“A bad business!” said Nazárka. “You heard how Daddy Burlák said, ‘Have you stolen many horses?’ He seems to know!”
“A regular wizard!” Lukáshka replied shortly. “But what of it!” he added, tossing his head. “They are across the river by now. Go and find them!”
“Still it’s a bad lookout.”
“What’s a bad lookout? Go and take some chikhir to him tomorrow and nothing will come of it. Now let’s make merry. Drink!” shouted Lukáshka, just in the tone in which old Eróshka uttered the word. “We’ll go out into the street and make merry with the girls. You go and get some honey; or no, I’ll send our dumb wench. We’ll make merry till morning.”
Nazárka smiled.
“Are we stopping here long?” he asked.
“Till we’ve had a bit of fun. Run and get some vodka. Here’s the money.”
Nazárka ran off obediently to get the vodka from Yámka’s.
Daddy Eróshka and Ergushóv, like birds of prey, scenting where the merry-making was going on, tumbled into the hut one after the other, both tipsy.
“Bring us another half-pail,” shouted Lukáshka to his mother, by way of reply to their greeting.