“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, with envy and exhilaration, “What a splendid thing education is! Science is light. Whereas, we poor folk are as stupid as owls in the sunlight.…Your honor, let us settle up this job.”

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

“Well, five hundred?”

“Not more than one hundred rubles, Egor Terentievitch.”

Petunikoff shrugged his shoulders as if regretting his inability to give more, and clasped the soldier’s hairy hand with his large white palm. They soon ended the matter, for the soldier suddenly gave in and promptly met all Petunikoff’s wishes. As to the latter, he was inexorable, and Vaviloff, after receiving the hundred rubles and signing the paper, threw the pen down on the table and said bitterly:

“Now I will have a nice time with those hooligans! They will laugh at me and cry shame, the devils!”

“You can tell them that I paid up all your claim,” suggested Petunikoff, calmly puffing out ringlets 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 in time before making the intended comparison, and looked anxiously at the merchant’s son. The other smoked on, and seemed to be absorbed in that occupation. He went away soon, promising to destroy the nest of restless vagabonds. Vaviloff followed him with a glance and sighed, feeling acutely as if he would like to shout some gross 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 pub. His eyebrows were sternly knit and his right fist firmly clenched. Vaviloff smiled at him in a guilty manner.

“Well, worthy descendant of Judas and Cain, tell us…”

“It’s all been decided…” said Vaviloff, sighing and lowering his eyes.

“I don’t doubt it; how many pieces of silver did you receive?”

“Four hundred rubles…”

“Lying, of course…But all the better for me. Without any further words, Egorka, ten per cent of it for my discovery, twenty-five rubles to the teacher for writing the petition, one bucket of vodka to all of us, and decent refreshments all round. Give me the money now, the vodka and refreshments will do at eight o’clock.”

Vaviloff turned green 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 like that! I need not be afraid of you now! I…”

Kuvalda looked at the clock.

“I give you ten minutes, Egorka, for your idiotic talk. Finish delivering your nonsense by that time and give me what I demand. If you don’t, I’ll make an end of you! Has Bad End sold anything to you? Did