For a moment
he lifted his stick as if to beat down the door. Then he shuddered and,
staggering back, leaned against the wall. His legs were trembling under
him, while in the darkness of the staircase he brandished his stick as
if it had been a saber.
What was to be done? After his first moment of passion there had come
thoughts of the poor old lady below. And these made him hesitate. It
was all over with the captain now; when a man sank as low as that he was
hardly worth the few shovelfuls of earth that are thrown over carrion
to prevent them from polluting the atmosphere. Whatever might be said of
Burle, however much one might try to shame him, he would assuredly begin
the next day. Ah, heavens, to think of it! The money! The honor of the
army! The name of Burle, that respected name, dragged through the mire!
By all that was holy this could and should not be!
Presently the major softened. If he had only possessed five hundred and
forty-five francs! But he had not got such an amount. On the previous
day he had drunk too much cognac, just like a mere sub, and had lost
shockingly at cards. It served him right--he ought to have known better!
And if he was so lame he richly deserved it too; by rights, in fact, his
leg ought to be much worse.
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