"Well, I shall never go there again," continued Trosenko, paying no heed to the peevish major. "I have got out of the habit of going about and speaking Russian. They'd ask, 'What is this wonderful creature?' and the answer'd be, 'Asia.' Isn't that so, Nikoláï Feódoruitch? And so what is there for me in Russia? It's all the same, you'll get shot here sooner or later. They ask, 'Where is Trosenko?' And down you go! What will you do then in the eighth company--heh?" he added, continuing to address the major. "Send the officer of the day to the battalion," shouted Kirsánof, not answering the captain, though I was again compelled to believe that there was no necessity upon him of giving any orders. "But, young man, I think that you are glad now that you are having double pay?" said the major after a few moments' silence, addressing the adjutant of the battalion. "Why, yes, very." "I think that our salary is now very large, Nikoláï Feódoruitch," he went on to say. "A young man can live very comfortably, and even allow himself some little luxury." "No, truly, Abram Ilyitch," said the adjutant timidly: "even though we get double pay, it's only so much; and you see, one must keep a horse." ... "What is that you say, young man? I myself have been an ensign, and I know. Believe me, with care, one can live very well. But you must calculate," he added, tapping his left palm with his little finger. "We pledge all our salary before it's due: this is the way you economize," said Trosenko, drinking down a glass of vodka. "Well, now, you see that's the very thing.... What?" At this instant at the door of the wigwam appeared a white head with a flattened nose; and a sharp voice with a German accent said,-- "You there, Abram Ilyitch? The officer of the day is hunting for you." "Come in, Kraft," said Bolkhof. A tall form in the coat of the general's staff entered the door, and with remarkable zeal endeavored to shake hands with every one. "Ah, my dear captain, you here too?" said he, addressing Trosenko. The new guest, notwithstanding the darkness, rushed up to the captain and kissed him on the lips, to his extreme astonishment, and displeasure as it seemed to me. "This is a German who wishes to be a hail fellow well met," I said to myself. [Footnote 16: _Kavkázets._] [Footnote 17: _nu chto?_] [Footnote 18: _da voi._] [Footnote 19: _gubernátorsha._] [Footnote 20: _da s._] [Footnote 21: _da chto vui._] XII. My presumption was immediately confirmed. Captain Kraft called for some vodka, which he called corn-brandy,[22] and threw back his head, and made a terrible noise like a duck, in draining the glass. "Well, gentlemen, we rolled about well to-day on the plains of the Chetchen," he began; but, catching sight of the officer of the day, he immediately stopped, to allow the major to give his directions. "Well, you have made the tour of the lines?" "I have." "Are the pickets posted?" "They are."