"I prefer to drink the money."
Serejka rose and, jingling his twenty kopeks, shuffled off, followed by a strange smile from Malva.
When he was some distance away, Iakov said:
"In our village such a braggart would goon have been put in his place.
Here, every one seems afraid of him."
Malva looked at Iakov and replied, disdainfully:
"You don't know his worth."
"There's nothing to know. He's worth five kopeks a hundred."
She did not reply, but watched the play of the waves as they chased one after the other, swaying the fishing boat. The mast inclined now to right, now to left, and the bow rose and then fell suddenly, striking the water with a loud splash.
"Why don't you go?" asked Malva.
"Where?" he asked.