In a word, Ferdishenko was very angry and rapidly forgetting himself; his whole face was drawn with passion. Strange as it may appear, he had expected much better success for his story. These little errors of taste on Ferdishenko’s part occurred very frequently. Nastasia trembled with rage, and looked fixedly at him, whereupon he relapsed into alarmed silence. He realized that he had gone a little too far.
“ Had we not better end this game?” asked Totski.
“ It’s my turn, but I plead exemption,” said Ptitsin.
“ You don’t care to oblige us?” asked Nastasia.
“ I cannot, I assure you. I confess I do not understand how anyone can play this game.”
“ Then, general, it’s your turn,” continued Nastasia Philipovna, “and if you refuse, the whole game will fall through, which will disappoint
