lders and did not answer.

"It would have been better to come straight to us and settle the matter
peacefully, eh? What do you think?"

"That would have been better, of course, but you see there is a
difficulty ... I did not follow my own wishes, but those of others ...
I learned afterwards that it would have been better if ... but it was
too late."

"Oh! I suppose some lawyer taught you this?"

"Someone of that sort."

"Aha! Do you wish to settle the affair peacefully?"

"With all my heart!" cried the soldier.

Petunikoff was silent for a moment, then looked at him, and suddenly
asked, coldly and drily, "And why do you wish to do so?"

Vaviloff did not expect such a question, and therefore had no reply
ready. In his opinion the question was quite unworthy of any
attention, and so he laughed at young Petunikoff.

"That is easy to understand. Men like to live peacefully with one
another."

"But," interrupted Petunikoff, "that is not exactly the reason why. As
far as I can see, you do not distinctly understand why you wish to be
reconciled to us ... I will tell you."

The soldier was a little surprised. This youngster, dressed in a check
suit, in which he looked ridiculous, spoke as if he were Colonel
Rakshin, who used to knock three of the unfortunate soldier's teeth out
every time he was angry.

"You want to be friends with us because we should be such useful
neighbours to you ... because there will be not less than a hundred and
fifty workmen in our factory, and in course of time even more. If a
hundred men come and drink one glass at your place, after receiving
their weekly wages, that means that you will sell every month four
hundred glasses more than you sell at present. This is, of course, the
lowest estimate ... and then you have the eating-house besides. You
are not a fool, and you can understand for yourself what profitable
neighbours we shall be."

"That is true," Vaviloff nodded, "I knew that before."

"Well, what then?" asked the merchant, loudly.

"Nothing ... Let us be friends!"

"It is nice to see that you have decided so quickly. Look here, I have
already prepared a notification to the court of the withdrawal of the
summons against my father. Here it is; read it, and sign it."

Vaviloff looked at his companion with his round eyes and shivered, as
if experiencing an unpleasant sensation.

"Pardon me ... sign it? And why?"

"There is no difficulty about it ... write yo