The Contemporary (Sovremennik)

kind of business, and have my father ask on my behalf, and in two years I will be a kammer-yunker gentleman of the bedchamber, a court rank.

Varvara Vasilyevna (with eyes shining with delight). Oh, a kammer-yunker uniform is charming!...

Pavel Vasilyevich. I am surprised at all those young men who do not serve in the military... In the first place, that charming uniform, which, pardon, in my opinion, is much better than the kammer-yunker's.

Mikhailo Ivanych. Well, no... I do not agree with you.

Pavel Vasilyevich. How can you not agree that a hussar cavalryman uniform is better than a kammer-yunker's?... My dear fellow!... That mentik hussar's short cloak worn over the shoulder alone... Those cords... And then on horseback... It is something imposing, Mars-like...

Mikhailo Ivanych. Well, what of being Mars-like... If you will excuse me, this warlike appearance is not in fashion these days... And in general, all military uniforms have become very commonplace... In a kammer-yunker uniform, on the contrary, there is something refined... It reminds one of the luxury and brilliance of balls... the sophisticated etiquette of the court......

Pavel Vasilyevich. Well, you are fantasizing, and I am speaking to you simply about the look...

Mikhailo Ivanych. Wait, wait: instead of arguing among ourselves, let us leave this question to the decision of the ladies. (Turning to Varvara Vasilyevna). I submit myself to your judgment, mademoiselle miss; tell us impartially: which uniform is better, the hussar or the kammer-yunker?... Resolve our dispute...

Varvara Vasilyevna. Oh, what a comparison!... The kammer-yunker's is much better... And you expressed yourself wonderfully that it immediately reminds one of the court... this elegance... this brilliance...

Mikhailo Ivanych. You see, I have won...

Pavel Vasilyevich. In that case, I am appealing to you, Anna Mikhailovna: defend us military men... Is it possible that you do not like the hussar uniform either?...

Aneta. On the contrary, I like the hussar one much more.

Pavel Vasilyevich. I thank you: you have resurrected me... Now I respect myself and my rank once again...

Tatyana Andrevna. True, true, Anetochka; I am for you too: how can these shtafirkas slang: civilians, non-military men be compared to military men!...