"Oh no, we are good friends with him," said Nicholas in the simplicity of his heart; it did not enter his head that a pastime so pleasant to himself might not be pleasant to someone else.

"Captain Tushin`s, your excellency!" shouted the red-haired, freckled gunner in a merry voice, standing to attention.

"Count!... Don`t ruin a young fellow... here is this wretched money, take it..." He threw it on the table. "I have an old father and mother!..."