eliitch frowned.

"Half a rouble," said he; "What for? Because you yourself deigned to
bring him to the inn? Your will be done, my lord, but we have not a
rouble to spare. If we begin by giving drink money to every one we shall
end by dying of hunger."

It was useless to argue with him; my money, according to my promise, was
entirely at his discretion. But it was very unpleasant not to be able to
reward a man who had extricated me from danger, perhaps death.

"Well," said I, coolly, "if you will not give him half a rouble, give
one of my coats--he is too thinly clad; give him the hare-skin touloup."

"Have mercy on me! My dear Peter," said Saveliitch, "what does he want
with your touloup? He will drink its price, the dog, at the first inn."

"That, my good old man, is none of your business," said the vagabond;
"his lordship following the custom of royalty to vassals, gives me a
coat from his own back, and your duty as serf is not to dispute, but to
obey."

"You have not the fear of God, brigand that you are," said Saveliitch,
angrily; "you see that the child has not yet attained to full reason,
and there you are, glad to pillage him, thanks to his kind heart. You
can not even wear the pelisse on your great, cursed shoulders."

"Come," said I, "do not play the logician; bring the touloup quickly."

"Oh, Lord!" said the old man, moaning--"a touloup of hare-skin! Quite
new,--to give it to a drunkard in rags."

It was brought, however, and the vagabond began to get into it. It
was rather tight for me, and was much too small for him. He put it
on, nevertheless, but with great difficulty, bursting all the seams.
Saveliitch uttered something like a smothered howl, when he heard the
threads crack. As for the vagabond, he was well pleased with my present.
He re-conducted me to my kibitka, and said, with a profound bow:
"Thanks, my lord, may god reward you. I shall never forget your
goodness."

He went his way,--I set out on mine, paying no attention to the
sullenness of Saveliitch. I soon forgot the hurricane and the guide, as
well as the touloup of hare-skin.

Arrived at Orenbourg, I presented myself at once to the General. He was
a tall man, bent by age, with long hair quite white. An old, worn-out
uniform, recalled the soldier of the times of the Empress Anne, and his
speech betrayed a strong German accent.

I gave him my father's letter.

Reading my name, he glanced at me quickly. "Mein Gott," said he, "it is