I don't want to say anything more about it!" After this a pause ensued.
"They say," began Ivan Ivanovitch, "that three kings have declared war against our Tzar." "Yes, Peter Feodorovitch told me so.

What sort of war is this, and why is it ?" "I cannot say exactly, Ivan Nikiforovitch, what the cause is.

I suppose the kings want us to adopt the Turkish faith." "Fools! They would have it," said Ivan Nikiforovitch, raising his head.
"So, you see, our Tzar has declared war on them in consequence.

'No,' says he, 'do you adopt the faith of Christ!'" "Oh, our people will beat them, Ivan Ivanovitch!" "They will.

So you won't exchange the gun, Ivan Nikiforovitch ?" "It's a strange thing to me, Ivan Ivanovitch, that you, who seem to be a man distinguished for sense, should talk such nonsense.