S K-B: No
enduring mystery, JM. Fartuk is po-russki for APRON (nom. sing.). The coachman
who happens to be called Fartukov has probably endured a lifetime of
giggles
JM: Thanks, S K-B! "Fartuk"
means apron ( with a contraceptive hint in
ADA?). Indeed, VN plays with names,
like butlers named Bouteillan and Bout, or Mlle La
Rivière, establishing not-so-playful associations through
this kind of redundancy, unlike Dickens' names, for example, or
mockingly clever anagrams, like "Avida Dolars" for Salvador
Dali.