“Let us say four rubles, your excellency, and give me one on account. One little whole silver ruble; for the sake of God, let me put it in my pocket, and we will bless you.”
“All right,” was my answer. “Send the horses to the Tzarskoe Selo Inn immediately.”
Presently the fellow rushed into my room, and, bowing to the ground, took off his cap with a grandiose air; then, drawing out the money I had given him from some hidden recess in the neighborhood of his skin, he thrust the ruble into my hand, and exclaimed, “Little father, my uncle owns one of the horses; he is very angry. He says that he was not consulted in the matter, and that he loves the animal like a brother. My uncle will not let his horse leave the stable for less than five rubles. What is to be done? I told him that I had agreed to take you, and even showed him the money, but he is hard-hearted and stern.”
“Very well,” I said; “bring round the horses.”
In a few minutes the fellow returned, and exclaimed, “One of noble birth. I am ashamed.”
“Quite right,” I said; “you have every reason to be so. But go on; is your uncle’s horse dead?”
“No, one of noble birth, not so bad as that; but my brother is vexed. He has a share in one of the animals; he will not let me drive him to the next station for less than six rubles;” and the man, putting on an expression in which cunning, avarice, and pretended sorrow were blended, rubbed his forehead and added, “What shall we do?”
I said, “You have a grandmother?”
“Yes,” he replied, much surprised. “How did you know that? I have; a very old grandmother.”