“It’s not a shoe, you can’t cast it off. What’s the use of saying ’e‑e‑ch’?”

“But you see, Kulikov⁠ ⁠…” a green youth, one of the impulsive sort, tried to interpose.

“Kulikov!” Another cut him short at once, cocking his eye contemptuously at the green youth. “Kulikov!”

This was as much as to say, “Are there many Kulikovs here?”

“And A. too, lads, he is a cute one, oh, he is a cute one!”

“Rather! He could turn even Kulikov round his finger! You won’t catch him!”

“I wonder whether they’ve got far by now, lads? I should like to know.”