"Ilya Jakovlevitch," began his wife, with an important air, "we—my husband and I—have arranged a little matter, and would like to talk seriously with you."
"Ho! ho! ho!" laughed the inspector suddenly, and rubbed his big red hands. Ilya started and looked at him in surprise.
"Wait, Kirik! There's nothing to laugh at," said Tatiana.
"We've arranged it," cried Kirik, with a big laugh, then looked at Ilya and winked towards his wife. "Clever little girl!"
"We've saved some money——"
"We! We've saved money! Ho! ho! ho! My clever, dear little wife!"
"Kirya, be quiet!" said Tatiana, severely. Her face seemed thinner and more pointed than ever.
"We have saved close on a thousand roubles," she went on half aloud, and bent over towards Ilya and looked him full in the face with her sharp little eyes. He sat quiet, but in his breast something seemed to jump for joy.
"The money's in the bank, and brings us four per cent," went on Tatiana.
"And that's too little, devil take it!" cried Kirik, and struck the table with his hand. "We want——"