it's silly." The carelessness of his apology was almost equivalent to a fresh insult.
The outcry was greater than ever.

Nikolay Vsyevolodovitch shrugged his shoulders and went away.

All this was very stupid, to say nothing of its gross indecency-- A calculated and premeditated indecency as it seemed at first sight--and therefore a premeditated and utterly brutal insult to our whole society.
So it was taken to be by every one.

We began by promptly and unanimously striking young Stavrogin's name off the list of club members.

Then it was decided to send an appeal in the name of the whole club to the governor, begging him at once (without waiting for the case to be formally tried in court) to use "the administrative power entrusted to him" to restrain this dangerous ruffian, "this duelling bully from the capital, and so protect the tranquillity of all the gentry of our town from injurious encroachments." It was added with angry resentment that "a law might be found to control even Mr.Stavrogin." This phrase was prepared by way of a thrust at the governor on account of Varvara Petrovna.