“Tell me, does he owe you anything?” asked Gilbert of Nicholas Vanskynov, after this transaction was completed.
“He does, three rubles. And more, too, for he once promised to pay me more salary, but he never did so.”
“What would the increase of salary have amounted to?”
The clerk made a rapid calculation in his head.
“Not less than eighteen rubles.” His eyes glistened. “But I will take fifteen, if I can get them.”
“You villain! It is nothing more that I will pay!” roared Ivan Snokoff.
“Not so fast, Snokoff,” said Gilbert coolly. “You had better pay up and save trouble. Remember, he can report you quite as well as I can.”
At this the rascal stormed greatly. But he saw how helpless he was, and not caring to have more trouble, he finally paid his former clerk what was coming to him and ordered him to be gone. He was then left to himself, and the guard was cautioned to see to it that he did not escape.
“Well, that was certainly a piece of luck,” said Gilbert, after the affair was over, and he had placed the money in a safe place. “The folks at home will be glad to hear of it.”
“Snokoff will never forgive you, Gilbert,” answered Ben.