looked about as suitable as it would have done on
our old butler. I recollect too that we were
all in ecstasies over the ball in the third act.
Though, probably, no one ever executed such steps
in reality, it was accepted as correct and I believe
it is acted in just the same way to-day. One of
the guests hopped excessively high, while his wig flew
from side to side, and the public roared with laughter.
As we were coming out of the theatre, we jostled against
Viktor in a corridor.
‘You were in the theatre!’ he cried, flinging
his arms about. ’How was it I didn’t
see you? I’m awfully glad I met you.
You must come and have supper with me. Come on;
I’ll stand the supper!’
Young Ratsch seemed in an excited, almost ecstatic,
frame of mind. His little eyes darted to and
fro; he was grinning, and there were spots of red
on his face.
‘Why this gleefulness?’ asked Fustov.
‘Why? Wouldn’t you like to know,
eh?’ Viktor drew us a little aside, and pulling
out of his trouser-pocket a whole bundle of the red
and blue notes then in use waved them in the air.
Fustov was surprised.
‘Has your governor been so liberal?’
Viktor chuckled.
’He liberal! You just try it on!...
This morning, relying on your intercession, I asked
him for cash. What do you suppose the old skinflint
answered? “I’ll pay your debts,”
says he, “if you like. Up to twenty-five
roubles inclusive!” Do you hear, inclusive!
No, sir, this was a gift from God in my destitution.
A lucky chance.’
‘Been robbing someone?’ Fustov hazarded
carelessly.
Viktor frowned.
’Robbing, no indeed! I won it, won it from
an officer, a guardsman. He only arrived from
Petersburg yesterday. Such a chain of circumstances!
It’s worth telling... only this isn’t the
place. Come along to Yar’s; not a couple
of steps. I’ll stand the show, as I said!’
We ought, perhaps, to have refused; but we followed
without making any objection.
At Yar’s we were shown into a private room;
supper was served, champagne was brought. Viktor
related to us, omitting no detail, how he had in a
certain ‘gay’ house met this officer of
the guards, a very nice chap and of good family, only
without a hap’orth of brains; how they had made
friends, how he, the officer that is, had suggested
as a joke a game of ‘fools’ with Viktor
with some old cards, for next to nothing, and with
the condition that the officer’s winnings should
go to the benefit of Wilhelmina, but Viktor’s
to his own benefit; how afterwards they had got on
to betting on the games.
‘And I, and I,’ cried Viktor, and he jumped
up and clapped his hands, ’I hadn’t more
than six roubles in my pocket all the while. Fancy!
And at first I was completely cleaned out....
A nice position! Only then—in answer
to whose prayers I can’t say—fortune
smiled. The other fellow began to get hot and
kept showing all his cards.... In no time he’d
lost seven hundred and fifty roubles! He began
begging me to go on playing, but I’m not quite
a fool, I fancy; no, one mustn’t abuse such luck;
I popped on my hat and cut away. So now I’ve
no need to eat humble pie with the governor, and can
treat my friends.... Hi waiter! Another
bottle! Gentlemen, let’s clink glasses!’
