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〃Your excellency will make the acquaintance of the mistress of the
house。〃
〃That will be most agreeable to me；〃 said the general； twirling his
moustache。
Tchertokoutski was firmly resolved to return home at once in order to
make all necessary preparations in good time。 He had already taken his
hat； but a strange fatality caused him to remain for some time at the
general's。 The card tables had been set out； and all the company；
separating into groups of four； scattered itself about the room。
Lights were brought in。 Tchertokoutski did not know whether he ought
to sit down to whist。 But as the officers invited him； he thought that
the rules of good breeding obliged him to accept。 He sat down。 I do
not know how a glass of punch found itself at his elbow； but he drank
it off without thinking。 After playing two rubbers； he found another
glass close to his hand which he drank off in the same way； though not
without remarking：
〃It is really time for me to go； gentlemen。〃
He began to play a fresh rubber。 However； the conversation which was
going on in every corner of the room took an especial turn。 Those who
were playing whist were quiet enough； but the others talked a great
deal。 A captain had taken up his position on a sofa； and leaning
against a cushion； pipe in mouth； he captivated the attention of a
circle of guests gathered about him by his eloquent narrative of
amorous adventures。 A very stout gentleman whose arms were so short
that they looked like two potatoes hanging by his sides； listened to
him with a very satisfied expression； and from time to time exerted
himself to pull his tobacco…pouch out of his coat…tail pocket。 A
somewhat brisk discussion on cavalry drill had arisen in another
corner； and Tchertokoutski； who had twice already played a knave for a
king； mingled in the conversation by calling out from his place： 〃In
what year？〃 or 〃What regiment？〃 without noticing that very often his
question had no application whatever。 At length； a few minutes before
supper； play came to an end。 Tchertokoutski could remember that he had
won a great deal； but he did not take up his winnings； and after
rising stood for some time in the position of a man who has no
handkerchief in his pocket。
They sat down to supper。 As might be expected； wine was not lacking；
and Tchertokoutski kept involuntarily filling his glass with it； for
he was surrounded with bottles。 A lengthy conversation took place at
table； but the guests carried it on after a strange fashion。 A
colonel； who had served in 1812； described a battle which had never
taken place； and besides； no one ever could make out why he took a
cork and stuck it into a pie。 They began to break…up at three in the
morning。 The coachmen were obliged to take several of them in their
arms like bundles； and Tchertokoutski himself； despite his
aristocratic pride； bowed so low to the company； that he took home two
thistles in his moustache。
The coachman who drove him home found every one asleep。 He routed out；
after some trouble； the valet； who； after having ushered his master
through the hall； handed him over to a maid…servant。 Tchertokoutski
followed her as well as he could to the best room； and stretched
himself beside his pretty young wife； who was sleeping in a night…gown
as white as snow。 The shock of her husband falling on the bed awoke
hershe stretched out her arms； opened her eyes； closed them quickly；
and then opened them again quite wide； with a half…vexed air。 Seeing
that her husband did not pay the slightest attention to her； she
turned over on the other side； rested her fresh and rosy cheek on her
hand； and went to sleep again。
It was latethat is； according to country customswhen the lady
awoke again。 Her husband was snoring more loudly than ever。 She
recollected that he had come home at four o'clock； and not wishing to
awaken him； got up alone； and put on her slippers； which her husband
had had sent for her from St。 Petersburg； and a white dressing…gown
which fell about her like the waters of a fountain。 Then she passed
into her dressing…room； and after washing in water as fresh as
herself； went to her toilet table。 She looked at herself twice in the
glass； and thought she looked very pretty that morning。 This
circumstance； a very insignificant one apparently； caused her to stay
two hours longer than usual before her glass。 She dressed herself very
tastefully and went into the garden。
The weather was splendid： it was one of the finest days of the summer。
The sun； which had almost reached the meridian； shed its most ardent
rays； but a pleasant coolness reigned under the leafy arcades； and the
flowers； warmed by the sun； exhaled their sweetest perfume。 The pretty
mistress of the house had quite forgotten that it was noon at least；
and that her husband was still asleep。 Already she heard the snores of
two coachmen and a groom； who were taking their siesta in the stable；
after having dined copiously。 But she was still sitting in a bower
from which the deserted high road could be seen； when all at once her
attention was caught by a light cloud of dust rising in the distance。
After looking at it for some moments； she ended by making out several
vehicles； closely following one another。 First came a light calash；
with two places； in which was the general； wearing his large and
glittering epaulettes； with the colonel。 This was followed by another
with four places； containing the captain； the aide…de…camp and two
lieutenants。 Further on； came the celebrated regimental vehicle； the
present owner of which was the major； and behind that another in which
were packed five officers； one on his comrade's knees； the procession
being closed by three more on three fine bays。
〃Are they coming here？〃 thought the mistress of the house。 〃Good
heavens； yes！ they are leaving the main road。〃
She gave a cry； clasped her hands； and ran straight across the
flower…beds to her bedroom； where her husband was still sleeping
soundly。
〃Get up！ get up！ get up at once；〃 she cried； pulling him by the arm。
〃Whatwhat's the matter？〃 murmured Tchertokoutski； stretching his
limbs without opening his eyes。
〃Get up； get up。 Visitors have come； do you hear？ visitors。〃
〃Visitors； what visitors？〃 After saying these words he uttered a
little plaintive grunt like that of a sucking calf： 〃M…m…m。 Let me
kiss you。〃
〃My dear； get up at once； for heaven's sake。 The general has come with
all his officers。 Ah！ goodness； you have got a thistle in your
moustache。〃
〃The general！ Has he come already？ But why the deuce did not they wake
me？ And the dinner； is the dinner ready？〃
〃What dinner？〃
〃But haven't I ordered a dinner？〃
〃A dinner！ You got home at four o'clock in the morning and you did not
answer a single word to all my questions。 I did not wake you； since
you had so little sleep。〃
Tchertokoutski； his eyes staring out of his head； r