492	THE     DON     FLOWS     HOME
" I've had enough of you, you old fool! You nitwit!
If you'd fallen into my hands I wouldn't have cross-examined
you like this. . . ."
Andreyanov turned pale and seized his pistol holster.
Gregor unhurriedly rose and warningly raised his hand : ^
" Well, that's enough ! You've had your chat, and that'll
do. You're both quick-tempered, I can see that. . . . You
haven't managed to reach an agreement, but it doesn't
matter, and there's nothing more to talk about. He's quite
right to refuse to betray his own men. By God, he's fine ! I
never expected him to stand out like that."
" But allow me ! " Andreyanov fumed, vainly trying to
unbutton his holster.
" No, I won't allow you ! " Gregor said cheerfully, going
right up to the table and covering the prisoner with his body.
" There's no point in killing a prisoner. Aren't you ashamed
to go for a man in his position ? Unarmed, a prisoner, not
even left his clothes, and you're raising your hand. . . ."
" Stand aside ! That scoundrel's insulted me I " Andrey-
anov forcibly pushed Gregor away and pulled out his pistol.
The prisoner swiftly turned to face the window, shrugging
his shoulders as though cold. Gregor watched the colonel
with a smile as he gripped the rough revolver-butt in his
palm, awkwardly flourished the weapon, then lowered the
barrel and turned away.
" I don't want to soil my hands . . ." he said hoarsely,
gaining his breath and licking his dry lips.
Making no attempt to restrain the laugh which gleamed
under his moustache, Gregor said :
" You wouldn't have had to ! If you look you'll see your
pistol's unloaded. When I got up this morning I picked it
up from the table and had a look at it. There wasn't a single
bullet in it, and it can't have been cleaned for a couple of
months. You don't take very good care of your personal
equipment."
Andreyanov lowered his eyes, spun the revolver drum
with Ins fingers, and smiled ;
" Damn it! But you're right. ..."
Captain Sulin, who had been silently watching, a humorous
smile on his lips, rolled up the statement he had been taking
down, and said with a pleasant burr:
" I've told you more than once, Semion Polikarpovich,;