"Yes, that's just it. The proprietors knew well how to make their serfs work!" said Mamaieff, with assurance. "They could make what they liked out of the moujiks!"
"Musicians, painters, dancers, actors!" eagerly interrupted the judge; "they made them whatever they liked!"
"That's quite true. I well remember when I was a boy how our Count's house-servant was taught to mimic everything he heard."
"Yes, that was so."
"Indeed, he learnt to mimic everything, not only human or animal sounds, but even the sound of the sawing of wood, the breaking of glass, or anything else. He would blow out his cheeks and make whatever sound was commanded. The Count would say, 'Feodka, bark like vixen—like Catcher!' And Feodka did it. That was how they were taught then. Nowadays a good sum of money might be earned by such tricks!"
"The boats are coming!" shouted Isaiah.
"At last! Kireelka, my horses! No, stop a moment; I will tell the coachman myself."
"Well, let's hope our waiting has come to an end," said Mamaieff, with a smile of relief.
"Yes, I suppose it has come to an end."
"It's always like that in life; one waits, and waits; and at last what one was waiting for arrives. Ha! ha! ha! All things in this world come to an end."