Taras Bulba, and Other Tales

tom, to lie down, he saw, to his indescribable amazement, something red at the gate. This was the red facings of th

fore, the police had not been able to find up to this time: although the chief, on the occasion of the daily reports made to him by the sergeants, always asked, "Has that button been found?" These eight buttons were strewn about him as women sow beans-one to the right and one to the left. His left foot had been struck by a ball in the last campaign, and so he limped and threw it out so far to one side as to almost co

ous, and could not restrain his impatience as the chief of police began to ascend to the balcony, yet never rais

nefactor, Ivan Ivanovitch, a

hat you are weary, as y

nd his nose struck the railing; but the brave preserver of order, with the purpose of making light of it, righted himself immediately, and began to feel in his pocket as if to get his snuff-box. "I must report to you, my dear friend and benefactor, Ivan Ivanovitch, t

He would have very much liked to inquire what the chief meant to tell him, but his extensive knowledge of the world showed him the impropr

I?" answered the chief of police. "In the first

rds, Ivan Ivanov

a very important affair." Here the chief's face and bearing assumed

fever, omitting not, as was his habit, to put a quest

or, Ivan Ivanovitch, that you-I beg you to observe that, for my own part, I should have nothing t

er Feodorovitch? I don

tand? Your own beast has destroyed an important government docume

t be

w, with your permi

Why did the door-keeper o

your own brown sow. Y

iged to you for com

nce. It is known to you without doubt, that in accordance with the views of the government, unclean animals a

bout! A mighty important business

. I don't deny that sometimes chickens and geese run about the street, and even about the square, pray observe, chickens and geese; but only last year, I ga

nothing here except that you ar

uilt a roof a whole foot higher than is allowed by law. On the contrary, I pretended not to have observed it. Believe me, my dearest friend, even now, I would

! Every woman goes there and thro

s sometimes happen, but, as a rule, only besides fences, sheds, or storehouses; but that

r Feodorovitch! surely a sow

iences and various other subjects. I never studied the sciences: I began to learn to

d Ivan Iv

rth company. The commander of our company was, if I may be permitted to mention it, Captain Eremeeff." Thereupon the

vitch answ

orities. Do you know, Ivan Ivanovitch, that a person who purloins a government d

ecreed with regard to people, as if you, for instance, were to s

dicated neither race nor sex nor rank: of course an animal can be guilty. You may say what you please; but the animal, un

retorted Ivan Ivanovitch c

ust carry out the orde

ne-armed soldier after her. I shall order the woman who tends the d

ill her for Christmas, if you like, and make hams of her, or eat her as she is. Only I should like to ask you, in case you make sa

a couple of sausa

one word more. I am commissioned by the judge, as well as by all our acquaintances, s

own! Never! It shall not be, it shall not be!" Ivan I

rils to snuff. "I will not venture to advise you; but permit m

did when he wanted to put an end to a conversation. So the chief of po