It was just the dinner-hour and he hoped to find the steward still there, and so it happened. The steward was just waking up from his after-dinner nap, and stretching himself and yawning was standing in the office, looking at the herdsman who was telling him something.
“Vasíli Nikoláich!” said Eugène to the steward.
“What is your pleasure?”
“I want to speak to you.”
“What is your pleasure?”
“Just finish what you are saying.”
“Aren’t you going to bring it in?” said Vasíli Nikoláich to the herdsman.
“It’s heavy, Vasíli Nikoláich.”
“What is it?” asked Eugène.
“Why, a cow has calved in the meadow. Well, all right, I’ll order them to harness a horse at once. Tell Nicholas Lysúkh to get out the dray cart.”
The herdsman went out.
“Do you know,” began Eugène, flushing and conscious that he was doing so, “do you know, Vasíli Nikoláich, while I was a bachelor I went off the track a bit. … You may have heard …”
Vasíli Nikoláich, evidently sorry for his master, said with smiling eyes: “Is it about Stepanída?”
“Why, yes. Look here. Please, please do not engage her to help in the house. You understand, it is very awkward for me …”
“Yes, it must have been Ványa the clerk who arranged it.”