, I know,' answered Olenin, shaking hands.

'Eh, but you don't, you won't know the right order! Fool!' said Daddy
Eroshka, shaking his head reproachfully. 'If anyone says "Koshkildy" to
you, you must say "Allah rasi bo sun," that is, "God save you." That's
the way, my dear fellow, and not "Koshkildy." But I'll teach you all
about it. We had a fellow here, Elias Mosevich, one of your Russians,
he and I were kunaks. He was a trump, a drunkard, a thief, a
sportsman--and what a sportsman! I taught him everything.'

'And what will you teach me?' asked Olenin, who was becoming more and
more interested in the old man.

'I'll take you hunting and teach you to fish. I'll show you Chechens
and find a girl for you, if you like--even that! That's the sort I am!
I'm a wag!'--and the old man laughed. 'I'll sit down. I'm tired.
Karga?' he added inquiringly.

'And what does "Karga" mean?' asked Olenin.

'Why, that means "All right" in Georgian. But I say it just so. It is a
way I have, it's my favourite word. Karga, Karga. I say it just so; in
fun I mean. Well, lad, won't you order the chikhir? You've got an
orderly, haven't you? Hey, Ivan!' shouted the old man. 'All your
soldiers are Ivans. Is yours Ivan?'

'True enough, his name is Ivan--Vanyusha. Here Vanyusha! Please get
some chikhir from our landlady and bring it here.'

'Ivan or Vanyusha, that's all one. Why are all your soldiers Ivans?
Ivan, old fellow,' said the old man, 'you tell them to give you some
from the barrel they have begun. They have the best chikhir in the
village. But don't give more than thirty kopeks for the quart, mind,
because that witch would be only too glad.... Our people are anathema
people; stupid people,' Daddy Eroshka continued in a confidential tone
after Vanyusha had gone out. 'They do not look upon you as on men, you
are worse than a Tartar in their eyes. "Worldly Russians" they say. But
as for me, though you are a soldier you are still a man, and have a
soul in you. Isn't that right? Elias Mosevich was a soldier, yet what a
treasure of a man he was! Isn't that so, my dear fellow? That's why our
people don't like me; but I don't care! I'm a merry fellow, and I like
everybody. I'm Eroshka; yes, my dear fellow.'

And the old Cossack patted the young man affectionately on the shoulder.

Chapter XII

Vanyusha, who meanwhile had finished his housekeeping arrangements and
had even been shaved by the company's barber and had pulled his
tr