“And I did once work here,” Skuratov went on with extreme nonchalance. “I put new uppers on to Lieutenant Pomortzev’s boots.”

“Well, was he satisfied?”

“No, mates, he wasn’t. He gave me oaths enough to last me a lifetime, and a dig in the back with his knee too. He was in an awful taking. Ah, my life has deceived me, the jade’s deceived me!”

“And not many minutes later

Akulina’s husband came⁠ ⁠…”

“And not many minutes later Akulina’s husband came⁠ ⁠…”

he unexpectedly carolled again, and began pattering a dance step with his feet.