"I am very fond of cigars. I should smoke myself if everybody about did not smoke."
And she gave him one of her bright, kindly smiles. He half-smiled in reply. Two of his teeth were gone.
"No, take this," continued the host, not heeding. "Those others are not so strong. Fritz, bringen Sie noch eine Kasten," he said, "dort zwei."
The German lackey brought another box.
"Do you like these larger ones? They are stronger. This is a very good kind. Take them all," he added, continuing to force them upon his guest.
He was evidently glad that there was some one on whom he could lavish his rarities, and he saw nothing out of the way in it. Sierpukhovskoï began to smoke, and hastened to take up the subject that had been dropped.
"How much did you have to go on Atlásnui?" he asked.
"He cost me dear,—not less than five thousand, but at all events I am secured. Plenty of colts, I tell you!"
"Do they trot?" inquired Sierpukhovskoï.