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employed in the purchase of six fine horses； some gilt bronze locks；
and a tame monkey。 He further engaged a French cook。 The two hundred
peasants of the lady； as well as two hundred more belonging to the
gentleman； were mortgaged to the bank。 In a word； he was a regular
nobleman。 Besides himself； several other gentlemen were amongst the
general's guests； but it is not worth while speaking of them。 The
officers of the regiment； amongst whom were the colonel and the fat
major； formed the majority of those present。 The general himself was
rather stout； a good officer； nevertheless； according to his
subordinates。 He had a rather deep bass voice。
The dinner was magnificent； there were sturgeons； sterlets； bustards；
asparagus； quail； partridges； mushrooms。 The flavour of all these
dishes supplied an irrefutable proof of the sobriety of the cook
during the twenty…four hours preceding the dinner。 Four soldiers； who
had been given him as assistants； had not ceased working all night；
knife in hand； at the composition of ragouts and jellies。 The immense
quantity of long…necked bottles； mingled with shorter ones； holding
claret and madeira； the fine summer day； the wide…open windows； the
plates piled up with ice on the table； the crumpled shirt…fronts of
the gentlemen in plain clothes； and a brisk and noisy conversation；
now dominated by the general's voice； and now besprinkled with
champagne； were all in perfect harmony。 The guests rose from the table
with a pleasant feeling of repletion； and； after having lit their
pipes； all stepped out； coffee…cups in hand； on to the verandah。
〃We can see her now；〃 said the general。 〃Here； my dear fellow；〃 added
he； addressing his aide…de…camp； an active well…made young officer；
〃have the bay mare brought here。 You shall see for yourselves；
gentlemen。〃
At these words the general took a long pull at his pipe。
〃She is not quite recovered yet； there is not a decent stable in this
cursed little place。 But she is not bad looking〃 puffpuff； the
general here let out the smoke which he had kept in his mouth till
then〃the little mare。〃
〃It is long since your excellency〃 puffpuffpuff〃condescended
to buy her？〃 asked Tchertokoutski。
Puffpuffpuffpuff。 〃Not very long； I had her from the breeding
establishment two years ago。〃
〃And did your excellency condescend to take her ready broken； or to
have her broken in here yourself？〃
Puffpuffpuffpuff。 〃Here。〃
As he spoke the general disappeared behind a cloud of smoke。
At that moment a soldier jumped out of the stable。 The trampling of a
horse's hoofs was heard； and another soldier with immense moustaches；
and wearing a long white tunic； appeared； leading by the bridle the
terrified and quivering mare； which； suddenly rearing； lifted him off
his feet。
〃Come； come； Agrafena Ivanovna；〃 said he； leading her towards the
verandah。
The mare's name was Agrafena Ivanovna。 Strong and bold as a Southern
beauty； she suddenly became motionless。
The general began to look at her with evident satisfaction； and left
off smoking。 The colonel himself went down the steps and patted her
neck。 The major ran his hand down her legs； and all the other officers
clicked their tongues at her。
Tchertokoutski left the verandah to take up a position beside the
mare。 The soldier who held her bridle drew himself up and stared
fixedly at the guests。
〃She is very fine； very fine；〃 said Tchertokoutski； 〃a very
well…shaped beast。 Will your excellency allow me to ask whether she is
a good goer？〃
〃She goes well； but that idiot of a doctor； deuce take him； has given
her some balls which have made her sneeze for the last two days。〃
〃She is a fine beast； a very fine beast。 Has your excellency a
turn…out to match the horse？〃
〃Turn…out！ but she's a saddle horse。〃
〃I know。 I put the question； your excellency； to know if you have an
equipage worthy of your other horses？〃
〃No； I have not much in the way of equipages； I must admit that； for
some time past； I have been wanting to buy a calash； such as they
build now…a…days。 I have written about it to my brother who is now at
St。 Petersburg； but I do not know whether he will be able to send me
one。〃
〃It seems to me； your excellency；〃 remarked the colonel； 〃that there
are no better calashes than those of Vienna。〃
〃You are right。〃 Puffpuffpuff。
〃I have an excellent calash； your excellency； a real Viennese calash；〃
said Tchertokoutski。
〃That in which you came？〃
〃Oh no； I make use of that for ordinary service； but the other is
something extraordinary。 It is as light as a feather； and if you sit
in it； it seems as if your nurse was rocking you in a cradle。〃
〃It is very comfortable then？〃
〃Extremely comfortable； the cushions； the springs； and everything else
are perfect。〃
〃Ah！ that is good。〃
〃And what a quantity of things can be packed away in it。 I have never
seen anything like it； your excellency。 When I was still in the
service there was room enough in the body to stow away ten bottles of
rum； twenty pounds of tobacco； six uniforms； and two pipes； the
longest pipes imaginable； your excellency； and in the pockets inside
you could stow away a whole bullock。〃
〃That is very good。〃
〃It cost four thousand rubles； your excellency。〃
〃It ought to be good at that price。 Did you buy it yourself？〃
〃No； your excellency； I had it by chance。 It was bought by one of my
oldest friends； a fine fellow with whom you would be very well
pleased。 We are very intimate。 What is mine is his； and what is his is
mine。 I won it of him at cards。 Would your excellency have the
kindness to honour me at dinner to…morrow？ You could see my calash。〃
〃I don't know what to say。 Alone I could notbut if you would allow
me to come with these officers〃
〃I beg of them to come too。 I shall esteem it a great honour；
gentlemen； to have the pleasure of seeing you at my house。〃
The colonel； the major； and the other officers thanked Tchertokoutski。
〃I am of opinion myself； your excellency； that if one buys anything it
should be good； it is not worth the trouble of getting； if it turns
out bad。 If you do me the honour of calling on me to…morrow； I will
show you some improvements I have introduced on my estate。〃
The general looked at him； and puffed out a fresh cloud of smoke。
Tchertokoutski was charmed with his notion of inviting the officers；
and mentally ordered in advance all manner of dishes for their
entertainment。 He smiled at these gentlemen； who on their part
appeared to increase their show of attention towards him； as was
noticeable from the expression of their eyes and the little half…nods
they bestowed upon him。 His bearing assumed a certain ease； and his
voice expressed his great satisfaction。
〃Your excellency will make the acquaintance of the mistress of the
house。〃
〃That will be most agreeable to me；〃