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He went back to Petersburg. In the evening of the same day Yuditch was sitting on the steps of the house serfs' hut. The servants were all round him, sympathising with him and bitterly reproaching their young master. 'That's enough, lads, he said to them at last, 'give over... why do you abuse him? He himself, the young master, I dare say is not very happy at his audacity....
But by Saturday Vassily had not procured the money; he had hoped to win the sum from a rich neighbour at cards, and instead of that, he lost it all. Meantime, Saturday had come; it came at last to the turn of the bags filled with broken crocks. Picture, gentlemen, the amazement of Ivan Andreevitch! 'What does this mean? he thundered. Yuditch was silent. 'You stole the money? 'No, sir.
'Then some one took the key from you? 'I didn't give the key to any one. 'Not to any one? Well then, you are the thief. Confess! 'I am not a thief, Ivan Andreevitch. 'Where the devil did these potsherds come from then? So you're deceiving me! For the last time I tell you confess! Yuditch bowed his head and folded his hands behind his back.
Your honour, Vassily Ivanovitch! why does your honour trouble? 'So this is the thief! shrieked Ivan Andreevitch. 'Thanks, Vassily, thanks! But, Yuditch, I'm not going to forgive you anyway. Why didn't you tell me all about it directly? Hey, you there! why are you standing still? do you too resist my authority? Ah, I'll settle things with you, my pretty gentleman! he added, turning to Vassily.
Having thus duly prepared him, Vassily put on a careworn and gloomy air, for a long while refused to answer Yuditch's questions, and at last told him that he had lost at play, and should make an end of himself if he could not get money somehow. Yuditch broke into sobs, flung himself on his knees before him, begged him to think of God, not to be his own ruin.
Every evening as he went to bed Ivan Andreevitch used to bid him open the coffer in his presence, used to tap in turn each of the tightly filled bags with a stick, and every Saturday he would untie the bags with Yuditch, and carefully count over the money. Vassily heard of all these doings, and burned with eagerness to overhaul the sacred coffer.
One night, Anna Pavlovna was sitting in Ivan Andreevitch's bedroom he suffered from sleeplessness a lamp was burning before the holy picture. My grandfather's servant, Yuditch, of whom I shall have to say a few words later, went out of the room.
'Yuditch, for the last time I tell you, I beg you, Yuditch, confess! 'I can't! moaned Yuditch. 'Then take him, the sly old fox! Flog him to death! His blood be on my head! thundered the infuriated old man. The flogging began.... The door suddenly opened, and Vassily came in.
'Hi, lads! shrieked Ivan Andreevitch in a voice of frenzy. 'A stick! 'What, beat... me? murmured Yuditch. 'Yes, indeed! Are you any better than the rest? You are a thief! O Yuditch! I never expected such dishonesty of you! 'I have grown grey in your service, Ivan Andreevitch, Yuditch articulated with effort. 'What have I to do with your grey hairs? Damn you and your service!
With tears Yuditch repeated, 'Take it, your honour, graciously take it!... Vassily at last agreed. This took place on Monday. The idea occurred to Vassily to replace the money taken out with broken bits of crockery.
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