第294章
第294章rostovwasparticularlystruckbythebeautyofasmallthoroughbred,slender,blackandtanbitchofilagin’s,withmuscleslikesteel,adelicatenose,andprominentblackeyes.hehadheardofthesportingqualitiesofilagin’sdogs,andinthathandsomebitchhesawarivalofhismilka.
inthemiddleofasedateconversationaboutthecropsoftheyear,startedbyilagin,nikolaypointedouttheblackandtanbitch.
“youhaveafinebitchthere!”hesaid,inacarelesstone.“issheclever?”
“thatone?yes,she’sagoodbeast—shecancatchahare,”ilaginsaidindifferentlyofhisblackandtanyerza,abitchforwhomhehadayearbeforegivenaneighbourthreefamiliesofhouse-serfs.“sotheydon’tbragoftheirthrashing,count,”hewenton,takinguptheirpreviousconversation.andfeelingitonlypolitetorepaytheyoungcount’scompliment,ilaginscannedhisdogs,andpitchedonmilka,whosebroadbackcaughthiseye.
“that’sagoodblackandtanyouhavethere—afineone!”hesaid.
“yes,she’sallright,shecanrun,”answerednikolay.“oh,ifonlyagoodbigharewouldrunintothefield,iwouldshowyouwhatshe’slike!”hethought,andturningtohisgroom,hesaidhewouldgivearoubletoanyonewhowouldunearthahare.
“ican’tunderstand,”ilaginwenton,“howitisothersportsmenaresoenviousovergameanddogs.iwilltellyouformyself,count.ienjoyhunting,asyouknow;thechaseinsuchcompany…whatcouldbemoredelightful”(hedoffedhisbeavercapagaintonatasha);“butthisreckoningupoftheskinsonehascarriedoff—idon’tcareaboutthat.”
“ohno!”
“norcouldibechagrinedatmydog’sbeingoutdonebyanotherman’s—allicareaboutisthechaseitself,eh,count?andsoiconsider…”
“oh,…ho…ho,”soundedatthatmomentinaprolongedcallfromoneofthegrooms.hewasstandingonaknollinthestubblewithhiswhipheldup,andhecalledoncemore,“o…ho…aho!”(thiscall,andtheliftedwhip,meantthathesawaharesquattingbeforehim.)
“ah,hehasstartedahare,ifancy,”saidilagincarelessly.“well,letuscourseit,count!”
“yes,wemust…butwhatdoyousay,together?”answerednikolay,lookingintentlyatyerzaandtheuncle’sredrugay,thetworivalsagainstwhomhehadneverbeforehadachanceofputtinghisdogs.“whatiftheyoutdomymilkafromthefirst?”hethought,ridingbytheuncleandilagintowardsthehare.
“isitfull-grown?”askedilagin,goinguptothegroomwhohadstartedit,andlookingabouthimwithsomeexcitement,ashewhistledtohisyerza.…“andyou,mihailnikanoritch?”hesaidtotheuncle.
theunclerodeon,lookingsullen.
“what’stheuseofmycompetingwithyou?why,yourdogs—youhavepaidavillageforeachofthem;they’reworththousands.youtryyoursagainsteachother,andi’lllookon!”
“rugay!hey,hey,”heshouted.“rugayushka!”headded,involuntarilyexpressinghistenderness,andthehopeheputinthereddogbythisaffectionatediminutive.natashasawandfelttheemotionconcealedbythetwoelderlymenandbyherbrother,andwasherselfexcitedbyit.thegroomontheknollwasstandingwithhiswhiplifted;thegentlemenrodeuptohimatawalkingpace;thepackwereontherimofthehorizon,movingawayfromthehare;therestofthehuntingpartytoowereridingaway.everythingwasdoneslowlyanddeliberately.