We are no tchinovniks.

We prove it by giving you vodka to keep your throats wet and your ears open.

Fill up your glasses--fill up your glasses!" The little fathers of Osterno understood this part of the harangue perfectly, and acted upon it.
The orator scratched his head reflectively.

There was a certain business-like mouthing of his periods, showing that he had learnt all this by heart.

He did not press all his points home in the manner of one speaking from his own brain.
"I see before me," he went on, without an overplus of sequence, "men worthy to take their place among the rulers of the world--eh--er--rulers of the world, little fathers." He paused and drank half a tumbler of vodka.