“Oh! to the devil with the cook! I have my dinner ready in my own house,” replied the gentleman.

“Well,” said Hamyazoff, “all the same, I think that we ought to elect Melekitchentzoff.”

“No! No!”

“Why not? Think of what awful stuff Podgruzdyoff makes us eat.”

“We will make matters right for Podgruzdyoff when the balloting begins!” cried three or four persons at once. “He is worthy of his position, and does honour to our district.”

“Who? Podgruzdyoff?” said Burdyakin, the captain-ispravnik, at this moment entering the room. “Oh! a marshal is always good and worthy, of course. But listen: I will make no secret of the fact that several people wish to elect me judge. Yes, me. You understand—judge. That is what can be denominated an important and sacred office. But I fear lest I might have to condemn a noble. I should acquit him: on my word of honour, I should acquit him. That would be equivalent to placing a cord about my own neck. But every nobleman will be acquitted. So in the name of heaven, do not vote for either me or Zazhmurin. Besides, although Zazhmurin cannot reconcile himself to the idea of not being elected, remember that it will be rendering him a service to vote against him. His wife has spoken to me. It is said that work has quite deranged his nerves; and for his wife, as you can imagine——Well, as for myself, I will, in the first place, tell you sincerely, that if it pleases the nobility to elect me judge, all well and good: I shall not dare to refuse. I shall submit. In short, you may dispose of me as you think proper.”

Thereupon this candidate saluted the company and withdrew with a brisk step.

There had also been a gathering at Zazhmurin’s, but of persons of a lower quality. Some of them drank brandy, and nibbled bread and butter and sandwiches. Barantzoff, the auditor, was playing a game of cards, each point being valued at a quarter of a copeck, with three men who held powers of attorney from different absent nobles. Zazhmurin, Burdyakin, and he had hired this lodging in company. In an extremely ruinous carriage-house which stood in the yard of the place, an ex-cornet of hussars, the prodigal Prince Smuirsky, was lodged, Barantzoff having procured him a commission as an elector’s deputy, and brought him there for nothing. The prince was continually entering the rooms, in order to get an opportunity to refresh himself. He was also continually quarrelling with Barantzoff, his temporary patron; and after each quarrel, he retreated to his carriage-shed, where he remained grumbling and fuming until dinner or supper time, when his heart experienced the necessity of effecting a reconciliation with the auditor.

“Tikhon Semyonovitch,” said the prince enthusiastically to Barantzoff, “it is for your sake that I came to town.” And as he said this he pulled his moustache.

“Yes, indeed, I had the glory of bringing you with me, prince,” retorted Barantzoff, dealing the cards with a serious air.

“As a friend you will have my vote,” continued the prince. “I have come here for your sake, and shall vote for you.”

“Pass,” now said Barantzoff, to his partners at cards, and rising up he left the room.

“That dear friend of mine can count on some black balls,” said the prince, as soon as he had gone. “I will collect a handful of them, and stuff them in for my neighbours and myself. He can reckon on that.”

At this moment Barantzoff returned, whereupon the prince continued, “I wish it to be thoroughly understood that Barantzoff and I are a genuine pair of friends.”