"We received the 15th of this month the letter in which you ask our parental blessing and our consent to your marriage with Marya Ivánofna, the Mironoff daughter. And not only have I no intention of giving you either my blessing or my consent, but I intend to come and punish you well for your follies, like a little boy, in spite of your officer's rank, because you have shown me that you are not fit to wear the sword entrusted to you for the defence of your country, and not for fighting duels with fools like yourself.
Bada, ez dut inolako asmorik ez onespenik eta ez baimenik emateko. Eta ez hori bakarrik: gainera, ofizial-graduaren jabe zaren arren umegorri baten antzera jokatu duzunez, zentzagarri on baten premian zaudela erabaki dut, zeren erakutsi baituzu oraindik ez zarela duin sorterria defendatzeko eta ez zu lako alprojekin dueluetan dantzatzeko eman dizuten sablea eramateko.