Father Garasim give them a
penance on order that they may repent before God and man."

Ivan Mironoff did not know what to do. Marie was extremely pale. The
tempest, however, subsided little by little. Basilia ordered us to
embrace each other, and the maid was sent for our swords. We left the
house, having in appearance made friends. Ignatius re-conducted us.