The nedotikomka mocked at Peredonov. It was hiding somewhere near by—it would show itself sometimes, peering out from behind the table or from behind someone's back, and then hide again. It seemed to be waiting for something. He felt dismayed. The very appearance of the cards dismayed him. He saw two queens in the place of one.
"And where's the third," thought Peredonov.
He dully examined the queen of spades, then turned it round to see if the third queen was hiding on the back.
Routilov said: "Ardalyon Borisitch is looking behind the queen's shirt."[1]
They all laughed.
In the meantime two young police officials sat down to play douratchki.[2] They played their hands very quickly. The winner laughed with joy and made a long nose at the other. The loser growled.
There was a smell of food. Grushina called the guests into the dining-room. They all went, jostling each other, and with an affected politeness. Somehow they managed to seat themselves.
"Help yourselves, everyone," said Grushina hospitably. "Now then, my dears, stuff without fears to your very ears."[3]
"Eat the cake for the hostess' sake," shouted Mourin gleefully.
He felt very gay, looking at the vodka and thinking about his winnings.