ur Christian name and
surname and nothing more," explained Petunikoff, pointing obligingly
with his finger to the place for the signature.

"Oh! It is not that ... I was alluding to the compensation I was to
get for my ground."

"But then this ground is of no use to you," said Petunikoff, calmly.

"But it is mine!" exclaimed the soldier.

"Of course, and how much do you want for it?"

"Well, say the amount stated in the document," said Vaviloff, boldly.

"Six hundred!" and Petunikoff smiled softly. "You are a funny fellow!"

"The law is on my side... I can even demand two thousand. I can
insist on your pulling down the building ... and enforce it too. That
is why my claim is so small. I demand that you should pull it down!"

"Very well. Probably we shall do so ... after three years, and after
having dragged you into enormous law expenses. And then, having paid
up, we shall open our public-house and you will be ruined ...
annihilated like the Swedes at Poltava. We shall see that you are
ruined ... we will take good care of that. We could have begun to
arrange about a public-house now, but you see our time is valuable, and
besides we are sorry for you. Why should we take the bread out of your
mouth without any reason?"

Egor Terentievitch looked at his guest, clenching his teeth, and felt
that he was master of the situation, and held his fate in his hands.
Vaviloff was full of pity for himself at having to deal with this calm,
cruel figure in the checked suit.

"And being such a near neighbour you might have gained a good deal by
helping us, and we should have remembered it too. Even now, for
instance, I should advise you to open a small shop for tobacco, you
know, bread, cucumbers, and so on... All these are sure to be in great
demand."

Vaviloff listened, and being a clever man, knew that to throw himself
upon the enemy's generosity was the better plan. It was as well to
begin from the beginning, and, not knowing what else to do to relieve
his mind, the soldier began to swear at Kuvalda.

"Curses be upon your head, you drunken rascal! May the Devil take you!"

"Do you mean the lawyer who composed your petition?" asked Petunikoff,
calmly, and added, with a sigh, "I have no doubt he would have landed
you in rather an awkward fix ... had we not taken pity upon you."

"Ah!" And the angry soldier raised his hand. "There are two of them
... One of them discovered it, the other wrote the petit