ugly as a worn-out cab-horse. : He is old, but I wouldn’t take five Squeezers for him. Why, how can you? Guess is a dog; as for Squeezer, well, it’s too funny to argue.
Anybody you like has a dog as good as Squeezer... you may find them under every bush almost. Twenty-five roubles would be a handsome price to pay for him. : There’s some demon of contradition in you today, Ivan Vassilevitch.
First you pretend that the Meadows are yours; now, that Guess is better than Squeezer. I don’t like people who don’t say what they mean, because you know perfectly well that Squeezer is a hundred times better than your silly Guess. Why do you want to say he isn’t? : I see, Natalya Stepanovna, that you consider me either blind or a fool.
You must realise that Squeezer is overshot! : It’s not true. : He is! : It’s not true!
: Why shout madam? : Why talk rot? It’s awful! It’s time your Guess was shot, and you compare him with Squeezer!
: Excuse me, I cannot continue this discussion, my heart is palpitating. : I’ve noticed that those hunters argue most who know least. : Madam, please be silent. My heart is going to pieces.
[ shouts ] Shut up! : I shan’t shut up until you acknowledge that Squeezer is a hundred times better than your Guess! : A hundred times worse! Be hanged to your Squeezer!
His head... eyes... shoulder... : There’s no need to hang your silly Guess; he’s half-dead already!
: [ weeps ] Shut up! My heart’s bursting! : I shan’t shut up. [ Enter Chubukov .] C HUBUKOV : What’s the matter now?
: Papa, tell us truly, which is the better dog, our Squeezer or his Guess. : Stepan Stepanovitch, I implore you to tell me just one thing: is your Squeezer overshot or not? Yes or no? C HUBUKOV : And suppose he is?
What does it matter? He’s the best dog in the district for all that, and so on. : But isn’t my