"I don't want to," repeated Peredonov with decision. "You'd better come along with me and have a game of cards." "The devil take you," exclaimed Routilov. "He doesn't want to get married. He's funked it!" he announced to his sisters. "But I'll persuade the fool yet. He's asked me to play cards with him." All the sisters cried out at once, abusing Peredonov loudly. "And you're going out with this blackguard?" asked Valeria angrily. "Yes, and I'll get even with him. He has not escaped us yet by any means," said Routilov, trying to keep a tone of assurance, but feeling very awkward. The girls' anger with Peredonov soon gave place to laughter. Routilov left. The girls ran to the windows. "Ardalyon Borisitch," exclaimed Darya. "Why can't you make up your mind. You shouldn't do things like this!" "Kislyai Kislyaevitch! (Sour Sourson!)" exclaimed Liudmilla, laughingly. Peredonov was angry. In his opinion the sisters ought to have wept with disappointment that he had rejected them. "They're pretending," he thought, as he left the garden silently. The girls ran to the windows facing the street and shouted gibes after him until he was lost in the darkness. [1] This is an exaggeration of a Russian charm used against witchcraft. The word "chure" implies, "Hence! away!" and is addressed to the evil spirits. The whole charm is a jargon practically untranslatable. CHAPTER V Peredonov felt depressed. He had no more caramels in his pocket and this added to his depression and distress. Routilov was the only one to speak almost the whole way. He continued to laud his sisters. Only once did Peredonov break into speech, when he asked angrily: "Has a bull horns?" "Well, yes, but what of it?" asked the astonished Routilov. "Well, I don't want to be a bull," explained Peredonov. "Ardalyon Borisitch," said Routilov in tones of annoyance, "you will never be a bull, for you are a real swine." "Liar," said Peredonov morosely. "I'm not a liar--I can prove I'm not," said Routilov spitefully. "Go ahead and prove it." "Just wait, I'll prove it," said Routilov. They walked on silently. Peredonov waited apprehensively and his anger with Routilov tormented him. Suddenly Routilov asked: "Ardalyon Borisitch, have you got a _piatachek_?"[1] "I have, but I won't give it to you," answered Peredonov. Routilov burst out laughing. "If you have a _piatachek_, then you are a swine," he exclaimed. Peredonov in his apprehension grabbed his nose and exclaimed: "You're lying! I haven't a _piatachek_--I've got a man's face," he growled. Routilov was still laughing. Peredonov, angry and rather frightened, looked cautiously at Routilov and said: "You've led me purposely to-day by the _durman_[2] and you've _durmanised_ me so as to lure me for one of your sisters. As if one witch wasn't enough for me--you tried to make me marry three at once." "You are a queer fellow. And why didn't I get _durmanised?_" asked Routilov.