R. , though as a sergeant in a garrison regiment.

“It was from there I was sent here,” observed Baklushin.

“But what for?” I asked.

“What for? What do you think it was for, Alexandr Petrovitch? Because I fell in love.”

“Oh well, they don’t send people here for that yet,” I retorted laughing.

“It is true,” Baklushin added, “it’s true that through that I shot a German there with my pistol. But was the German worth sending me here for, tell me that!”

“But how was it? Tell me, it’s interesting.”

“It’s a very funny story, Alexandr Petrovitch.”

“So much the better. Tell me.”