"You would have laughed, Feodor Feodorovitch. We had sung songs
on the Barque* and then the Bohemians left with their music and we
went out onto the river-bank to stretch our legs and cool our faces
in the freshness of the dawn, when a company of Cossacks of the
Guard came along. I knew the officer in command and invited him to
come along with us and drink the Emperor's health at Cubat's place.
That officer, Feodor Feodorovitch, is a man who knows vintages and
boasts that he has never swallowed a glass of anything so common as
Crimean wine. When I named champagne he cried, 'Vive l'Empereur!'
A true patriot. So we started, merry as school-children. The
entire company followed, then all the diners playing little whistles,
and all the servants besides, single file. At Cubat's I hated to
leave the companion-officers of my friend at the door, so I invited
them in, too. They accepted, naturally. But the subalterns were
thirsty as well. I understand discipline. You know, Feodor
Feodorovitch, that I am a stickler for discipline. Just because
one is gay of a spring morning, discipline should not be forgotten.
I invited the officers to drink in a private room, and sent the
subalterns into the main hall of the restaurant. Then the soldiers
were thirsty, too, and I had drinks served to them out in the
courtyard. Then, my word, there was a perplexing business, for now
the horses whinnied. The brave horses, Feodor Feodorovitch, who
also wished to drink the health of the Emperor. I was bothered
about the discipline. Hall, court, all were full. And I could not
put the horses in private rooms. Well, I made them carry out
champagne in pails and then came the perplexing business I had tried
so hard to avoid, a grand mixture of boots and horse-shoes that was
certainly the liveliest thing I have ever seen in my life. But the
horses were the most joyous, and danced as if a torch was held under
their nostrils, and all of them, my word! were ready to throw their