me for that!" said the Captain, gloomily.

"It is," Tyapa agreed. "You ought to die too... Anything is better
than this..."

"But perhaps death might be worse? How do you know?"

"It could not be worse. When you die you have only God to deal with
... but here you have to deal with men ... and men--what are they?"

"Enough! ... Be quiet!" interrupted Kuvalda, angrily.

And in the dawn, which filled the dosshouse, a solemn stillness reigned
over all. Long and silently they sat at the feet of their dead
companion, seldom looking at him, and both plunged in thought. Then
Tyapa asked:

"Will you bury him?"

"I? No, let the police bury him!"

"You took money from Vaviloff for this petition ... and I will give you
some if you have not enough." ...

"Though I have his money ... still I shall not bury him."

"That is not right. You are robbing the dead. I will tell them all
that you want to keep his money...." Tyapa threatened him.

"You are a fool, you old devil!" said Kuvalda, contemptuously.

"I am not a fool ... but it is not right nor friendly."

"Enough! Be off!"

"How much money is there?"

"Twenty-five roubles, ..." said Kuvalda, absently.

"So! ... You might gain a five-rouble note...."

"You old scoundrel! ..." And looking into Tyapa's face the Captain
swore.

"Well, what? Give ..."

"Go to the Devil! ... I am going to spend this money in erecting a
monument to him."

"What does he want that for?"

"I will buy a stone and an anchor. I shall place the stone on the
grass, and attach the anchor to it with a very heavy chain."

"Why? You are playing tricks ..."

"Well ... It is no business of yours."

"Look out! I shall tell ..." again threatened Tyapa.

Aristid Fomich looked at him sullenly and said nothing. Again they sat
there in that silence which, in the presence of the dead, is so full of
mystery.

"Listen ... They are coming!" Tyapa got up and went out of the
dosshouse.

Then there appeared at the door the Doctor, the Police Inspector of the
district, and the examining Magistrate or Coroner. All three came in
turn, looked at the dead teacher, and then went out, throwing
suspicious glances at Kuvalda. He sat there, without taking any notice
of them, until the Police Inspector asked him:

"Of what did he die?"

"Ask him... I think his evil life hastened his end."

"What?" asked the Coroner.

"I say that he died of a disease to which he had not been acc