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Updated: June 7, 2025
It was arranged that the legal formalities should take place as quickly as possible and that till then the matter should not be made public. Lizaveta Prohorovna received a deposit of a hundred roubles and two hundred went to Kirillovna for her assistance. "It has not cost me much," thought Naum as he got into his coat, "it was a lucky chance."
"I'll add another hundred, then." Lizaveta Prohorovna got up. "I see that you are talking quite off the point. I have told you already that I cannot sell that inn am not going to sell it. I cannot ... that is, I will not." Naum smiled and said nothing for a space. "Well, as you please, madam," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "I beg to take leave." He bowed and took hold of the door handle.
He told the labourers to put up the horse in the yard. At last the door opened and he walked into the room. "Good-day," he said, and took off his cap. "Good-day," Akim repeated through his teeth. "Where has God brought you from?" "I was in the neighbourhood," replied Naum, and he sat down on the bench. "I have come from your lady." "From the lady," said Akim, not getting up from his seat.
Here's God and here's the door ... do you understand? Or there will be trouble." Naum took a step forward. "Good gracious, don't fight, my dears," faltered Avdotya, who till then had sat motionless at the table. Naum glanced at her. "Don't be uneasy, Avdotya Arefyevna, why should we fight? Fie, brother, what a hullabaloo you are making!" he went on, addressing Akim. "Yes, really.
"Certainly," said Naum, and he got up and followed Kirillovna into the drawing-room. The door closed behind them.... When the door opened again and Naum walked out backwards, bowing, the matter was settled: Akim's inn belonged to him. He had bought it for 2800 paper roubles.
When Akim had rushed out crying that he would go to the mistress, Avdotya had turned to Naum, stared at him open-eyed and clasped her hands. "Good heavens!" she cried, "Naum Ivanitch, what does this mean? You've bought our inn?" "Well, what of it?" he replied. "I have." Avdotya was silent for a while; then she suddenly started. "So that is what you wanted the money for?"
"So that's you, my friend," he brought out; "very good, you wait a bit." "Let me go," said Akim, "aren't you satisfied?" "I'll show you before the judge to-morrow whether I am satisfied," and Naum tightened his grip of Akim. The labourers ran up with two lanterns and cords. "Tie his arms," Naum ordered sharply.
But in spite of her agitated mistress's warning, Kirillovna did continue speaking of it and half an hour later she went back to Naum, whom she had left in the butler's pantry at the samovar. "What have you to tell me, good madam?" said Naum, jauntily turning his tea-cup wrong side upwards in the saucer. "What I have to tell you is that you are to go in to the mistress; she wants you."
"But do you know what, Akim Semyonitch, the money ... your money ... your money's gone.... Wretched sinner as I am, I took it from under the floor, I gave it all to him, to that villain Naum.... Why did you tell me where you hid your money, wretched sinner as I am? ... It's with your money he has bought the house, the villain." Sobs choked her voice. Akim clutched his head with both hands.
But in spite of Akim's good-natured weakness, it certainly would have come to a decisive explanation between him and Avdotya, if it had not been for an event which rendered any explanation useless. Akim peeped out of window, frowned and looked down: Naum got deliberately out of the cart. Avdotya had not seen him, but when she heard his voice in the entry the spoon trembled in her hand.
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