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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."
In the morning, to the sorrow of Savélütch, I insisted on giving our guide, who was but thinly clad, one of my cloaks a hare-skin touloup. "Thanks, your excellency," said the vagrant, "and may heaven reward you. As long as I live I shall never forget your kindness."
I stopped, and soon recognized our "ouriadnik." After joining us at a gallop, he jumped from the back of his own horse, and handing me the bridle of the other "Your lordship," said he, "our father makes you a present of a horse, and a pelisse from his own shoulder." On the saddle was slung a plain sheepskin "touloup."
"Here, your excellency," replied a voice from above. I raised my eyes to the recess above the stove, and I saw a black beard and two sparkling eyes. "Well, are you cold?" "How could I not be cold," answered he, "in a little caftan all holes? I had a touloup, but, it's no good hiding it, I left it yesterday in pawn at the brandy shop; the cold did not seem to me then so keen."
The old one wanted to torture and then hang you; but I would not, because I remembered your glass of wine and your touloup. I am not bloodthirsty, as your friends say." I remembered the taking of our fortress, but I did not contradict him. "What do they say of me at Orenbourg?" "It is said there, that you will not be easily vanquished. It must be confessed that you have given us some work."
The touloup, which had already become somewhat too small for me, was really too tight for him. Still, with some trouble, he succeeded in getting it on, though he cracked all the seams. Savéliitch gave, as it were, a subdued howl when he heard the threads snapping. As to the vagabond, he was very pleased with my present.
"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.
To the saddle was tied a sheep-skin touloup. I put it on, mounted the horse, taking Saveliitch up behind me. "You see, my lord," said my serf, "that my petition to the bandit was not useless! And although this old hack and this peasant's touloup are not worth half what the rascals stole, yet they are better than nothing. 'A worthless dog yields even a handful of hair."
I was dressed in a short "touloup" of hareskin, and over it a thick pelisse of foxskin. I seated myself in the kibitka with Savéliitch, and started for my destination, crying bitterly. I arrived at Simbirsk during the night, where I was to stay twenty-four hours, that Savéliitch might do sundry commissions entrusted to him. I remained at an inn, while Savéliitch went out to get what he wanted.
But, old owl, you should eternally pray God for me and my lads that you and your master do not swing up there with the other rebels. A hareskin 'touloup! Hark ye, I'll have you flayed alive that 'touloups' may be made of your skin." "As it may please you!" replied Savéliitch. "But I am not a free man, and I must answer for my lord's goods." Pugatchéf was apparently in a fit of high-mindedness.
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