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fellow； but when he was in his company he could
not help doing what he wished。 Mahin was in
when Mitia called； and was just preparing to go
to the theatre。 His untidy room smelt of scented
soap and eau…de…Cologne。
〃That's awful； old chap；〃 said Mahin； when
Mitia telling him about his troubles； showed the
coupon and the fifty kopeks； and added that he
wanted nine roubles more。 〃We might； of
course； go and pawn your watch。 But we might
do something far better 〃 And Mahin winked
an eye。
〃What's that？〃
〃Something quite simple 〃 Mahin took the
coupon in his hand。 〃 Put ONE before the 2。50
and it will be 12。50。〃
〃But do such coupons exist？〃
〃Why； certainly； the thousand roubles notes
have coupons of 12。50。 I have cashed one in
the same way。〃
〃You don't say so？〃
〃Well； yes or no？〃 asked Mahin； taking the
pen and smoothing the coupon with the fingers of
his left hand。
〃But it is wrong。〃
〃Nonsense！〃
〃Nonsense； indeed；〃 thought Mitia； and again
his father's hard words came back to his memory。
〃Scoundrel！ As you called me that； I might as
well be it 〃 He looked into Mahin's face。
Mahin looked at him； smiling with perfect ease。
〃Well？〃 he said。
〃All right。 I don't mind。〃
Mahin carefully wrote the unit in front of 2。50。
〃Now let us go to the shop across the road；
they sell photographers' materials there。 I just
happen to want a framefor this young person
here 〃 He took out of his pocket a photograph
of a young lady with large eyes； luxuriant hair；
and an uncommonly well…developed bust。
〃Is she not sweet？ Eh？〃
〃Yes； yes。 。 。of course。 。 。〃
〃Well； you see。But let us go。〃
Mahin took his coat； and they left the house。
III
THE two boys； having rung the door…bell； entered
the empty shop； which had shelves along the walls
and photographic appliances on them； together
with show…cases on the counters。 A plain woman；
with a kind face； came through the inner door and
asked from behind the counter what they required。
〃A nice frame； if you please； madam。〃
〃At what price？〃 asked the woman； she wore
mittens on her swollen fingers with which she rap…
idly handled picture…frames of different shapes。
〃These are fifty kopeks each； and these are a
little more expensive。 There is rather a pretty
one； of quite a new style； one rouble and twenty
kopeks。〃
〃All right； I will have this。 But could not
you make it cheaper？ Let us say one rouble。〃
〃We don't bargain in our shop；〃 said the
shopkeeper with a dignified air。
〃Well； I will take it；〃 said Mahin； and put
the coupon on the counter。 〃Wrap up the frame
and give me change。 But please be quick。 We
must be off to the theatre； and it is getting late。〃
〃You have plenty of time；〃 said the shop…
keeper； examining the coupon very closely because
of her shortsightedness。
〃It will look lovely in that frame； don't you
think so？ 〃 said Mahin； turning to Mitia。
〃Have you no small change？ 〃 asked the shop…
woman。
〃I am sorry； I have not。 My father gave me
that； so I have to cash it。〃
〃But surely you have one rouble twenty？〃
〃I have only fifty kopeks in cash。 But what
are you afraid of？ You don't think； I suppose；
that we want to cheat you and give you bad
money？ 〃
〃Oh； no； I don't mean anything of the
sort。〃
〃You had better give it to me back。 We will
cash it somewhere else。〃
〃How much have I to pay you back？ Eleven
and something。〃
She made a calculation on the counter； opened
the desk； took out a ten…roubles note； looked for
change and added to the sum six twenty…kopeks
coins and two five…kopek pieces。
〃Please make a parcel of the frame；〃 said
Mahin； taking the money in a leisurely fashion。
〃Yes； sir 〃 She made a parcel and tied it
with a string。
Mitia only breathed freely when the door bell
rang behind them； and they were again in the
street。
〃There are ten roubles for you； and let me
have the rest。 I will give it back to you。〃
Mahin went off to the theatre； and Mitia called
on Grouchetsky to repay the money he had bor…
rowed from him。
IV
AN hour after the boys were gone Eugene Mihail…
ovich； the owner of the shop； came home； and be…
gan to count his receipts。
〃Oh； you clumsy fool！ Idiot that you are！〃
he shouted； addressing his wife； after having seen
the coupon and noticed the forgery。
〃But I have often seen you； Eugene； accepting
coupons in payment； and precisely twelve rouble
ones；〃 retorted his wife； very humiliated； grieved；
and all but bursting into tears。 〃I really don't
know how they contrived to cheat me；〃 she went
on。 〃They were pupils of the school； in uni…
form。 One of them was quite a handsome boy；
and looked so comme il faut。〃
〃A comme il faut fool； that is what you are！〃
The husband went on scolding her； while he
counted the cash。 。 。 。 When I accept
coupons； I see what is written on them。 And you
probably looked only at the boys' pretty faces。
You had better behave yourself in your old age。〃
His wife could not stand this； and got into a
fury。
〃That is just like you men！ Blaming every…
body around you。 But when it is you who lose
fifty…four roubles at cardsthat is of no conse…
quence in your eyes。〃
〃That is a different matter
〃I don't want to talk to you；〃 said his wife；
and went to her room。 There she began to re…
mind herself that her family was opposed to her
marriage； thinking her present husband far below
her in social rank； and that it was she who insisted
on marrying him。 Then she went on thinking of
the child she had lost； and how indifferent her
husband had been to their loss。 She hated him
so intensely at that moment that she wished for
his death。 Her wish frightened her； however；
and she hurriedly began to dress and left the
house。 When her husband came from the shop
to the inner rooms of their flat she was gone。
Without waiting for him she had dressed and
gone off to friendsa teacher of French in the
school； a Russified Pole； and his wifewho had
invited her and her husband to a party in their
house that evening。
V
THE guests at the party had tea and cakes offered
to them； and sat down after that to play whist at
a number of card…tables。
The partners of Eugene Mihailovich's wife
were the host himself； an officer； and an old and
very stupid lady in a wig； a widow who owned a
music…shop； she loved playing cards and played
remarkably well。 But it was Eugene Mihailo…
vich's wife who was the winner all the time。 The
best cards were continually in her hands。 At her
side she had a plate with grapes and a pear and
was in the best of spirits。
〃And Eugene Mihailovich？ Why is he so
late？〃 asked the hostess； who played at another
table。
〃Probably busy settling accounts；〃 said Eugene
Mihailovich's wife。 〃He has to pay off the
tradesmen； to get in firewood 〃 The quarrel she
had with her husband revived in her memory；
she frowned； and her hands； from which she had
not taken off the mittens； shook with fury against
him。
〃Oh； there he is。We have just been speak…
ing of you；〃 said the hostess to Eugene Mihailo…
vich； who came in at that very moment。 〃Why
are you so late？〃
〃I was busy；〃 a