第5章

第5章“iwillbringyoutheinterestforanothermonth;waitalittle.”

“butthat’sformetodoasiplease,mygoodsir,towaitortosellyourpledgeatonce.”

“howmuchwillyougivemeforthewatch,alyonaivanovna?”

“youcomewithsuchtrifles,mygoodsir,it’sscarcelyworthanything.igaveyoutworoubleslasttimeforyourringandonecouldbuyitquitenewatajeweler’sforaroubleandahalf.”

“givemefourroublesforit,ishallredeemit,itwasmyfather’s.ishallbegettingsomemoneysoon.”

“aroubleandahalf,andinterestinadvance,ifyoulike!”

“aroubleandahalf!”criedtheyoungman.

“pleaseyourself”—andtheoldwomanhandedhimbackthewatch.theyoungmantookit,andwassoangrythathewasonthepointofgoingaway;butcheckedhimselfatonce,rememberingthattherewasnowhereelsehecouldgo,andthathehadhadanotherobjectalsoincoming.

“handitover,”hesaidroughly.

theoldwomanfumbledinherpocketforherkeys,anddisappearedbehindthecurtainintotheotherroom.theyoungman,leftstandingaloneinthemiddleoftheroom,listenedinquisitively,thinking.hecouldhearherunlockingthechestofdrawers.

“itmustbethetopdrawer,”hereflected.“soshecarriesthekeysinapocketontheright.allinonebunchonasteelring.…andthere’sonekeythere,threetimesasbigasalltheothers,withdeepnotches;thatcan’tbethekeyofthechestofdrawers…thentheremustbesomeotherchestorstrong-box…that’sworthknowing.strong-boxesalwayshavekeyslikethat…buthowdegradingitallis.”

theoldwomancameback.

“here,sir:aswesaytencopeckstheroubleamonth,soimusttakefifteencopecksfromaroubleandahalfforthemonthinadvance.butforthetworoublesilentyoubefore,youowemenowtwentycopecksonthesamereckoninginadvance.thatmakesthirty-fivecopecksaltogether.soimustgiveyouaroubleandfifteencopecksforthewatch.hereitis.”

“what!onlyaroubleandfifteencopecksnow!”

“justso.”

theyoungmandidnotdisputeitandtookthemoney.helookedattheoldwoman,andwasinnohurrytogetaway,asthoughtherewasstillsomethinghewantedtosayortodo,buthedidnothimselfquiteknowwhat.

“imaybebringingyousomethingelseinadayortwo,alyonaivanovna—avaluablething—silver—acigarette-box,assoonasigetitbackfromafriend…”hebrokeoffinconfusion.

“well,wewilltalkaboutitthen,sir.”

“good-bye—areyoualwaysathomealone,yoursisterisnotherewithyou?”heaskedherascasuallyaspossibleashewentoutintothepassage.

“whatbusinessissheofyours,mygoodsir?”

“oh,nothingparticular,isimplyasked.youaretooquick.…good-day,alyonaivanovna.”