e button of an electric bell and ordered the
dressy maid to bring coffee with steamed cream and a bottle of
Chambertaine. She knew the tastes of Horizon. Then she asked:

"Do you know Mr. Shepsherovich?"

Horizon simply pounced upon her.

"My God! Who don't know Shepsherovich! This is a god, this is a genius!"

And, having become animated, forgetting that he was being dragged into
a trap, he began speaking exaltedly:

"Just imagine what Shepsherovich did last year! He carried to Argentine
thirty women from Kovno, Vilno, Zhitomir. Each one of them he sold at a
thousand roubles--a total, madam--count it--of thirty thousand! Do you
think Shepsherovich calmed down with this? For this money, in order to
repay his expenses on the steamer, he bought several negresses and
stuck them about in Moscow, Petersburg, Kiev, Odessa, and Kharkov. But,
you know, madam, this isn't a man, but an eagle. There's a man who can
do business!"

Barsukova caressingly laid her hand on his knee. She had been waiting
for this moment and said to him amicably:

"And so I propose to you, Mr.----however, I don't know how you are
called now..."

"Horizon, let's say..."

"So I propose to you, Mr. Horizon--could you find some innocent girls
among yours? There's an enormous demand for them now. I'm playing an
open hand with you. We won't stop at money. Now it's in fashion.
Notice, Horizon, your lady clients will be returned to you in exactly
the same state in which they were. This, you understand, is a little
depravity, which I can in no way make out..."

Horizon cast down his eyes, rubbed his head, and said:

"You see, I've a wife ... You've almost guessed it."

"So. But why almost?"

"I'm ashamed to confess, that she--how shall I say it ... she is my
bride ..."

Barsukova gaily burst into laughter.

"You know, Horizon, I couldn't at all expect that you're such a nasty
villain! Let's have your wife, it's all the same. But is it possible
that you've really refrained?"

"A thousand?" asked Horizon seriously.

"Ah! What trifles; a thousand let's say. But tell me, will I be able to
manage her?"

"Nonsense!" said Horizon self-assuredly. "Let's again suppose that
you're my aunt, and I leave my wife with you. Just imagine, Madam
Barsukova, that this woman is in love with me like a cat. And if you'll
tell her, that for my good she must do so and so and thus and
thus--then there won't be no arguments!"

Apparently, there was nothing more f