-balanced
mind. Vaviloff also liked Petunikoff's straightforward manner of
addressing him without any pretensions, as if he were his own brother,
though Vaviloff understood well enough that he was his superior, he
being only a soldier. Looking at him, he grew fonder and fonder of
him, and, forgetting for a moment the matter in hand, respectfully
asked Petunikoff:

"Where did you study?"

"In the technological institute. Why?" answered the other, smiling:

"Nothing. Only ... excuse me!" The soldier lowered his head, and then
suddenly exclaimed, "What a splendid thing education is!
Science--light. My brother, I am as stupid as an owl before the sun
... Your honour, let us finish this job."

With an air of decision he stretched out his hand to Petunikoff and
said:

"Well, five hundred?"

"Not more than one hundred roubles, Egor Terentievitch." Petunikoff
shrugged his shoulders as if sorry at being unable to give more, and
touched the soldier's hairy hand with his long white fingers. They
soon ended the matter, for the soldier gave in quickly and met
Petunikoff's wishes. And when Vaviloff had received the hundred
roubles and signed the paper, he threw the pen down on the table and
said, bitterly:

"Now I will have a nice time! They will laugh at me, they will cry
shame on me, the devils!"

"But you tell them that I paid all your claim," suggested Petunikoff,
calmly puffing out clouds of smoke and watching them float upwards.

"But do you think they will believe it? They are as clever swindlers
if not worse ..."

Vaviloff stopped himself in time before making the intended comparison,
and looked at the merchant's son in terror. The other smoked on, and
seemed to be absorbed in that occupation. He went away soon, promising
to destroy the nest of vagabonds. Vaviloff looked after him and sighed,
feeling as if he would like to shout some insult at the young man who
was going with such firm steps towards the steep road, encumbered with
its ditches and heaps of rubbish.

In the evening the Captain appeared in the eating-house. His eyebrows
were knit and his fist clenched. Vaviloff smiled at him in a guilty
manner.

"Well, worthy descendant of Judas and Cain, tell us ..."

"They decided" ... said Vaviloff, sighing and lowering his eyes.

"I don't doubt it; how many silver pieces did you receive?"

"Four hundred roubles ..."

"Of course you are lying ... But all the better for me. Without any
fur