"Ought we not to celebrate this remarkable event by just a peep into the mess-room?" proposed Viätkin. "'Come and take a nip in the deepest loneliness,' as our noble friend Artschakovski is fond of saying." "Impossible, Pavel Pavlich, I am in a hurry. But what's up with you? You seem to-day as if you meant kicking over the traces?" "Yes, rather, that's quite on the cards," Viätkin stuck his chin out significantly. "To-day I have brought off a 'combination' so ingenious that it would make our Finance Minister green with envy." "Really?" Viätkin's "combination" appeared simple enough, but testified, however, to a certain ingenuity. The chief _rôle_ in the affair was played by Khaim, the regimental tailor, who took from Pavel Pavlich a receipt for a uniform supposed to have been delivered, but, instead of that, handed over to Viätkin thirty roubles in cash. "The best of it all is," exclaimed Viätkin, "that both Khaim and I are equally satisfied with the deal. The Jew gave me thirty roubles and became entitled through my receipt to draw forty-five from the clothing department's treasury. I am at last once more in a position to chuck away a few coppers at mess. A masterstroke, eh?" "Viätkin, you're a great man, and another time I'll bear in mind your 'patent.' But good-bye for the present. I hope you will have good luck at cards." They separated, but, after a minute, Viätkin called out to his comrade again. Romashov stopped and turned round. "Have you been to the menagerie?" asked Viätkin, with a cunning wink, making a gesture in the direction of Rafalski's house. Romashov replied by a nod, and said in a tone of conviction, "Brehm is a downright good fellow--the best of the lot of us." "You're right," agreed Viätkin, "bar that frightful smell." XII