the same thing! You may say they’re not very clean — that’s another matter... A la guerre, comme a la guerre! ...’

‘But I have never known any Amalia Ivanovas, and have never known how to behave with women of that sort,’ replied Olenin.

‘One cannot respect them, but these I do respect.’

‘Well go on respecting them! Who wants to prevent you?’

Olenin did not reply. He evidently wanted to complete what he had begun to say. It was very near his heart.

‘I know I am an exception...’ He was visibly confused. ‘But my life has so shaped itself that I not only see no necessity to renounce my rules, but I could not