Kraut’s presence had waked them all up. Chatting with each one, he gave the details of the bombardment, and asked questions about what had taken place during his absence. XVIII. “Now, then, are you settled?” Kraut asked of Volodia. “But, pardon me, what is your name--both your names? It’s our custom in the artillery. Have you a saddle-horse?” “No,” answered Volodia, “and I am much troubled about it. I have spoken to the captain. I shall have neither horse nor money until I get my forage-money and my travelling expenses. I would like to ask the commander of the battery to lend me his horse, but I am afraid he will refuse.” “You would like to ask this of Apollo Serguéïtch?” said Kraut, looking at the captain, while he made a sound with his lips which expressed doubt. “Well,” said the latter, “if he refuses, there is no great harm done. To tell the truth, there is seldom need of a horse here. I will undertake to ask him to-day even.” “You don’t know him,” said Dedenko. “He would refuse anything else, but he wouldn’t refuse his horse to this gentleman. Would you like to bet on it?” “Oh, I know you are ripe for contradiction, you--” “I contradict when I know a thing! He isn’t generous usually, but he will lend his horse, because he has no interest in refusing it.” “How no interest? When oats cost eight rubles here it is evidently in his interest. He will have one horse the less to keep.” “Vladimir Semenovitch!” cried Vlang, coming back with Kraut’s pipe. “Ask for the spotted one; it is a charming horse.” “That’s the one you fell into the ditch with, eh, Vlang?” observed the second-captain. “But you are mistaken in saying that oats are eight rubles,” maintained Dedenko, in the mean time, continuing the discussion. “According to the latest news they are ten-fifty. It is evident that there is no profit in--” “You would like to leave him nothing, then? If you were in his place you would not lend your horse to go into town either. When I am commander of the battery my horses, brother, will have four full measures to eat every day! I sha’n’t think of making an income, rest assured!” “He who lives will see,” replied the second-captain. “You will do the same when you have a battery, and he also,” pointing to Volodia. “Why do you suppose, Frederic Christianovitch, that this gentleman would also like to reserve for himself some small profit? If he has a certain amount of money, what will he do it for?” Tchernovitzky asked in his turn. “No--I--excuse me, captain,” said Volodia, blushing up to his ears. “That would be dishonest in my eyes.” “Oh! oh! what milk porridge!” Kraut said to him. “This is another question, captain, but it seems to me that I couldn’t take money for myself which doesn’t belong to me.”