ther words, Egorka, ten per cent. of it for my discovery, four per
cent. to the teacher for writing the petition, one 'vedro' of vodki to
all of us, and refreshments all round. Give me the money now, the
vodki and refreshments will do at eight o'clock."

Vaviloff turned purple with rage, and stared at Kuvalda with wide-open
eyes.

"This is humbug! This is robbery! I will do nothing of the sort.
What do you mean, Aristid Fomich? Keep your appetite for the next
feast! I am not afraid of you now ..."

Kuvalda looked at the clock.

"I give you ten minutes, Egorka, for your idiotic talk. Finish your
nonsense by that time and give me what I demand. If you don't I will
devour you! Kanets has sold you something? Did you read in the paper
about the theft at Basoff's house? Do you understand? You won't have
time to hide anything, we will not let you ... and this very night ...
do you understand?"

"Why, Aristid Fomich?" sobbed the discomfited merchant.

"No more words! Did you understand or not?"

Tall, grey, and imposing, Kuvalda spoke in half whispers, and his deep
bass voice rang through the house. Vaviloff always feared him because
he was not only a retired military man, but a man who had nothing to
lose. But now Kuvalda appeared before him in a new role. He did not
speak much, and jocosely as usual, but spoke in the tone of a
commander, who was convinced of the other's guilt. And Vaviloff felt
that the Captain could and would ruin him with the greatest pleasure.
He must needs bow before this power. But, nevertheless, the soldier
thought of trying him once more. He sighed deeply, and began with
apparent calmness:

"It is truly said that a man's sin will find him out ... I lied to you,
Aristid Fomich, ... I tried to be cleverer than I am ... I only
received one hundred roubles."

"Go on!" said Kuvalda.

"And not four hundred as I told you ... That means ..."

"It does not mean anything. It is all the same to me whether you lied
or not. You owe me sixty-five roubles. That is not much, eh?"

"Oh! my Lord! Aristid Fomich! I have always been attentive to your
honour and done my best to please you."

"Drop all that, Egorka, grandchild of Judas!"

"All right! I will give it you ... only God will punish you for
this...."

"Silence! You rotten pimple of the earth!" shouted the Captain,
rolling his eyes. "He has punished me enough already in forcing me to
have conversation with you.... I