The very next day Diabolka's wedding-dress was put in hand. All Daimona's female serfs were at work upon it. Diabolka now usually dined at the minister's table when he entertained the notables of the neighborhood, all of whom were welcome guests when they could prevail upon themselves to kiss Daimona's hand. A dear repast, in truth! But his guests had still more to put up with. When Araktseieff had drunk too much he would grow quarrelsome and come to blows with them. All the same, they would come back again next day and meet the same fate. A still costlier price to pay! Schinko was the chief flogger of the palace; he had to execute all the scourging, whipping, and lashing with the knout. It was his office. He had no choice but to carry out orders. If his master ordered him to thrash corn, he must do it; if to thrash mujiks, he must thrash them. Lucky that it was his part to administer, not to receive, the lash. Moreover, he was a gypsy; and gypsies, it is known, have stronger nerves than other men. The eve of the wedding-day Daimona commanded Diabolka to try on her gay wedding-dress, and to show herself in it to the master. He admired it, and gave the girl a slap on the cheek. "Do you see? I am glad you have grown at last into a respectable young woman. I raised you out of the mire into which you had sunk. Is it not a good thing to have become a well-behaved girl?" And Diabolka, falling on her knees before him, kissed his feet. "Nice to be a bride, eh? Now you love your cousin Schinko, don't you?" The girl hid her face in confusion. "Well, show how you can give a kiss. Where's Schinko?" But Diabolka would not be kissed. Schinko might wait till he was married. "A sensible girl," said her master, praising her. "Now take her to the priest, that she may tell her prayers and confess. To-morrow morning her bridesmaids and groomsmen shall fetch her back. You go with her, Schinko!" After she had gone, Daimona sent for the other bridal couple. They were worthy of each other, Vuk and Polyka. The humpbacked bridegroom was dressed in a handsome seal-skin coat reaching down to his toes, his cap adorned with a pair of hare's ears; while the bride, with mouth all awry, was attired as a Turkish odalisque, making her more hideous than ever. "Upon my word, they're a handsome couple!" laughed Araktseieff. "I wonder if that great hunch will prevent her kissing him?" "That doesn't matter," returned Daimona; "her arms are long enough to pull out his hair." Nor did it need much encouragement for her to try it even before marriage; a word would have sufficed to give proof of their connubial tenderness. "It will be rare fun to-morrow!" said Daimona. "A splendid idea," chimed in her lord. "Are you satisfied with it?" "It's a masterwork." "Well, if you love me, do as I do."