United States or Taiwan ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
He could not imagine by what mystery the Prefect of Police had made his way there, but he rejoiced from the bottom of his heart, for if he was trying to rescue Natacha from the hands of the revolutionaries Koupriane would be a valuable ally. He clapped the Prefect on the shoulder. "Well, well!" he said, almost joyfully. "I certainly did not expect you here. How is your wound?" "Nitchevo!
I put the thought of a good supper out of my mind and looked at the black bread with some pathos, as who would not after conjuring before the eyes a plate of chicken and a bottle of wine? However, it was indeed nitchevo, to use the Russian phrase, a mere nothing.
What a mixture of voices, of gutturals and spluttering and yeekings and chatterings, combined with pursing of lips, eyebrow-twistings, bugging eyes, whiskers and long hair, and common hand signs of distress or delight or urgency or decisiveness: Nitchevo, bonny braw, tres bien, khorashaw, finish, oi soiy, beaucoup, cheerio, spitzka, mozhnya barishna, c'mon kid, parlezvous, douse th' glim, yah ocean, dobra czechinski, amia spigetam, ei geh ha wa yang wa, lubloo, howse th' chow, pardonne, pawrdun, scuse, eesveneets, all these and more too, strike the ear of memory as we tread again the board sidewalks of far off smelly Archangel.
In reply to my question as to what kind of people the Tartars were, he replied laconically, "Nitchevo" that is to say, "nothing in particular"; and on being pressed for a more definite expression of opinion, he admitted that they were very good people indeed. "And what kind of faith have they?" I continued. "A good enough faith," was the prompt reply.
But he had need to speak to Rouletabille in private, and he drew the reporter, after excuses, out into the corridor. "It is the Emperor himself who has sent me," said the high dignitary with emotion. "He has sent me about the eider downs. You forgot to explain the eider downs to him." "Niet!" replied Rouletabille, laughing. "That is nothing. Nitchevo!
Because of his simple mode of existence it is not necessary to overwork in normal times to obtain all the food, clothing, houses and utensils he cares to use. Ordinarily he is a quiet easy-going human. Perhaps there is more of sense of humor in the apparently phlegmatic passivity of the Russian nitchevo than is suspected by those not acquainted with him.
It took a champagne cork and a cord to conquer the orifice. Among our vulgar experiences at this place were fleas. I remonstrated with Mikhei, our typical waiter from the government of Yaroslavl, which furnishes restaurant garcons in hordes as a regular industry. Mikhei replied airily: "Nitchevo! It is nothing! You will soon learn to like them so much that you cannot do without them."
I looked curiously at the carrot, but my host said, "Nitchevo, nitchevo, vinograd" "Don't worry, don't worry, a grape, that's all." He had also brought a kerosene lamp, which, however, lacked a glass. He stood it on one of the grey barrels and turned it monstrously high, just to show his largeness of heart, I suppose.
"What a terrible affair," said the reporter, "I certainly believed we were all dead men." "No, no. It was nothing. Nitchevo!" "And poor Thaddeus Tchitchnikoff with his two poor legs broken!" "Eh! Nitchevo! He has plenty of good solid splints that will make him two good legs again. Nitchevo! Don't you think anything more about that! It is nothing. You have come here to dine?
He laughed amiably, and said: "Nitchevo, that's all right; you may have whatever you please." I never had occasion to avail myself of the offer, but I know that Russians who are well posted do so, although I also know that many Russians are not aware of their privileges in this direction.
Word Of The Day