me her blank."

"I will never do such a foolishness! Come here with some respectable
person and with the police; and let the police certify that this friend
of yours is a man of means; and let this man stand surety for you; and
let, besides that, the police certify that you are not taking the girl
in order to trade in her, or to sell her over to another
stablishment--then as you please! Hand and foot!"

"The devil!" exclaimed Lichonin. "But if that surety will be I, I
myself! If I'll sign your promissory notes right away ..."

"Young man! I don't know what you are taught in your different
universities, but is it possible that you reckon me such a positive
fool? God grant, that you have, besides those which are on you, still
some other pants! God grant, that you should even the day after have
for dinner the remnants of sausages from the sausage shop, and yet you
say--a promissory note! What are you bothering my head for?"

Lichonin grew completely angry. He drew his wallet out of his pocket
and slapped it down on the table.

"In that case I pay in cash and immediately!"

"ACH, that's a business of another kind," sweetly, but still with
mistrust, the housekeeper intoned. "I will trouble you to turn the
page, and see what the bill of your beloved is."

"Keep still, you carrion!"

"I'm still, you fool," calmly responded the housekeeper.

On the small ruled pages on the left side was designated the income, on
the right were the expenses.

"Received in stamps, 15th of April," read Lichonin, "10 roubles;
16th--4 roubles; 17th--12 roubles; 18th--sick; 19th--sick; 20th--6
roubles; 21st--24 roubles."

"My God!" with loathing, with horror, reflected Lichonin. "Twelve men
in one night!"

At the end of the month stood:

"Total 330 roubles."

"Lord! Why, this is some sort of delirium! One hundred and sixty-five
visits," thought Lichonin, having mechanically calculated it, and still
continued turning the pages. Then he went over to the columns on the
right.

"Made, a red dress of silk with lace 84 roubles Dressmaker Eldokimova.
Dressing sack of lace 35 roubles Dressmaker Eldokimova. Silk stockings
6 pair 36 roubles," &c., &c. "Given for cab-fare, given for candy,
perfumes bought," &c., &c. "Total 205 roubles." After that from the 330
roubles were deducted 220 roubles--the share of the proprietress for
board and lodging. The figure of 110 roubles resulted. The end of the
monthly account declared:

"Total after the