The Count had no precise object in view when he hurriedly left the shop with the parcel containing the broken doll.

What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.

However he might have acted had the aggressor been a man, he was powerless when attacked by a woman, and he was aware that he had followed the only course which had in it anything of dignity and self-respect.

To stand and bandy words and epithets of abuse would have been worse than useless, to treat the tobacconist like a gentleman and to hold him responsible for his wife's language would have been more than absurd.

So the Count took the remains of the puppet and went on his way.
He was not, however, so superior to good and bad treatment as not to feel deeply wounded and thoroughly roused to anger.