am I to be degwaded? … Listen, I’m w’iting to them stwaight. This is what I say: ‘If I had wobbed the Tweasuwy …’
“It’s certainly well written,” said Túshin, “but that’s not the point, Vasíli Dmítrich,” and he also turned to Rostóv. “One has to submit, and Vasíli Dmítrich doesn’t want to. You know the auditor told you it was a bad business.”
“Well, let it be bad,” said Denísov.
“The auditor wrote out a petition for you,” continued Túshin, “and you ought to sign it and ask this gentleman to take it. No doubt he” (indicating Rostóv) “has connections on the staff. You won’t find a better opportunity.”
“Haven’t I said I’m not going to gwovel?” Denísov interrupted him, went on reading his paper.
Rostóv had not the courage to persuade Denísov, though he instinctively felt that the way advised by