her to the
door.

Tamara did not at once ride away to the house. She turned into a little
coffee-house on Catholicheskaya Street on the way. There Senka the
Depot was waiting for her--a gay fellow with the appearance of a
handsome Tzigan; not black--but blue-haired; black-eyed, with yellow
whites; resolute and daring in his work; the pride of local thieves--a
great celebrity in their world, the first leader of experience, and a
constant, all-night gamester.

He stretched out his hand to her, without getting up. But in the way in
which he so carefully, with a certain force, seated her in her place
could be seen a broad, good-natured endearment.

"How do you do, Tamarochka! Haven't seen you in a long time--I grew
weary ... Do you want coffee?"

"No! Business first ... To-morrow we bury Jennka ... She hanged
herself..." "Yes, I read it in a newspaper," carelessly drawled out
Senka through his teeth. "What's the odds? ..."

"Get fifty roubles for me at once."

"Tamarochka, my sweetheart--I haven't a kopeck! ..."

"I'm telling you--get them!" ordered Tamara, imperiously, but without
getting angry.

"Oh, my Lord! ... Yours, now, I didn't touch, like I promised; but
then, it's Sunday ... The savings banks are closed..."

"Let them! ... Hock the savings book! In general, it's up to you!"

"Why do you need this, my dearie?"

"Isn't it all the same to you, you fool? ... For the funeral."

"Oh! Well, all right then!" sighed Senka. "Then I'd best bring it to
you myself in the evening ... Right, Tamarochka? ... It's so very hard
for me to stand it without you! Oh, my dearie, how I'd kiss and kiss
you; I wouldn't let you close your eyes! ... Shan't I come? ..."

"No, no! ... You do as I ask you, Senechka ... Give in to me. But you
mustn't come--I'm housekeeper now."

"Well, what d'you know about that! ..." drawled out the astonished
Senka and even whistled.

"Yes. And don't you come to me in the meantime. But afterwards,
afterwards, sweetheart, whatever you desire ... There will be an end to
everything soon!"

"Oh, if you wouldn't make me suffer so! Wind things up as soon as you
can!"

"And I will wind 'em up! Wait one little week more, dearie! Did you get
the powders?"

"The powders are a trifle!" discontentedly answered Senka. "And it
isn't powders at all, but pills."

"And you're sure when you say that they'll dissolve at once in water?"

"Sure, I saw it myself."

"But he won't die? Listen, Senya: he