Nikolai Gogol

“ All around the rest of the market-place are nothing but palings. But in the centre are some little sheds where a packet of round cakes, a stout woman in a red dress, a bar of soap some pounds of bitter almonds, some lead, some cotton and two shopmen playing at “svaika,” a game resembling quoits, are always to be seen.
But on the arrival of the cavalry regiment everything changed. The streets became more lively and wore quite another aspect. ”

“ One never meets anything in the town, unless it is a cock crossing the road, full of dust and soft as a pillow. At the slightest rain this dust is turned into mud, and then all the streets are filled with pigs. ”

“ The general began to look at her with evident satisfaction, and left off smoking. The colonel himself went down the steps and patted her neck. The major ran his hand down her legs, and all the other officers clicked their tongues at her.
Tchertokoutski left the verandah to take up a position beside the mare. The soldier who held her bridle drew himself up and stared fixedly at the guests.
“She is very fine, very fine,” said Tchertokoutski “a very well-shaped beast. Will your excellency allow me to ask whether she is a good goer?” ”

“ This general liveliness was still further increased when the town of B -- -- became the residence of the general commanding the brigade to which the regiment belonged. Many gentlemen of the neighbourhood, whose very existence no one had even suspected, began to come into the town with the intention of calling on the officers, or, perhaps, of playing bank, a game concerning which they had up till then only a very confused notion occupied as they were with their crops and the commissions of their wives and their hare-hunting. ”

“ At these words the general took a long pull at his pipe.
“She is not quite recovered yet; there is not a decent stable in this cursed little place. But she is not bad looking -- ” puff -- puff, the general here let out the smoke which he had kept in his mouth till then -- “the little mare.”
“Is it long since your excellency --” puff -- puff -- puff -- “condescended to buy her?” asked Tchertokoutski. ”

“ Sometimes some country gentleman of the neighbourhood, the owner of a dozen serfs, passes in a vehicle which is a kind of compromise between a carriage and a cart, surrounded by sacks of flour, and whipping up his bay mare with her colt trotting by her side. The aspect of the market-place is mournful enough. ”

“ The colonel, the major, and the other officers thanked Tchertokoutski.
“I am of opinion myself, your excellency, that if one buys anything it should be good; it is not worth the trouble of getting, if it turns out bad. ”

“ The officers are coming here; tell them I am not at home, that I went out early this morning, that I am not coming back. Do you understand? Go and repeat it to all the servants. Be off, quick.”
Having uttered these words, he hurriedly slipped on his dressing-gown, and ran off to shut himself up in the coach-house, which he thought the safest hiding-place. But he fancied that he might be noticed in the corner in which he had taken refuge.
“This will be better,” said he to himself, letting down the steps of the nearest vehicle, which happened to be the calash. ”

“ The officers of the regiment, amongst whom were the colonel and the fat major, formed the majority of those present. The general himself was rather stout; a good officer, nevertheless, according to his subordinates. ”