A half-hour passed by. The baby began to cry. Akulína took him, and
gave him the breast. She was no longer weeping; but resting her thin,
tear-stained face on her hand, she fixed her eyes on the flickering
candle, and asked herself why she had got married, and why so many
soldiers were needed, and, still more, how she might pay back the
joiner's wife.
Her husband's steps were heard; she wiped away the traces of the tears,
and got up to light his way. Polikéï came in with an air of triumph,
threw his hat on the bed, drew a long breath, and began to take off his
clothes.
"Well, what was it? why did she call you?"
"Hm! a good reason! Polikushka is the lowest of men; but, when there is
something needed, who is called on? Polikushka!"
"What is it?"
Polikéï did not make haste to reply: he smoked his pipe, and kept
spitting.
"She wants me to go to the merchant, and get her money."
"Get her money!" repeated Akulína.
Polikéï grinned and nodded.
"How well she knows how to talk! 'You had,' says she, 'the reputation
of being untrustworthy, but I have more faith in you than in any one
else. [Polikéï raised his voice so that his neighbors might hear.]
'You promised me to reform,' says she, 'and here is the first proof
that I believe in you: go,' says she, 'to the merchant, get some money
for me, and bring it back.' And says I, 'My lady,' says I, 'we be all
your slaves, and it be our duty to serve you as faithfully as we serve
God, and so I feel that I can do every thing for your well-being,
because I owe it to you, and I could not refuse no service; so,
whatever you order, that I will perform, because I be your slave.'
[He again smiled with that peculiar smile of a man who is weak, but
good-natured, and has been guilty of some sin.] 'And so,' says she,
'will you do this faithfully? Do you understand,' says she, 'that your
fate depends upon this?'--'How can I help comprehending that I can do
it? People may slander me, and any one may fall into sin; but it would
be a moral impossibility for me do any thing contrary to your interest,
nor even think of it.' So, you see, I talked to her till my lady was
just as soft as wax. 'You will be,' says she, 'my principal man.' [He
was quiet for a moment, and again the same smile played over his face.]
I know very well how to talk with her. When I used to go on leave of
absence, I got practice in talking. Only let me talk with 'em, I make
'em just like silk."
"Much money?" asked Akulína.
"Fifteen hundred rubles," replied Polikéï carelessly.
She shook her head.
"When do you go?"
"To-morrow, she said. 'Take a horse,' says she, 'any one you wish, come
to the office, and God be with you.'"
"Glory to thee, O Lord!" exclaimed Akulína, getting up and crossing
herself. "God be thy help, Ilyitch," she added in a whisper, so as not
to be heard beyond the partition, and holding him by the sleeve of his
shirt. "Ilyitch, heed what I say; I will pray Christ the Lord, that you
go in safety. Kiss the cross, that you will not take a drop into your
mouth."
"But of course I am not going to drink, when I have all that money
with me!" he said with a snort. "Some one was playing there on the
piano,--handsomely, my!" he added, after a silence breaking into a
laugh. "It must have been the young lady. I was standing right before
her, near the _shiffonere--_that is, before her ladyship; but the young
lady was there behind the door, pounding away. She bangs and she bangs
so harmoniously--like--She just makes it sing, I tell you! I should
like to play a little, that's a fact. I'd have liked to gone in just
for once. I am just right for such things. To-morrow give me a clean
shirt."
And they went to bed happy.