"So you don't want to make their acquaintance; that's not quite polite," said Aristide Kouvalda, laughing.
Petounnikoff drew his purse from his pocket, fumbled with it for a few minutes, finally pulling out ten kopecks; he crossed himself and placed them at the feet of the dead man.
"God rest his soul! Let this go towards burying the sinful ashes."
"How!" roared the captain. "You! you! giving towards the burial? Take it back; take it back, I command you, you rogue! How dare you give your dishonest gains towards the burial of an honest man! I'll smash every bone in your body!"
"Sir!" exclaimed the alarmed shopkeeper, seizing the police officer imploringly by the elbow.
The doctor and the magistrate hurried outside, while the police officer shouted again loudly, "Sideroff! Come inside here!"
The outcasts formed a barrier round the door of the doss-house, watching and listening to the scene with an intense interest which lighted up their haggard faces.
Kouvalda, shaking his fist over Petounnikoff's head, roared wildly, rolling his bloodshot eyes—
"Rogue and thief! take the coppers back! you vile creature; take them back, I tell you, or I'll smash them into your eyes! Take them back!"
Petounnikoff stretched out one trembling hand towards his little offering, whilst shielding himself with the other against Kouvalda's threatening fist, and said—