"But I personally value friendly relations with you more because..." "Why, why?" Konstantin could not say that he valued it more because Nikolay was unhappy, and needed affection.

But Nikolay knew that this was just what he meant to say, and scowling he took up the vodka again.

"Enough, Nikolay Dmitrievitch!" said Marya Nikolaevna, stretching out her plump, bare arm towards the decanter.

"Let it be! Don't insist! I'll beat you!" he shouted.