No matter, though.

He's always playing billiards here.

Only three years ago he was not a _shlupik_ and kept up his spirits and even used to call other people _shlupiks_.

But one day he turns up, and our porter...you know Vassily? Why, that fat one; he's famous for his _bon mots_.

And so Prince Tchetchensky asks him, 'Come, Vassily, who's here? Any _shlupiks_ here yet?' And he says, 'You're the third.