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8 sent to Simbirsk to recruit, and that he was staying in the same inn. Zourine invited me to dine with him, soldier fashion, taking what I could get. I willingly consented. We sat down. Zourine drank a great deal, and pressed me to do the same, saying that I must accustom myself to the ways of the service; he entertained me with military anecdotes, which caused me almost to split my sides with laughter, and we rose from the table fast friends. He then offered to teach me to play at billiards. "It is quite indispensable," he said, "to us brother-soldiers. For instance. When on the march, halts are made at little villages; how is one to kill time? One cannot possibly be always kicking the Jews about. One is obliged, in self-defence, to enter the inn and have a game at billiards; and to do so, one must know how to play!" I was quite convinced, and commenced my course of instruction with great ardour. Zourine loudly encouraged me, wondered at the rapid progress I made, and, after several lessons, proposed that we should play for money, at half copeck stakes; not for the sake of gain, but simply so as not to be playing without an object, which, he said, was the worst possible plan. I again consented, and Zourine called for punch, and pressed me to taste some, repeating that I must get used to the customs of the service; and what was the service without punch! I obeyed. Our game went on. The oftener I supped my glass, the merrier I became. The balls were continually flying off the table; I was getting excited; abused the marker, who was scoring heaven knows how; I was doubling the stakes over and over