Varvara quickly left the table, smiling guiltily, and brought the vodka in a decanter of rudely cut glass.
"Let's have a drink," was Peredonov's surly invitation.
"Just wait," said Varvara; "Klavdiushka will bring the zakouska.[3] You great lump," she shouted into the kitchen, "hurry up!"
But Peredonov was already pouring the liquor into the vodka glasses. He growled:
"Why should we wait? Time doesn't wait!"
They drank their vodka and helped it down with tarts filled with black currant jam. Peredonov had always two stock entertainments for visitors—cards and vodka. But as they could not sit down to cards before the tea was served, only vodka remained. In the meantime the zakouska also were brought in so that they could drink some more vodka. Klavdia did not shut the door when she went out, which put Peredonov into a bad humour.
"That door is never shut!" he growled.
He was afraid of the draught—he might catch cold. This was why his house was always stuffy and malodorous.
Prepolovenskaya picked up an egg.
"Fine eggs!" she said. "Where do you get them?"