I'm not restricting the duel at all." "In that case the encounter can go on," said Mavriky Nikolaevitch to Gaganov.
"Gentlemen, take your places," Kirillov commanded.

Again they advanced, again Gaganov missed and Stavrogin fired into the air.

There might have been a dispute as to his firing into the air.

Nikolay Vsyevolodovitch might have flatly declared that he'd fired properly, if he had not admitted that he had missed intentionally.

He did not aim straight at the sky or at the trees, but seemed to aim at his adversary, though as he pointed the pistol the bullet flew a yard above his hat.