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And thus, while the merry staff tippled in the mansion, outside

the house there began a drinking bout among the troops.

Captain Rykov drained cup after cup in silence; but the Major

drank and at the same time paid court to the ladies, and the

ardour for dancing continually increased within him. He threw

aside his pipe and seized Telimena's hand; he was eager to dance,

but she ran away; so he went up to Zosia, and bowing and

tottering invited her to open the mazurka.

"Hey you, Rykov, stop pulling at your pipe! Put away your pipe;

you play the balalaika well. You see that guitar there; go, get

the guitar and give us a mazurka! I, the Major, will lead out in

the first couple."

The Captain took the guitar and began to tune it; Plut again

urged Telimena to dance:-