"Certainly it is not very pleasant."
"Then why do you remain here?"
"What is that to you?"
"Excuse me, mere curiosity."
Herszko mischievously showed the neck of the bottle as if it were about to leap out of his pocket; Chelmenko saw it; the very sight of it made his mouth water.
"Let me taste it, miscreant," cried he.
"You guess what it is? No? Well, it is the genuine Jamaica rum, worth a rouble and a half a bottle."
"Let me see, quick!"
Madré handed him the bottle; the officer put it to his lips and swallowed some of the rum with great enjoyment, then said:--
"Now tell me what this means?"