“The prayer ‘At the Building of a Vessel’ is not suitable for steam-tugs and river steamers, that is, not that it is not suitable, it isn’t enough alone. A river steamer is a place of permanent residence for the crew, and therefore it ought to be considered as a house. Consequently it is necessary to make the prayer ‘At the Building of a House,’ in addition to that for the vessel. But what will you drink?” “I am not much of a wine fiend. Pour me out some cumin vodka,” replied Yakov Tarasovich. Foma, seated at the end of the table among some timid and modest men who were unfamiliar to him, now and again felt on himself the sharp glances of the old man. “He’s afraid I’ll make a scandal,” thought Foma. “Brethren!” roared the monstrously stout ship builder Yashchurov, in a hoarse voice, “I can’t do without herring! I must necessarily begin with herring, that’s my nature.” “Musicians! strike up ‘The Persian March!’” “Hold on! Better ‘How Glorious!’” “Strike up ‘How Glorious.’” The puffing of the engine and the clatter of the steamer’s wheels, mingling with the sounds of the music, produced in the air something which sounded like the wild song of a snow-storm. The whistle of the flute, the shrill singing of the clarionets, the heavy roaring of the basses, the ruffling of the little drum and the drones of the blows on the big one, all this fell on the monotonous and dull sounds of the wheels, as they cut the water apart, smote the air rebelliously, drowned the noise of the human voices and hovered after the steamer, like a hurricane, causing the people to shout at the top of their voices. At times an angry hissing of steam rang out within the engine, and there was something irritable and contemptuous in this sound as it burst unexpectedly upon the chaos of the drones and roars and shouts. “I shall never forget, even unto my grave, that you refused to discount the note for me,” cried some one in a fierce voice. “That will do! Is this a place for accounts?” rang out Bobrov’s bass. “Brethren! Let us have some speeches!” “Musicians, bush!” “Come up to the bank and I’ll explain to you why I didn’t discount it.” “A speech! Silence!” “Musicians, cease playing!” “Strike up ‘In the Meadows.’” “Madame Angot!” “No! Yakov Tarasovich, we beg of you!” “That’s called Strassburg pastry.” “We beg of you! We beg of you!” “Pastry? It doesn’t look like it, but I’ll taste it all the same.” “Tarasovich! Start.” “Brethren! It is jolly! By God.” “And in ‘La Belle Helene’ she used to come out almost naked, my dear,” suddenly Robustov’s shrill and emotional voice broke through the noise. “Look out! Jacob cheated Esau? Aha!” “I can’t! My tongue is not a hammer, and I am no longer young. “Yasha! We all implore you!” “Do us the honour!” “We’ll elect you mayor!” “Tarasovich! don’t be capricious!” “Sh! Silence! Gentlemen! Yakov Tarasovich will say a few words!” “Sh!”