'Well?'

'Well?' repeated Gavrila. 'Well? And then you say well? You look like old Nick himself, G.o.d forgive my saying so, that's what you look like.'

Kapiton blinked rapidly.

'Go on abusing me, go on, if you like, Gavrila Andreitch,' he thought to himself again.

'Here you've been drunk again,' Gavrila began, 'drunk again, haven't you? Eh? Come, answer me!'

'Owing to the weakness of my health, I have exposed myself to spirituous beverages, certainly,' replied Kapiton.

'Owing to the weakness of your health!... They let you off too easy, that's what it is; and you've been apprenticed in Petersburg.... Much you learned in your apprenticeship! You simply eat your bread in idleness.'

'In that matter, Gavrila Andreitch, there is one to judge me, the Lord G.o.d Himself, and no one else. He also knows what manner of man I be in this world, and whether I eat my bread in idleness. And as concerning your contention regarding drunkenness, in that matter, too, I am not to blame, but rather a friend; he led me into temptation, but was diplomatic and got away, while I....'

'While you were left, like a goose, in the street. Ah, you're a dissolute fellow! But that's not the point,' the steward went on, 'I've something to tell you. Our lady...' here he paused a minute, 'it's our lady's pleasure that you should be married. Do you hear? She imagines you may be steadier when you're married. Do you understand?'

'To be sure I do.'

'Well, then. For my part I think it would be better to give you a good hiding. But there--it's her business. Well? are you agreeable?'

Kapiton grinned.

'Matrimony is an excellent thing for any one, Gavrila Andreitch; and, as far as I am concerned, I shall be quite agreeable.'

'Very well, then,' replied Gavrila, while he reflected to himself: 'there's no denying the man expresses himself very properly. Only there's one thing,' he pursued aloud: 'the wife our lady's picked out for you is an unlucky choice.'

'Why, who is she, permit me to inquire?'

'Tatiana.'

'Tatiana?'

And Kapiton opened his eyes, and moved a little away from the wall.

'Well, what are you in such a taking for?... Isn't she to your taste, hey?'

'Not to my taste, do you say, Gavrila Andreitch! She's right enough, a hard-working steady girl.... But you know very well yourself, Gavrila Andreitch, why that fellow, that wild man of the woods, that monster of the steppes, he's after her, you know....'

'I know, mate, I know all about it,' the butler cut him short in a tone of annoyance: 'but there, you see....'

'But upon my soul, Gavrila Andreitch! why, he'll kill me, by G.o.d, he will, he'll crush me like some fly; why, he's got a fist--why, you kindly look yourself what a fist he's got; why, he's simply got a fist like Minin Pozharsky's. You see he's deaf, he beats and does not hear how he's beating! He swings his great fists, as if he's asleep. And there's no possibility of pacifying him; and for why? Why, because, as you know yourself, Gavrila Andreitch, he's deaf, and what's more, has no more wit than the heel of my foot. Why, he's a sort of beast, a heathen idol, Gavrila Andreitch, and worse ... a block of wood; what have I done that I should have to suffer from him now? Sure it is, it's all over with me now; I've knocked about, I've had enough to put up with, I've been battered like an earthenware pot, but still I'm a man, after all, and not a worthless pot.'

'I know, I know, don't go talking away....'

'Lord, my G.o.d!' the shoemaker continued warmly, 'when is the end?

when, O Lord! A poor wretch I am, a poor wretch whose sufferings are endless! What a life, what a life mine's been, come to think of it!

In my young days, I was beaten by a German I was 'prentice to; in the prime of life beaten by my own countrymen, and last of all, in ripe years, see what I have been brought to....'

'Ugh, you flabby soul!' said Gavrila Andreitch. 'Why do you make so many words about it?'

'Why, do you say, Gavrila Andreitch? It's not a beating I'm afraid of, Gavrila Andreitch. A gentleman may chastise me in private, but give me a civil word before folks, and I'm a man still; but see now, whom I've to do with....'

'Come, get along,' Gavrila interposed impatiently. Kapiton turned away and staggered off.

'But, if it were not for him,' the steward shouted after him, 'you would consent for your part?'

'I signify my acquiescence,' retorted Kapiton as he disappeared.

His fine language did not desert him, even in the most trying positions.

The steward walked several times up and down the room.

'Well, call Tatiana now,' he said at last.

A few instants later, Tatiana had come up almost noiselessly, and was standing in the doorway.

'What are your orders, Gavrila Andreitch?' she said in a soft voice.

The steward looked at her intently.

'Well, Taniusha,' he said, 'would you like to be married? Our lady has chosen a husband for you.'

'Yes, Gavrila Andreitch. And whom has she deigned to name as a husband for me?' she added falteringly.

'Kapiton, the shoemaker.'

'Yes, sir.'

'He's a feather-brained fellow, that's certain. But it's just for that the mistress reckons upon you.'

'Yes, sir.'

'There's one difficulty ... you know the deaf man, Gerasim, he's courting you, you see. How did you come to bewitch such a bear? But you see, he'll kill you, very like, he's such a bear....'

'He'll kill me, Gavrila Andreitch, he'll kill me, and no mistake.'

'Kill you.... Well, we shall see about that. What do you mean by saying he'll kill you? Has he any right to kill you? tell me yourself.'

'I don't know, Gavrila Andreitch, about his having any right or not.'

'What a woman! why, you've made him no promise, I suppose....'

'What are you pleased to ask of me?'

The steward was silent for a little, thinking, 'You're a meek soul!

Well, that's right,' he said aloud; 'we'll have another talk with you later, now you can go, Taniusha; I see you're not unruly, certainly.'

Tatiana turned, steadied herself a little against the doorpost, and went away.