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〃Five hundred and forty！ A smart job！〃
168 CHELKASH
〃Smart； yes！〃 muttered Gavrilo； with greedy eyes； watching the
five hundred and forty roubles as they were put back again in
his pocket。 〃Well； I never！ What a lot of money！〃 and he
sighed dejectedly。
〃We'll have a jolly good spree； my lad！〃 Chelkash cried
ecstatically。 〃Eh； we've enough to。 Never fear； mate； I'll
give you your share。 I'll give you forty； eh？ Satisfied？
If you like； I'll give it you now！〃
〃Ifyou don't mind。 Well？ I wouldn't say no！〃
Gavrilo was trembling all over with suspense and some other
acute feeling that dragged at his heart。
〃Hahaha！ Oh； you devil's doll！ 'I'd not say no！' Take
it； mate； please！ I beg you； indeed； take it！ I don't know
what to do with such a lot of money！ You must help me out；
take some； there！〃
Chelkash held out some red notes to Gavrilo。 He took them
with a shaking hand； let go the oars； and began stuffing them
away in his bosom； greedily screwing up his eyes and drawing
in his breath noisily； as though he had drunk something hot。
Chelkash watched him with an ironical smile。 Gavrilo took up
the oars again and rowed nervously； hurriedly； keeping his eyes
down as though he were afraid of something。 His shoulders and
his ears were twitching。
〃You're greedy。 That's bad。 But； of course； you're a
peasant；〃 Chelkash said musingly。
〃But see what one can do with money！〃 cried Gavrilo； suddenly
breaking into passionate excitement； and jerkily； hurriedly；
as though chasing his thoughts and catching his words as they
flew； he began to speak of life in the village with money and
without money。 Respect； plenty； independence gladness！
169 CHELKASH
Chelkash heard him attentively； with a serious face and eyes
filled with some dreamy thought。 At times he smiled a smile
of content。 〃Here we are！〃 Chelkash cried at last；
interrupting Gavrilo。
A wave caught up the boat and neatly drove it onto the sand。
〃Come； mate； now it's over。 We must drag the boat up farther；
so that it shouldn't get washed away。 They'll come and fetch
it。 Well； we must say good…bye！ It's eight versts from here
to the town。 What are you going to do？ Coming back to the
town； eh？〃
Chelkash's face was radiant with a good…humoredly sly smile；
and altogether he had the air of a man who had thought of
something very pleasant for himself and a surprise to Gavrilo。
Thrusting his hand into his pocket； he rustled the notes there。
〃NoIam not coming。 I…〃 Gavrilo gasped； and seemed choking
with something。 Within him there was raging a whole storm of
desires； of words； of feelings； that swallowed up one another
and scorched him as with fire。
Chelkash looked at him in perplexity。
〃What's the matter with you？〃 he asked。
〃Why〃 But Gavrilo's face flushed； then turned gray； and he
moved irresolutely； as though he were half longing to throw
himself on Chelkash； or half torn by some desire； the
attainment of which was hard for him。
Chelkash felt ill at ease at the sight of such excitement in
this lad。 He wondered what form it would take。
170 CHELKASH
Gavrilo began laughing strangely； a laugh that was like a sob。
His head was downcast； the expression of his face Chelkash
could not see； Gavrilo's ears only were dimly visible； and
they turned red and then pale。
〃Well； damn you！〃 Chelkash waved his hand； 〃Have you fallen
in love with me； or what？ One might think you were a girl！
Or is parting from me so upsetting？ Hey； suckling！ Tell me；
what's wrong？ or else I'm off！〃
〃You're going！〃 Gavrilo cried aloud。
The sandy waste of the shore seemed to start at his cry； and
the yellow ridges of sand washed by the sea…waves seemed
quivering。 Chelkash started too。 All at once Gavrilo tore
himself from where he stood； flung himself at Chelkash's feet；
threw his arms round them； and drew them toward him。 Chelkash
staggered； he sat heavily down on the sand； and grinding his
teeth； brandished his long arm and clenched fist in the air。
But before he had time to strike he was pulled up by Gavrilo's
shame…faced and supplicating whisper：
〃Friend！ Give methat money！ Give it me； for Christ's sake！
What is it to you？ Why in one nightin only one nightwhile
it would take me a yearGive it meI will pray for you！
Continuallyin three churchesfor the salvation of your soul！
Why you'd cast it to the windswhile I'd put it into the land。
0； give it me！ Why； what does it mean to you？ Did it cost you
much？ One nightand you're rich！ Do a deed of mercy！ You're
a lost man； you seeyou couldn't make your waywhile Ioh；
give it to me！〃
Chelkash； dismayed； amazed； and wrathful； sat on the sand；
thrown backward with his hands supporting him； he sat there in
silence； rolling his eyes frightfully at the young peasant；
who； ducking his head down at his knees； whispered his prayer
to him in gasps。 He shoved him away at last； jumped up to his
feet； and thrusting his hands into his pockets； flung the
rainbow notes at Gavrilo。
171 CHELKASH
〃There； cur！ Swallow them！〃 he roared； shaking with excitement；
with intense pity and hatred of this greedy slave。 And as he
flung him the money； he felt himself a hero。 There was a
reckless gleam in his eyes； an heroic air about his whole person。
〃I'd meant to give you more； of myself。 I felt sorry for you
yesterday。 I thought of the village。 I thought： come； I'll
help the lad。 I was waiting to see what you'd do； whether
you'd beg or not。 While you！Ah； you rag！ you beggar！ To
be able to torment oneself sofor money！ You fool。 Greedy
devils！ They're beside themselvessell themselves for five
kopecks！ eh？〃
〃Dear friend！ Christ have mercy on you！ Why； what have I
now！ thousands！ ！ I'm a rich man！〃 Gavrilo shrilled in ecstasy；
all trembling； as he stowed away the notes in his bosom。 〃Ah；
you good man！ Never will I forget you！ Never！ And my wife
and my childrenI'll bid them pray for you！〃
Chelkash listened to his shrieks and wails of ecstasy； looked
at his radiant face that was contorted by greedy joy； and
felt that he； thief and rake as he was； cast out from
everything in life； would never be so covetous； so base； would
never so forget himself。 Never would he be like that！ And
this thought and feeling； filling him with a sense of his own
independence and reckless daring； kept him beside Gavrilo on
the desolate sea shore。
172 CHELKASH
〃You've made me happy！〃 shrieked Gavrilo； and snatching
Chelkash's hand； he pressed it to his face。
Chelkash did not speak； he grinned like a wolf。 Gavrilo still
went on pouring out his heart：
〃Do you know what I was thinking about？ As we rowed here
I sawthe moneythinks II'll give it himyouwith the