Page:Dead Souls - A Poem by Nikolay Gogol - vol1.djvu/110

98 beast, and saying: "I got it expressly for you, you might look all through the fair," he said, "and you wouldn't find one like it." He is an awful rogue, though. I told him so to his face. "Our government contractor and you are the two greatest cheats going!" I said. He laughed and stroked his beard, the brute. Kuvshinnikov and I had lunch every day in his shop. Oh, my boy, there's something I forgot to tell you about; I know you'll never leave off about it, but for ten thousand roubles I won't let you have it, so I give you fair warning. Hey, Porfiry!' going to the window, he shouted to his servant, who in one hand was holding a knife and in the other a crust of bread and a slice of sturgeon, which he had succeeded in cutting for himself while getting something out of the chaise. 'Hey, Porfiry, bring the pup here! Such a pup,' he went on, addressing Tchitchikov. 'Stolen it must be, the owner would never have parted with it of his own accord. I offered my chestnut mare for it, the one you remember Hvostyrev swopped me.'

Tchitchikov however had never in his life seen the chestnut mare or Hvostyrev.

'Won't you have something to eat, sir?' said the old woman, going up to him at that moment.

'No, nothing. Ah, my boy, what a roaring time we had! Give me a glass of vodka, though. What sort have you got?'

'Flavoured with aniseed,' answered the old woman.

'Give me a glass, too,' said the fair man.