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Read Ebook: Die Klerisei by Leskov N S Nikolai Semenovich Luther Arthur Translator
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Ebook has 67 lines and 2219 words, and 2 pages
"Fie--fie, Sergeant, swearing will not mend matters."
"Then don't, Sergeant!"
"Or a ladder?" suggested Mrs. Agatha.
"B'gad, mam!" he exclaimed. "I believe you're right--though to be sure the house next door is empty."
"Was!" corrected Mrs. Agatha. "Lud, Sergeant, there's a great lady from London been living there a month and more with a houseful of lackeys and servants."
"Ha, a month, mam? Lackeys and servants say you? B'gad, say I, that's them! Must report this to the Major. Must report at once!" and the Sergeant laid down his hammer.
"And where is the Major?"
"Mam," said the Sergeant, consulting a large, brass chronometer, "the hour is pre-cisely three-fourteen, consequently he is now a-sitting in his Ramillie coat a-writing of his History of Fortification--in ten vollums."
"'Twill be pity to wake him!" sighed Mrs. Agatha.
"Wake him?" repeated the Sergeant, staring; whereupon Mrs. Agatha laughed and went her way while he continued to stare after her until her trim figure and snowy mob-cap had vanished behind the yew-hedge.
Then the Sergeant sighed, reached for his coat, put it on, adjusted his tall, leathern stock, sighed again and turning sharp about, marched into the house.
INTRODUCING THE RAVISHER OF THE SAME
Major John D'Arcy was hard at work on his book but just now he leaned far back in his elbow-chair, long legs stretched out, deep-plunged in balmy slumber; perceiving which the Sergeant halted suddenly, stood at ease and stared.
The Major's great black peruke dangled from the chair-back, and his close-cropped head was bowed upon his broad chest, wherefore, ever and anon, he snored gently. The Major was forty-one but just now as he sat lost in the oblivion of sleep he looked thirty; but then again when he strode gravely to and fro in his old service coat and with black brows wrinkled in sober thought he looked fifty at the least.
Thus he continued to sleep and the Sergeant to stare until presently, choking upon a snore, the Major opened his eyes and sat up briskly, whereupon the Sergeant immediately came to attention.
"Ha, Zeb!" exclaimed the Major in mild wonder, "what is it, Sergeant Zeb?"
"Cherries?" yawned the Major, "the cherries are doing very well, thanks to your unremitting care, Sergeant, and of all fruits commend me to cherries. Now had it been cherries that led our common mother Eve into--ha--difficulties, Sergeant, I could have sympathised more deeply with her lamentable--ha--I say with
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