made me laugh till I held my sides, and we rose from the table
intimate friends. He then proposed to teach me how to play billiards.
"It is," said he, "indispensable for soldiers like ourselves. For
example, suppose we arrive in a town, what's to be done? We can
not always make sport of the Jews. As a last resort there is the
inn and the billiard-room; but to play billiards, one must know
how." These reasons convinced me, and I set about learning with
enthusiasm.

Zourine encouraged me in a loud tone; he was astonished at my rapid
progress, and after a few lesson he proposed to play for money, were
it only two kopecks, not for the gain, merely to avoid playing for
nothing, which was, according to him, a very bad habit. I agreed.
Zourine ordered punch, which he advised me to taste in order to
become used to the service, "for," said he, "what kind of service
would that be without punch?"

I took his advice, and we continued to play; the more I tasted of
my glass the bolder I grew. I made the balls fly over the cushions;
I was angry with the marker who was counting. Heaven knows why.
I increased the stake, and behaved, altogether, like a boy just
cut free, for the first time, from his mother's apron-strings. The
time passed quickly. At last, Zourine glanced at the clock, laid
down his cue, and said that I had lost a hundred roubles to him.

I was in great confusion, because my money was all in the hands of
Saveliitch. I began to mumble excuses, when Zourine exclaimed, "Oh!
well! Good God! I can wait till morning; don't be distressed about
it. Now let us go to supper." What could I do? I finished the
day as foolishly as I began it.