- Throughout his life, Nabokov's father is criticized, and in 1911, an article is so outrageous and untrue that he challenges the newspaper's editor to an old-fashioned duel.
- At school, Vladimir has no idea what's happening, and senses others laughing behind his back. Finally, it turns out his best friend has been showing around the article, and the two fight, resulting in a broken ankle for the best friend.
- Heading home for the day, Vladimir understands why everyone has been acting so weird.
- He wonders whether the duel will involve a sword or a gun.
- He asks the driver to go faster.
- Vladimir is worried about losing his father, to whom he feels so close. They have laughed and bicycled and hunted butterflies together. He feels especially understood by his father.
- By the time Vladimir gets home, everyone seems happy, and he realizes that the newspaper editor has apologized and there won't be a duel.
- The relief causes Vladimir to cry, which he won't again do until 1922, when his father thrusts himself between a liberal colleague and a Fascist assassin's bullet.
- Nabokov writes: "several lines of play in a difficult chess composition were not blended yet on the board," meaning it would be a while yet before this tragedy." (9.5.9)