The only thing to be done is to make the best of the position.

" And he began passing in review the methods of proceeding of men who had been in the same position that he was in.

"Daryalov fought a duel....

" The duel had particularly fascinated the thoughts of Alexey Alexandrovitch in his youth, just because he was physically a coward, and was himself well aware of the fact.

Alexey Alexandrovitch could not without horror contemplate the idea of a pistol aimed at himself, and had never made use of any weapon in his life.