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know； I managed to get rid of the coupon。〃
〃No！ You don't say so！〃
〃Yes； I used it to pay for a cartload of firewood I bought from a
peasant。〃
And Eugene Mihailovich related with great indignation to the
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company present his wife adding more details to his narrativehow his
wife had been cheated by two unscrupulous schoolboys。
〃Well； and now let us sit down to work；〃 he said； taking his place at
one of the whist…tables when his turn came； and beginning to shuffle the
cards。
VI
EUGENE MIHAILOVICH had actually used the coupon to buy
firewood from the peasant Ivan Mironov； who had thought of setting up in
business on the seventeen roubles he possessed。 He hoped in this way to
earn another eight roubles； and with the twenty…five roubles thus amassed
he intended to buy a good strong horse； which he would want in the spring
for work in the fields and for driving on the roads； as his old horse was
almost played out。
Ivan Mironov's commercial method consisted in buying from the
stores a cord of wood and dividing it into five cartloads； and then driving
about the town； selling each of these at the price the stores charged for a
quarter of a cord。 That unfortunate day Ivan Mironov drove out very early
with half a cartload； which he soon sold。 He loaded up again with
another cartload which he hoped to sell； but he looked in vain for a
customer； no one would buy it。 It was his bad luck all that day to come
across experienced towns…people； who knew all the tricks of the peasants
in selling firewood； and would not believe that he had actually brought the
wood from the country as he assured them。 He got hungry； and felt cold in
his ragged woollen coat。 It was nearly below zero when evening came on；
his horse which he had treated without mercy； hoping soon to sell it to the
knacker's yard； refused to move a step。 So Ivan Mironov was quite ready
to sell his firewood at a loss when he met Eugene Mihailovich； who was
on his way home from the tobacconist。
〃Buy my cartload of firewood； sir。 I will give it to you cheap。 My
poor horse is tired； and can't go any farther。〃
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〃Where do you come from？〃
〃From the country； sir。 This firewood is from our place。 Good dry
wood； I can assure you。〃
〃Good wood indeed！ I know your tricks。 Well； what is your price？〃
Ivan Mironov began by asking a high price； but reduced it once； and
finished by selling the cartload for just what it had cost him。
〃I'm giving it to you cheap； just to please you； sir。Besides； I am glad
it is not a long way to your house；〃 he added。
Eugene Mihailovich did not bargain very much。 He did not mind
paying a little more； because he was delighted to think he could make use
of the coupon and get rid of it。 With great difficulty Ivan Mironov
managed at last； by pulling the shafts himself； to drag his cart into the
courtyard； where he was obliged to unload the firewood unaided and pile
it up in the shed。 The yard…porter was out。 Ivan Mironov hesitated at first
to accept the coupon； but Eugene Mihailovich insisted； and as he looked a
very important person the peasant at last agreed。
He went by the backstairs to the servants' room； crossed himself before
the ikon； wiped his beard which was covered with icicles； turned up the
skirts of his coat； took out of his pocket a leather purse； and out of the
purse eight roubles and fifty kopeks； and handed the change to Eugene
Mihailovich。 Carefully folding the coupon； he put it in the purse。 Then；
according to custom； he thanked the gentleman for his kindness； and；
using the whip…handle instead of the lash； he belaboured the half…frozen
horse that he had doomed to an early death； and betook himself to a
public…house。
Arriving there； Ivan Mironov called for vodka and tea for which he
paid eight kopeks。 Comfortable and warm after the tea； he chatted in the
very best of spirits with a yard…porter who was sitting at his table。 Soon he
grew communicative and told his companion all about the conditions of
his life。 He told him he came from the village Vassilievsky； twelve miles
from town； and also that he had his allotment of land given to him by his
family； as he wanted to live apart from his father and his brothers； that he
had a wife and two children； the elder boy went to school； and did not yet
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help him in his work。 He also said he lived in lodgings and intended going
to the horse…fair the next day to look for a good horse； and； may be； to buy
one。 He went on to state that he had now nearly twenty…five roubles only
one rouble shortand that half of it was a coupon。 He took the coupon out
of his purse to show to his new friend。 The yard…porter was an illiterate
man； but he said he had had such coupons given him by lodgers to change；
that they were good； but that one might also chance on forged ones； so he
advised the peasant； for the sake of security； to change it at once at the
counter。 Ivan Mironov gave the coupon to the waiter and asked for change。
The waiter； however； did not bring the change； but came back with the
manager； a bald…headed man with a shining face； who was holding the
coupon in his fat hand。
〃Your money is no good；〃 he said； showing the coupon； but apparently
determined not to give it back。
〃The coupon must be all right。 I got it from a gentleman。〃
〃It is bad； I tell you。 The coupon is forged。〃
〃Forged？ Give it back to me。〃
〃I will not。 You fellows have got to be punished for such tricks。 Of
course； you did it yourselfyou and some of your rascally friends。〃
〃Give me the money。 What right have you〃
〃Sidor！ Call a policeman；〃 said the barman to the waiter。 Ivan
Mironov was rather drunk； and in that condition was hard to manage。 He
seized the manager by the collar and began to shout。
〃Give me back my money； I say。 I will go to the gentleman who gave
it to me。 I know where he lives。〃
The manager had to struggle with all his force to get loose from Ivan
Mironov； and his shirt was torn；〃Oh； that's the way you behave！ Get hold
of him。〃
The waiter took hold of Ivan Mironov； at that moment the policeman
arrived。 Looking very important； he inquired what had happened； and
unhesitatingly gave his orders：
〃Take him to the police…station。〃
As to the coupon； the policeman put it in his pocket； Ivan Mironov；
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together with his horse； was brought to the nearest station。
VII
IVAN MIRONOV had to spend the night in the police…station； in the
company of drunkards and thieves。 It was noon of the next day when he
was summoned to the police officer； put through a close examination； and
sent in the care of a policeman to Eugene Mihailovich's shop。 Ivan
Mironov remembered the street and the house。
The policeman asked for the shopkeeper； showed him the coupon and
confronted him with Ivan Mironov； who declared that he had received the
coupon in that very place。 Eugene Mihailovich at once assumed a very
severe and astonished air。
〃You are mad； my good fellow；〃 he said。 〃I have never seen this man
before in my life；〃 he added； addressing the policeman。
〃It is a sin； sir；〃 said Ivan Mironov。〃 Think of the hour when you will
die。〃
〃Why； you must be dreaming I You have sold your firewood to some
one else；〃 said Eugene Mihailovich。 〃But wait a minute。 I will go and
ask my wife whether she bought any firewood yesterday。〃 Eugene
Mihailovich left them