‘Among the Amazons a star, Upon her steed she flashes by, And smiles upon me from afar, The child of aris‑to‑cra‑cy!’ To a Starry Amazon.

You know that’s a hymn. It’s a hymn, if you’re not an ass! The duffers, they don’t understand! Stay!”

He caught hold of my coat, though I pulled myself away with all my might.

“Tell her I’m a knight and the soul of honour, and as for that Dasha⁠ ⁠… I’d pick her up and chuck her out.⁠ ⁠… She’s only a serf, she daren’t⁠ ⁠…”

At this point he fell down, for I pulled myself violently out of his hands and ran into the street. Liputin clung on to me.