If you would kindly sign the title-deed..." Within an hour the merchant, stroking his big overcoat neatly down, and hooking up his jacket, with the agreement in his pocket, seated himself in his tightly covered trap, and drove homewards.

"Ugh, these gentlefolks!" he said to the clerk.

" They--they're a nice lot!" "That's so," responded the clerk, handing him the reins and buttoning the leather apron.

" But I can congratulate you on the purchase, Mihail Ignatitch?" "Well, well..." Stepan Arkadyevitch went upstairs with his pocket bulging with notes, which the merchant had paid him for three months in advance.