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There was no great variety of wines, nor was there Madeira; but

wine there was. There was vodka, rum and Lisbon wine, all of the

poorest quality but in sufficient quantity. Besides the

traditional rice and honey, there were three or four dishes, one

of which consisted of pancakes, all prepared in Amalia Ivanovna's

kitchen. Two samovars were boiling, that tea and punch might be

offered after dinner. Katerina Ivanovna had herself seen to

purchasing the provisions, with the help of one of the lodgers,

an unfortunate little Pole who had somehow been stranded at

Madame Lippevechsel's. He promptly put himself at Katerina

Ivanovna's disposal and had been all that morning and all the day

before running about as fast as his legs could carry him, and

very anxious that everyone should be aware of it.