But his fancy again began searching for the 'nonsense' he had relinquished, and again fair Circassians, glory, and his return to Russia with an appointment as aide-de-camp and a lovely wife rose before his imagination.

'But there's no such thing as love,' said he to himself.

'Fame is all rubbish.

But the six hundred and seventy-eight rubles?
...

And the conquered land that will bring me more wealth than I need for a lifetime?
It will not be right though to keep all that wealth for myself.