They all wished to begin playing as soon as possible, but the principal players, and especially Loúhnof, who was telling about a robbery in Moscow in an exceedingly calm manner, said nothing about that subject.
“Just fancy,” he said, “a city like Moscow, the historic capital, the chief town, and men go about there with crooks, dressed up like devils, frighten stupid people and rob the passersby—and there’s an end of it. What are the police about? That’s the question.”
The Uhlan listened attentively to the story about the robbers, but when a pause came he rose and quietly ordered cards to be brought. The fat squire was the first to speak out.
“I say, gentlemen, why lose precious time? If we mean business, let us begin.”
“Yes, you walked off with a pile of half-roubles last night, so you like it,” said the Greek.
“It is about time,” said the garrison officer.
Ilyín looked at Loúhnof. Loúhnof, looking him straight in the eyes, quietly continued his story about robbers dressed up as devils with claws.
“Will you take the bank?” asked the Uhlan.
“Is it not too early?”
“Belóf!” shouted the Uhlan, blushing for some unknown reason, “bring me some dinner—I have not had anything to eat yet, gentlemen—and a bottle of champagne and some cards.”
At this moment the Count and Zavalshévsky entered. It turned out that Toúrbin and Ilyín belonged to the same division. They took to one another at once, clinked glasses, drank champagne together, and were on