e pocket, and began to practise
speaking like a shopkeeper. "That sounds like it," he thought, "but
after all there is no need of acting, my get-up is convincing enough."
Just then he recollected a German exile, who had to make his escape
right across Russia with only a poor knowledge of the language. But
thanks to a merchant's cap which he had bought in a provincial town, he
was taken everywhere for a merchant and had successfully made his way
across the frontier.

At this moment Solomin entered.

"I say!" he exclaimed. "Arrayed in all your war paint? Excuse me, my
dear fellow, but in that garb one can hardly speak to you respectfully."

"Please don't. I had long meant to ask you--"

"But it's early as yet. It doesn't matter if you only want to get used
to it, only you must not go out yet. My employer is still here. He's in
bed."

"I'll go out later on," Nejdanov responded. "I'll explore the
neighbourhood a little, until further orders come."

"Capital! But I tell you what, Alexai... I may call you Alexai, may I
not?"

"Certainly, or Lexy if you like," Nejdanov added with a smile.

"No; there is no need to overdo things. Listen. Good counsel is
better than money, as the saying goes. I see that you have pamphlets.
Distribute them wherever you like, only not in the factory on any
account!"

"Why not?"

"In the first place, because it won't be safe for you; in the second,
because I promised the owner not to do that sort of thing here. You see
the place is his after all, and then something has already been done...
a school and so on. You might do more harm than good. Further than
that, you may do as you like, I shall not hinder you. But you must not
interfere with my workpeople."

"Caution is always useful," Nejdanov remarked with a sarcastic smile.

Solomin smiled his characteristic broad smile.

"Yes, my dear Alexai, it's always useful. But what do I see? Where are
we?"

The last words referred to Mariana, who at that moment appeared in the
doorway of her room in a print dress that had been washed a great many
times, with a yellow kerchief over her shoulders and a red one on her
head. Tatiana stood behind her, smiling good-naturedly. Mariana seemed
younger and brighter in her simple garment and looked far better than
Nejdanov in his long-skirted coat.

"Vassily Fedotitch, don't laugh, please," Mariana implored, turning as
red as a poppy.

"There's a nice couple!" Tatiana exclaimed, clapping her hand