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Every one of them was disappointed, because they all knew that something they did not expect had taken place between Petunikoff and Vaviloff, and they all felt that they had been insulted. The feeling that one is unable to injure anyone is worse than the feeling that one is unable to do good, because to do harm is far easier and simpler. "Well, why are we loitering here?

Off with you to the court. Bring pressure to bear on Judas. We will calculate how much it will take to break the factory down to its very foundations. We will make an estimate of it all, counting the time it will take too, and we will make honest Judas pay two thousand roubles besides." "He will never give it!" cried Vaviloff, but his eyes shone with a greedy light. "You lie!

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!"

That's a determined young thief! . . . What will happen next, I wonder . . .?" asked Kuvalda. "Next? Young Petunikoff will buy out Egor Vaviloff," said Abyedok with conviction, and smacked his lips as if the idea gave him great pleasure. "And you are glad of that?" Kuvalda asked him gravely.

And when Vaviloff had received the hundred roubles and signed the paper, he threw the pen down on the table and said, bitterly: "Now I will have a nice time! They will laugh at me, they will cry shame on me, the devils!" "But you tell them that I paid all your claim," suggested Petunikoff, calmly puffing out clouds of smoke and watching them float upwards. "But do you think they will believe it?

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.

"Devil take the thing!" exclaimed the Captain, thoughtfully measuring the walls of the factory with his eyes. "If only . . . ." Trembling with excitement at the thought that had just entered his mind Aristid Kuvalda jumped up and ran to Vaviloff's eating-house muttering to himself all the time. Vaviloff met him at the bar and gave him a friendly welcome. "I wish your honor good health!"

On rainy, cold, or dull days in the late autumn, these "creatures that once were men" gathered in the eating-house of Vaviloff. They were well known there, where some feared them as thieves and rogues, and some looked upon them contemptuously as hard drinkers, although they respected them, thinking that they were clever.

Then they began beating each other brutally, and drank till they had drunk everything which they could pawn to the indulgent Vaviloff. And thus they passed the autumn days in open wickedness, in suffering which was eating their hearts out, unable to rise out of this vicious life and in dread of the still crueller days of winter. Kuvalda in such cases came to their assistance with his philosophy.

"Of course you already know me, and I presume you guess what I am going to say to you," began Petunikoff. "About the lawsuit? . . . I presume?" remarked the ex-sergeant respectfully. "Exactly! I am glad to see that you are not beating about the bush, but going straight to the point like a business man," said Petunikoff encouragingly. "I am a soldier," answered Vaviloff, with a modest air.