rd left with Jennie; and also
how the deceased had reverently preserved this card; and--in
passing--about his promise to help in case of need.

"Of course, of course!" exclaimed Ryanzanov, when she had finished; and
at once began pacing the room back and forth with big steps, ruffling
and tossing back his picturesque hair through habit. "You are
performing a magnificent, sincere, comradely action! That is good! ...
That is very good! ... I am yours ... You say--a permit for the funeral
... Hm ... God grant me memory!..."

He rubbed his forehead with his palm.

"Hm ... hm ... If I'm not mistaken--Monocanon, rule one hundred seventy
... one hundred seventy ... eight ... Pardon me, I think I remember it
by heart ... Pardon me! ... Yes, so! 'If a man slayeth himself, he
shall not be chanted over, nor shall a mass be said for him, unless he
were greatly astonied, that is, to wit, out of his mind'... Hm ... See
St. Timothy Alexandrine ... And so, my dear miss, the first thing ...
You say, that she was taken down from the noose by your doctor--i.e.,
the official city doctor ... His name? ..."

"Klimenko."

"It seems I've met him somewheres ... All right ... Who is the district
inspector in your precinct station?"

"Kerbesh."

"Aha, I know ... Such a strong, virile fellow, with a red beard in a
fan ... Yes?"

"Yes, that is he."

"I know him very well! There, now, is somebody that a sentence to hard
labour is hankering after ... Some ten times he fell into my hands; and
always, the skunk, gave me the slip somehow. Slippery, just like an
eel-pout ... We will have to slip him a little present. Well, now! And
then the anatomical theatre ... When do you want to bury her?"

"Really, I don't know ... I would like to do it as soon as possible ...
if possible, to-day."

"Hm ... To-day ... I don't vouch for it--we will hardly manage it ...
But here is my memorandum book. Well, take even this page, where are my
friends under the letter T--just write the very same way: Tamara, and
your address. In two hours I will give you an answer. Does that suit
you? But I repeat again, that probably you will have to postpone the
burial till to-morrow ... Then--pardon my unceremoniousness--is money
needed, perhaps?"

"No, thank you!" refused Tamara. "I have money. Thanks for your
interest! ... It's time for me to be going. I thank you with all my
heart, Ellen Victorovna! ..."

"Then expect it in two hours," repeated Ryazanov, escorting