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Akulina supposed that this habit belonged to his madness. Others, who understood him better, counted it to him for righteousness, and even Dumnoff, the rough peasant, showed at times a friendly interest in him, which is not usually felt by the unpunctual borrower towards the uncomplaining lender. But Akulina could understand none of these things.
"Much better," said the Cossack, eagerly. "One can believe you better than her." "That is true, at all events," chimed in Dumnoff, who was only brutal and never malicious. "Well, it happened in this way. Fischelowitz and I were talking of to-morrow, I think, when she came in from the back shop, having overheard something we had been saying.
The other came up quickly and attacked the Count from behind, when Dumnoff, aroused at last to the pleasant consciousness that a real fight was going on, brought down his clenched fist with such earnestness of purpose on the top of the second porter's crown that the latter reeled backwards and fell across the Count's chair in an attitude rendered highly uncomfortable by the fact that the said chair had been turned upside down at the beginning of the contest.
"Turn him out yourself," answered the tobacconist phlegmatically. "Posted to him from home," continued the Cossack, "and telling him that his father and brother are dead and that he has come into property and the like. What do you think of that?" "It is a shame," growled Dumnoff, beginning to understand. The girl laughed foolishly. "I swear to you," began Akulina, crimson with anger.
"It is hard for a man of your constitution to be shut up day after day as you are here. A little bear-fight now and then would do you almost as much good as an extra bottle of brandy, besides being cheaper." "Yes." Dumnoff yawned, displaying all his ferocious white teeth to the assembled company. "That is true and then, those green cloth policemen look so funny when one upsets them.
"Do you know how I got to Germany? A gentleman from our part of the country brought me with him as coachman. One day the horses ran away in Baden-Baden, and he turned me out of the house." "That was very inconsiderate of him," observed the Count. "It is true that both the horses were killed," said Dumnoff, thoughtfully.
Then you shall go. But not as coachman, Dumnoff. Not as coachman, I think. Good-bye, Anna Nicolaevna," he said, turning to the insignificant girl, who was at last too much awed to giggle. Then he came to Vjera's place. The girl was leaning forward, hiding her face in her hands, and resting her small, pointed elbows on the table.
And now you have got nothing at all, nothing but that insolent maniac's promise. If I were you I would take the money out of his wages, I would indeed!" "No doubt you would," said Fischelowitz, with sincere conviction. Meanwhile Schmidt had gone into the back shop, where Dumnoff was still doggedly working, making up for the time he had lost by coming late in the morning.
"Of course it is the Barina's handwriting," said Dumnoff confidently. He supposed it was always safe to follow Schmidt's lead, when he followed any one. "Of course it is," chimed in the insignificant Anna. "You you minx you flatter-cat, you little serpent!" cried Akulina, speaking three languages at once in her excitement. "Go get along go to your work "
He never inquired the reason for the request of help, but to all who asked of him he gave what he had, gravely, without question, as a matter of course. If Dumnoff's pockets were empty and his throat dry, he went to the Count and got what he wanted. Dumnoff might be brutal, rude, coarse; it made no difference.
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