"It can't be any worse. When one dies, one has to deal with God; whilst here, one has to deal with men. And men, you know what they are."
"That's all right, only stop your grumbling!" said Kouvalda angrily.
And in the half light of early dawn an impressive silence reigned once more throughout the doss-house.
They sat thus for a long time quietly, at the feet of their dead companion, occasionally glancing at him, but plunged both of them in deep thought. At length Tiapa inquired—
"Are you going to bury him?"
"I? No, let the police bury him."
"Ah! now it's you who ought to do it! You took the share of the money due to him for writing the petition for Vaviloff. If you haven't enough I'll make it up."
"Yes, I have his money, but I am not going to bury him."
"That doesn't seem right. It's like robbing a dead man. I shall tell everyone that you mean to stick to his money!"
"You are an old fool!" said Kouvalda disdainfully.