“ ‘I do certainly want to go; but what means has a poor man like me of taking the steamboat? It must cost a great deal, and is not for such as I am.’
“ ‘And why not come? We won’t ask much from a moujik like you.’
“ ‘How much?’
“He mentioned some price which I do not quite remember now, but which astonished me—it was so small.
“ ‘Well, does that suit you? Why do you still hesitate?’
“ ‘Why, I have only just arrived to-day, and I must have my passport looked to by the police.’
“ ‘Oh, your police will detain you three days, and the boat starts to-morrow morning.’
“ ‘What’s to be done?’
“ ‘Why, start without having it looked at.’
“ ‘Yes; and if some misfortune happened to me?’