'What's true is true,' said Grochowski; 'even Gryb ought to understand that the cow ought to be where the girl is.'
'Then sell her to us,' Slimak said quickly.
Grochowski dropped his spoon on the table and his head on his chest. He reflected for a while, then he said in a tone of resignation:
'There's no help for it; as you are quite, decided I must sell you the cow.'
'But you'll take off something for us, won't you?' hastily added the woman in an ingratiating tone.
The Soltys reflected once more.
'You see, it's like this; if it were my cow I would come down. But she belongs to a poor orphan. How could I harm her? Give me thirty-five paper roubles and a silver rouble and the cow will be yours.'
'That's too much,' sighed Slimak.
'But she is worth it!' said the Soltys.
'Still, money sits in the chest and doesn't eat.'