That would be dishonest, that would be false, that would be deceiving myself and others.

A duel is quite irrational, and no one expects it of me.

My aim is simply to safeguard my reputation, which is essential for the uninterrupted pursuit of my public duties.

" Official duties, which had always been of great consequence in Alexey Alexandrovitch's eyes, seemed of special importance to his mind at this moment.

Considering and rejecting the duel, Alexey Alexandrovitch turned to divorce--another solution selected by several of the husbands he remembered.