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The household, gazing at Robak, marvelled whence he had got such

a bearing and such jollity. The Judge at once repeated the orders

to the cook; they brought in a bowl, sugar, bottles, and stewed

beef. Plut and Rykov set to work briskly; and so greedily did

they feed and so copiously did they drink, that in a half hour

they had eaten twenty-three plates of the stewed beef and emptied

an enormous half bowl of punch.

So the Major, full and merry, lolled in his chair, took out his

pipe, lighted it with a bank note, and, wiping the breakfast from

his lips with the end of a napkin, turned his laughing eyes on

the women, and said:-