He began to dance and twirl round the room. With his immovably red face and dull eyes he seemed like a monstrously large mechanical dancing doll. Varvara smiled and looked at him happily. He shouted:
"Now it's decided, Varvara—we'll get married."
He caught Varvara by the shoulders and began to whirl her around the table, stamping with his feet.
"A Russian dance, Varvara!" he shouted.
Varvara put her arms akimbo and glided off into a dance, Peredonov danced before her in the Russian squat.
Volodin entered and bleated joyously:
"The future inspector is hopping the trepak!"[2]
"Dance, Pavloushka!" cried Peredonov.
Klavdia looked in at the door. Volodin shouted at her, laughing and grimacing:
"Dance, Klavdiusha, you too! All together! We'll make merry with the future inspector."