some desperately enthusiastic officer attacking a fortress, the stronghold upon which he was marching did not in the least resemble an impregnable one. On the contrary, Tchitchikoff experienced such terror that his heart seemed to sink to his heels. The chair with which he had contemplated defending himself had already been torn from his hands by the serfs; already, with his eyes half shut, and feeling more dead than alive, he prepared to take a taste of his host’s Circassian tchibouk, and no one knows what would have become of him, had not fate been graciously pleased to save his ribs, his shoulders, and his hind-quarters. All of a sudden, and in the most unexpected manner, as though coming from the clouds, the quivering jingle of bells became audible, and then the rumbling of the wheels of a telyéga driving up to the porch resounded, the heavy snorting and oppressed breathing of the heated horses reverberating in the very room. They all involuntarily glanced out of the window. Someone with a moustache, in a military-looking surtout, descended from the telyéga. After inquiring in the ante-room, he entered while Tchitchikoff was still quaking with alarm, being, indeed, in the most pitiable situation in which mortal ever found himself.

“Allow me to inquire which of you gentlemen is Mr. Nozdreff,” said the stranger, looking with some surprise both at Nozdreff himself, who was standing, tchibouk in hand, and at Tchitchikoff, who seemed dismayed.

“Allow me to inquire, first of all, to whom I have the honour of speaking,” said Nozdreff, stepping up closer to the stranger.

“The captain-ispravnik.”⁵

“And what do you want, pray?”

“I have come to acquaint you with the fact that you will remain under arrest until your case is decided.”

“What nonsense! What case?” asked Nozdreff.

“You have been mixed up in a scandalous affair—as you know very well. While in a state of intoxication you and some companions grossly insulted landowner Maximoff and beat him.”

“You lie! I never yet set eyes on landowner Maximoff.”

“My dear sir, permit me to inform you that I am an officer; you can reply like that to your servants, but not to me.”

Hereupon Tchitchikoff, without waiting to hear what retort Nozdreff would make, hastily snatched up his cap and slipped past the captain-ispravnik on to the steps, seated himself in his britchka, and ordered Selifan to drive off, urging his horses to the top of their speed.