“I can’t put him out: he won’t give way,” thought Sobakevitch. “Well, God be with you! give me thirty, and take them.”
“No; I see that you do not wish to sell them, so farewell.”
“Permit me! permit me!” said Sobakevitch, holding Tchitchikoff’s hand, and treading on his foot, for our hero had forgotten to guard himself; realising this, the host gave a hiss, and then jumped upon our friend’s other foot.
“I beg your pardon!” he said, “I seem to have inconvenienced you. Please to sit down here: pray do!” Then he seated Tchitchikoff in the chair, rather skilfully than otherwise, like a bear who has been tamed, and who knows how to twirl himself about, and to perform tricks when asked, “Show us how women bathe, Misha!” or, “How do little children steal peas, Misha?”
“Really, I am wasting time: I must make haste,” replied our hero.
“Sit still a little minute, and I will say something presently which will please you.” Here Sobakevitch moved nearer to him, and said softly in his ear, as though it were a secret, “Will you give—a corner?”9
“That is to say, twenty-five roubles? Ni, ni, ni! I won’t give even the quarter of a corner: I won’t add a copeck more!”
Sobakevitch now said nothing: Tchitchikoff also held his peace. The Greek heroes, with their aquiline noses, gazed down from the wall upon this barter, with great attention.
“What is your final price?” asked Sobakevitch at last.
“Two and a half.”
“Really, a human soul is the same to you as boiled beetroot. Won’t you give three roubles?”
“I cannot.”
“Well, there’s nothing to be done with you: have it as you like. It’s a loss to me, but I have a dog’s nature: I cannot refrain from doing my neighbour a kindness. I suppose I shall have to prepare a deed of sale, so that all may be in proper form?”
“Of course.”
“Well, then, here’s another point: I shall have to go to town.”
Thus the transaction was completed. They both decided to visit the town on the following day and draw up the deed of sale. Tchitchikoff then asked for a list of the peasants. Sobakevitch readily agreed to give one, and immediately stepped up to his desk and began to write down the list, not only giving the serfs’ names, but duly indicating their admirable qualities.
“The list is ready at last,” he eventually said, turning round.
“Ready? Please bring it here.” Tchitchikoff ran it over and was amazed by its accuracy and punctiliousness. Not only were the professions circumstantially described, the names, ages, and conditions of the various serfs, but on the margins there were notes respecting their behaviour and sobriety; in a word, it was a pleasure to look at the list.
“Now, please to give me the earnest-money,” said Sobakevitch.
“Why should you receive earnest-money? You will receive all the money at once, in town.”