And satisfied that this argument clinched the matter, Volodin laughed, like a sheep bleating.
"In your village they gorge themselves on dead cats," said Peredonov.
"Permit me, Ardalyon Borisitch," said Volodin. "It is possible that in your village they eat dead kittens. We won't talk about it. But surely you've never eaten _erli_?"
"What sort of food is that?" asked Varvara.
"It's this," explained Volodin, "You know what _koutia_[2] is?"
"Well, this is what it is," went on Volodin. "Ground _koutia,_ raisins, sugar and almonds. That's _erli_."
And Volodin began to describe minutely how they cook _erli_ in his village. Peredonov listened to him in an annoyed way.
"_Koutia_," thought Peredonov, "why does he mention that? Does he want me to be dead?"
"If you'd like to have it done properly, give me the stuff, and I'll cook it myself for you."
"Turn a goat into a vegetable garden," said Peredonov, gravely.
"He might drop some poison-powder into it," thought Peredonov.
"Now if you think, Ardalyon Borisitch, that I shall steal some of your sugar, you're mistaken. I don't want your sugar!"
"Don't go on making a fool of yourself," interrupted Varvara. "You know how particular he is. You'd better come here and do it."
"Yes, and you'll have to eat it yourself," said Peredonov.
"Why?" asked Volodin, his voice trembling with indignation.
"As you like, Ardalyon Borisitch," said Volodin, shrugging his shoulders. "I only wanted to please you, and if you don't want it, you don't want it."
"Now tell us about the reprimand the General gave you," said Peredonov.
"What General?" asked Volodin, and flushed violently as he protruded an offended lower lip.
"It's no use pretending. We've heard it," said Peredonov.
"Excuse me, Ardalyon Borisitch," said Volodin, hotly. "Likely enough you've heard about it, but you haven't heard the right story. Now I'll tell you exactly what happened."
"It happened three days ago, about this time," began Volodin. "In our school, as you know, repairs are going on in the workroom. And here, if you please, comes in Veriga with our inspector to look around, and we are working in the back room. So far, good. It doesn't matter what Veriga wanted or why he came--that's no concern of mine. Suppose he is a nobleman? Still he's no connection with our school. But that's no concern of mine. He comes in, and we don't take any notice of him and go on working. When suddenly they come into our room, and Veriga, if you please, has his hat on."
