I had decided this myself, for there I will be miles ahead of the Russians. It will be very difficult indeed for them to learn all the things that are second nature to me. A man has to wear uniform, or the Russians despise him. And if the Russians despise me Nino will not take me for her husband. But I must marry Nino, even though she is a Christian.
Georgian women are the most beautiful in the world.
Well, then I'll get some gallant men, throw her across my saddle, and off we go over the Persian border to Teheran. Life was beautiful and simple, seen from the roof of our house in Baku. Kerim, the servant, touched my shoulder. On the horizon, beyond the Island of Nargin, a steamboat appeared. If one could trust a printed slip of paper, delivered by the Christian telegraph messenger, then my uncle was on that boat with his three wives and two eunuchs.