human
Well, gentlemen, we are wasting golden moments. To work, let us to work!
gpt
Yes, you won by the half-ruble last evening, and so you like it,
human
It's a good time to begin,
gpt
Will you start the bank?
human
Isn't it rather early?
gpt
Byélof! cried the uhlan, reddening for some reason or other;
human
What a fine young uhlan! he said,
gpt
You were preparing to play, were you not? asked the count.
human
Well, I should like to win from you, Ilyin. I think that you must be a master,
gpt
Yes, we were just starting in, replied Lukhnof, opening a pack of cards....
human
Aren't you going to join us, count?
gpt
No, I won't to-night. If I did there wouldn't be any thing left of any of you! When I take a hand I always break the bank. But I haven't any money just now. I lost at Volotchok, at the station-house. It was by some sort of infantry-man who wore rings; what a cheat he was! and he cleaned me out completely.
human
Were you long there at the station?
gpt
I staid there twenty-two hours. I shall not forget that station, curse it! and the superintendent won't forget it either.
human
Why?
gpt
I got there, you see; the superintendent comes out, rascally face, the liar! 'There are no horses,' said he. Well, now I must tell you, I have made a rule in such cases: when there are no horses, I keep on my shuba, and go straight to the superintendent's room,--not the waiting-room, mind you, but the superintendent's own room,--and I have all the windows and doors opened, as though it were stifling. Well, that's what I did here. Cold! you remember how cold it has been this last month; twenty degrees below. The superintendent began to remonstrate. I knock his teeth in for him. There was some old woman there; and some young girls and peasant-women[62] set up a piping, were going to seize their pots and fly to the village.... I go to the door, and say, 'Let me have horses, and I'll go away: if you don't, I won't let you out, I'll freeze you all to death.'
human
What an admirable way! said the puffy proprietor, bursting out into a laugh.
gpt
That's the way one would freeze out cockroaches.
human
But I wasn't sufficiently on my guard: the superintendent and all his women managed to get out and run away. Only the old woman remained on the oven as my hostage. She kept sniffing, and offering prayers to God. Then we entered into negotiations. The superintendent came back, and, standing at a distance, tried to persuade me to let the old woman go. But I set Blücher on him: Blücher is a magnificent dog to take care of superintendents. Even then the rascal did not let me have horses till the next morning. And then came along that footpad! I went into the next room, and began to play. Have you seen Blücher?--Blücher! _Fiu_!