le Russian; already sufficiently old and rich in order to allow
herself the luxury of maintaining a husband (and together with him a
cabaret), a handsome and kindly little Pole. Horizon and Barsukova met
like old friends. They had, it seemed, no fear, no shame, no conscience
when they conversed with each other.

"Madam Barsukova! I can offer you something special! Three women: one a
large brunette, very modest; another a little one, a blonde, but who,
you understand, is ready for everything; the third is a woman of
mystery, who merely smiles and doesn't say anything, but promises much
and is a beauty!"

Madam Barsukova was gazing at him with mistrust, shaking her head.

"Mister Horizon! What are you trying to fill my head with? Do you want
to do the same with me that you did last time?"

"By God, I should live so, how I want to deceive you! But that's not
the main thing. I'm also offering you a perfectly educated woman. Do
with her what you like. In all probability you'll find a connoisseur."

Barsukova smiled artfully and asked:

"Again a wife?"

"No. But she's of the nobility."

"Then that means unpleasantnesses with the police again?"

"Ach! My God! I don't take big money from you; all the three for a
lousy thousand roubles."

"Well, let's talk frankly; five hundred. I don't want to buy a cat in a
bag."

"It seems, Madam Barsukova, that it isn't the first time you and I have
done business together, I won't deceive you and will bring her here
right away. Only I beg you not to forget that you're my aunt, and
please work in that direction. I won't be more than three days here in
the city."

Madam Barsukova, with all her breasts, bellies and chins, began to sway
merrily.

"We won't dicker over trifles. All the more so since you don't deceive
me, nor I you. There's a great demand for women now. What would you
say, Mister Horizon, if I offered you some red wine?"

"Thank you, Madam Barsukova, with pleasure."

"Let's talk a while like old friends. Tell me, how much do you make a
year?"

"Ach, madam, what shall I say? Twelve, twenty thousand, approximately.
But think what tremendous expenses there are in constantly travelling."

"Do you put away a little?"

"Well, that's trifles; some two or three thousand a year."

"I thought ten, twenty ..."

Horizon grew wary. He sensed that he was beginning to be drawn out and
asked insidiously:

"But why does this interest you?"

Anna Michailovna pressed th