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The master could not explain what was the matter; nor could the servant make out what was wanted of him. 'Woe! woe! wailed Tchertop-hanov. 'Woe! woe! the groom repeated after him. 'A lantern! here! light a lantern! Light! light! broke at last from Tchertop-hanov's fainting lips. Perfishka rushed into the house.
'And has he been drinking a great deal of vodka? inquired the commissioner. 'Rather! But if you would be so good, your honour, come into his room. 'Well, lead the way! grumbled the commissioner, and he followed Perfishka. An astounding sight was in store for him.
At last, in five minutes, not sooner, a bit of tallow candle was alight at the bottom of a battered lantern; and Tchertop-hanov, accompanied by Perfishka, dashed into the stable, lifted the lantern above his head, looked round.... All empty! He bounded out into the courtyard, ran up and down it in all directions no horse anywhere!
Tchertop-hanov sat facing the window while he told his story, and smoked a pipe with a long tube while Perfishka stood in the doorway, his hands behind his back, and, respectfully contemplating the back of his master's head, heard him relate how, after many fruitless efforts and idle expeditions, Panteley Eremyitch had at last come to the fair at Romyon by himself, without the Jew Leyba, who, through weakness of character, had not persevered, but had deserted him; how, on the fifth day, when he was on the point of leaving, he walked for the last time along the rows of carts, and all at once he saw between three other horses fastened to the railings he saw Malek-Adel!
This was what Panteley Eremyitch said to Perfishka: this was how his tongue spoke; but at heart he was not so completely at peace as he declared. Alas! in his heart of hearts he was not perfectly convinced that the horse he had brought back was really Malek-Adel! Troubled times followed for Panteley Eremyitch. Peace was just the last thing he enjoyed.
'Stolen! Perfishka! Perfishka! Stolen! he yelled at the top of his voice. The groom Perfishka flew head-over-heels out of the loft where he slept, with only his shirt on.... Like drunk men they ran against one another, the master and his solitary servant, in the middle of the courtyard; like madmen they turned round each other.
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