Akím turned his back toward him; Naúm began to unbind him.
"Look out, old man,"—he added, as he slipped the rope over his wrists:—"remember, I have spared thee; be careful!"
"You 're a dear, Naúm Ivánitch,"—stammered the deeply-moved Efrém.—"The Lord will be merciful to you!"
Akím stretched out his chilled and swollen arms, and was starting for the gate....
All of a sudden Naúm "turned Jewish," as the expression is—evidently, he was sorry that he had released Akím....
"Thou hast taken an oath, look out,"—he shouted after him.
Akím turned round, and surveying the house with an embracing glance, said sadly:—"Possess thou everything, forever, undisturbed .... farewell."
And he stepped quietly into the street, accompanied by Efrém. Naúm waved his hand, ordered the cart to be unharnessed, and went back into the house.
"Whither away, Akím Semyónitch? Art not thou coming to my house?"—exclaimed Efrém,—perceiving that Akím turned to the right from the highway.
"No, Efrémushka, thanks,"—replied Akím.... "I will go and see what my wife is doing."