“How—don’t want it?” Lukáshka said, laughing. “Why should you make me a present? We’ll get on by ourselves by God’s help.” “No, really! Or don’t you want to be a drabánt?” said Olénin, glad that it had entered his head to give a horse to Lukáshka, though, without knowing why, he felt uncomfortable and confused and did not know what to say when he tried to speak. Lukáshka was the first to break the silence. “Have you a house of your own in Russia?” he asked. Olénin could not refrain from replying that he had not only one, but several houses. “A good house? Bigger than ours?” asked Lukáshka good-naturedly. “Much bigger; ten times as big and three storeys high,” replied Olénin. “And have you horses such as ours?” “I have a hundred horses, worth three or four hundred rubles each, but they are not like yours. They are trotters, you know.... But still, I like the horses here best.” “Well, and did you come here of your own free will, or were you sent?” said Lukáshka, laughing at him. “Look! that’s where you lost your way,” he added, “you should have turned to the right.” “I came by my own wish,” replied Olénin. “I wanted to see your parts and to join some expeditions.” “I would go on an expedition any day,” said Lukáshka. “D’you hear the jackals howling?” he added, listening. “I say, don’t you feel any horror at having killed a man?” asked Olénin. “What’s there to be frightened about? But I should like to join an expedition,” Lukáshka repeated. “How I want to! How I want to!” “Perhaps we may be going together. Our company is going before the holidays, and your ‘hundred’ too.” “And what did you want to come here for? You’ve a house and horses and serfs. In your place I’d do nothing but make merry! And what is your rank?” “I am a cadet, but have been recommended for a commission.” “Well, if you’re not bragging about your home, if I were you I’d never have left it! Yes, I’d never have gone away anywhere. Do you find it pleasant living among us?” “Yes, very pleasant,” answered Olénin.