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yet he asked him another question： 〃Where are you going now？〃
137 CHELKASH
〃Why； where should I go？ Home； to be sure。〃
〃Well； mate； I couldn't be sure of that； you might be on your
way to Turkey。〃
〃To Th…urkey！〃 drawled the youth。 〃Why； what good Christian
ever goes there！ Well I never！〃
〃Oh； you fool！〃 sighed Chelkash； and again he turned away from
his companion； conscious this time of a positive disinclination
to waste another word on him。 This stalwart village lad roused
some feeling in him。 It was a vague feeling of annoyance； that
grew instinctively； stirred deep down in his heart； and hindered
him from concentrating himself on the consideration of all that
he had to do that night。
The lad he had thus reviled muttered something； casting
occasionally a dubious glance at Chelkash。 His cheeks were
comically puffed out； his lips parted； and his eyes were screwed
up and blinking with extreme rapidity。 He had obviously not
expected so rapid and insulting a termination to his
conversation with this long…whiskered ragamuffin。 The ragamuffin
took no further notice of him。 He whistled dreamily； sitting on
the stone post； and beating time on it with his bare； dirty heel。
The young peasant wanted to be quits with him。
〃Hi； you there； fisherman！ Do you often get tipsy like this？〃
he was beginning； but at the same instant the fisherman turned
quickly towards him； and asked：
〃I say； suckling！ Would you like a job to…night with me？ Eh？ Tell me quickly！〃
〃What sort of a job？〃 the lad asked him； distrustfully。
138 CHELKASH
〃What！ What I set you。 We're going fishing。 You'll row the
boat。〃
〃Well。 Yes。 All right。 I don't mind a job。 Only there's
this。 I don't want to get into a mess with you。 You're so
awfully deep。 You're rather shady。〃
Chelkash felt a scalding sensation in his breast； and with
cold anger he said in a low voice：
〃And you'd better hold your tongue； whatever you think； or
I'll give you a tap on your nut that will make things light
enough。〃
He jumped up from his post； tugged at his moustache with his
left hand； while his sinewy right hand was clenched into a
fist； hard as iron； and his eyes gleamed。
The youth was frightened。 He looked quickly round him； and
blinking uneasily； he； too； jumped up from the ground。
Measuring one another with their eyes； they paused。
〃Well？〃 Chelkash queried； sullenly。 He was boiling inwardly；
and trembling at the affront dealt him by this young calf；
whom he had despised while he talked to him； but now hated
all at once because he had such clear blue eyes； such health；
a sunburned face； and broad； strong hands； because he had
somewhere a village； a home in it； because a well…to…do
peasant wanted him for a son…in…law； because of all his life；
past and future； and most of all； because hethis babe
compared with Chelkashdared to love freedom； which he could
not appreciate； nor need。 It is always unpleasant to see
that a man one regards as baser or lower than oneself likes
or hates the same things； and so puts himself on a level with
oneself。
139 CHELKASH
The young peasant looked at Chelkash and saw in him an employer。
〃Well；〃 he began； 〃I don't mind。 I'm glad of it。 Why； it's
work for； you or any other man。 I only meant that you don't
look like a working mana bit too…ragged。 Oh； I know that
may happen to anyone。 Good Lord； as though I've never seen
drunkards！ Lots of them！ and worse than you too。〃
〃All right； all right！ Then you agree？〃 Chelkash said more
amicably。
〃I？ Ye…es！ With pleasure！ Name your terms。〃
〃That's according to the job。 As the job turns out。
According to the job。 Five roubles you may get。 Do you see？〃
But now it was a question of money； and in that the peasant
wished to be precise； and demanded the same exactness from his
employer。 His distrust and suspicion revived。
〃That's not my way of doing business； mate！ A bird in the
hand for me。〃
Chelkash threw himself into his part。
〃Don't argue； wait a bit！ Come into the restaurant。〃
And they went down the street side by side； Chelkash with the
dignified air of an employer； twisting his mustaches； the
youth with an expression of absolute readiness to give way to
him； but yet full of distrust and uneasiness。
〃And what's your name？〃 asked Chelkash。
〃Gavrilo！〃 answered the youth。
140 CHELKASH
When they had come into the dirty and smoky eating…house； and
Chelkash going up to the counter； in the familiar tone of an
habitual customer； ordered a bottle of vodka； cabbage soup；
a cut from the joint； and tea； and reckoning up his order；
flung the waiter a brief 〃put it all down！〃 to which the waiter
nodded in silence；Gavrilo was at once filled with respect for
this ragamuffin； his employer； who enjoyed here such an
established and confident position。
〃Well； now we'll have a bit of lunch and talk things over。
You sit still； I'll be back in a minute。〃
He went out。 Gavrilo looked round。 The restaurant was in
an underground basement； it was damp and dark； and reeked with
the stifling fumes of vodka； tobacco…smoke； tar； and some
acrid odor。 Facing Gavrilo at another table sat a drunken man
in the dress of a sailor； with a red beard； all over coal…dust
and tar。 Hiccupping every minute； he was droning a song all
made up of broken and incoherent words； strangely sibilant
and guttural sounds。 He was unmistakably not a Russian。
Behind him sat two Moldavian women； tattered； black…haired
sunburned creatures； who were chanting some sort of song； too；
with drunken voices。
And from the darkness beyond emerged other figures； all
strangely dishevelled； all half…drunk； noisy and restless。
Gavrilo felt miserable here alone。 He longed for his employer
to come back quickly。 And the din in the eating…house got
louder and louder。 Growing shriller every second； it all
melted into one note； and it seemed like the roaring of some
monstrous boast； with hundreds of different throats； vaguely
enraged； trying to struggle out of this damp hole and unable
to find a way out to freedom。
141 CHELKASH
Gavrilo felt something intoxicating and oppressive creeping
over him； over all his limbs； making his head reel； and his
eyes grow dim； as they moved inquisitively about the
eating…house。
Chelkash came in； and they began eating and drinking and
talking。 At the third glass Gavrilo was drunk。 He became
lively and wanted to say something pleasant to his employer；
whothe good fellow！though he had done nothing for him yet；
was entertaining him so agreeably。 But the words which flowed
in perfect waves to his throat； for some reason would not come
from his tongue。
Chelkash looked at him an