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Tchertop-hanov looked after her, ran to the place where the pistol was lying, snatched it up, took aim, fired.... But before he touched the trigger, his arm twitched upwards; the ball whistled over Masha's head. She looked at him over her shoulder without stopping, and went on, swinging as she walked, as though in defiance of him. He hid his face and fell to running.
'What will you take for it? he muttered at last between his teeth. The Jew shrugged his shoulders. 'What I paid for it myself. Two hundred roubles. The horse was well worth twice -perhaps even three times that sum. Tchertop-hanov turned away and yawned feverishly. 'And the money... when? he asked, scowling furiously and not looking at the Jew. 'When your ex-shelency thinks fit.
'Stop that! a loud harsh voice suddenly interrupted Rostislav Adamitch; 'I wonder you're not ashamed to torment the poor man! Everyone looked round. In the doorway stood Tchertop-hanov. As a cousin four times removed of the deceased contractor, he too had received a note of invitation to the meeting of the relations.
The voice retreated and retreated; at one moment it died away, at the next it floated across, hardly audible, but still with the same passionate glow. 'She does it to spite me, thought Tchertop-hanov; but at once he moaned, 'oh, no! it's her last farewell to me for ever, and he burst into floods of tears. The next day he appeared at the lodgings of Mr.
Tchertop-hanov picked him up, sat him on a bench, poured a glass of vodka down his throat, and restored him to consciousness. And having restored him to consciousness, he began to talk to him. It turned out that the Jew had not the slightest idea that Malek-Adel had been stolen.
At last, in five minutes, not sooner, a bit of tallow candle was alight at the bottom of a battered lantern; and Tchertop-hanov, accompanied by Perfishka, dashed into the stable, lifted the lantern above his head, looked round.... All empty! He bounded out into the courtyard, ran up and down it in all directions no horse anywhere!
Masha smiled; her face brightened. 'Well, kill me, Panteley Eremyitch; as you will; but go back, I won't. 'You won't come back? Tchertop-hanov cocked the pistol. 'I won't go back, my dearie. Never in my life will I go back. My word is steadfast. Tchertop-hanov suddenly thrust the pistol into her hand, and sat down on the ground. 'Then, you kill me! Without you I don't care to live.
The poor horse sprung aside, rose on its haunches, bounded ten paces away, and suddenly fell heavily, and gasped as it writhed upon the ground.... Tchertop-hanov put his two hands over his ears and ran away. His knees were shaking under him. His drunkenness and revenge and blind self-confidence all had flown at once.
Meanwhile time went by, the day fixed for payment was approaching; while, far from having two hundred and fifty roubles, Tchertop-hanov had not even fifty. What was to be done? how could it be met? 'Well, he decided at last, 'if the Jew is relentless, if he won't wait any longer, I'll give him my house and my land, and I'll set off on my horse, no matter where!
'You are going to Yaff, wretched girl! repeated Tchertop-hanov, and he was on the point of seizing her by the shoulder, but, meeting her eyes, he was abashed, and stood uneasily where he was. 'I am not going to Mr. Yaff, Panteley Eremyitch, replied Masha in soft, even tones; 'it's only I can't live with you any longer. 'Can't live with me? Why not? Have I offended you in some way?
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