FullReads

They did not furnish me with horses very promptly, and I had time to indulge in cheerless meditations on the subject of my unexpected encounter with Misha. I felt conscience-stricken that I had let him go in so unsympathetic a manner.–At last I proceeded on my journey, and after driving half a verst from the posting-station I observed, ahead of me on the road, a crowd of people moving along with a strange and as it were measured tread. I overtook this crowd,–and what did I see?–Twelve beggars, with wallets on their shoulders, were walking by twos, singing and skipping as they went,—and at their head danced Misha, stamping time with his feet and saying: “Natchiki-tchikaldi, tchuk-tchuk-tchuk! Natchiki-tchikaldi, tchuk-tchuk-tchuk!”

As soon as my calash came on a level with him, and he caught sight of me, he immediately began to shout, “Hurrah! Halt, draw up in line! Eyes front, my guard of the road!”

The beggars took up his cry and halted,–while he, with his habitual laugh, sprang upon the carriage-step, and again yelled: “Hurrah!”

“What is the meaning of this?” I asked, with involuntary amazement.

“This? This is my squad, my army; all beggars, God’s people, my friends! Each one of them, thanks to your kindness, has quaffed a cup of liquor: and now we are all rejoicing and making merry!… Uncle! ‘Tis only with the beggars and God’s poor that one can live in the world, you know … by God, that’s so!”

I made him no reply … but this time he seemed to me such a good-natured soul, his face expressed such childlike ingenuousness … a light suddenly seemed to dawn upon me, and there came a prick at my heart….

“Get into the calash with me,” I said to him.

He was amazed….

“What? Get into the calash?”

“Get in, get in!” I repeated. “I want to make thee a proposition. Get in!… Drive on with me.”

“Well, you command.”–He got in.–“Come, and as for you, my dear friends, respected comrades,” he added to the beggars: “good-bye! Until we meet again!”–Misha took off his kazak cap and made a low bow.–The beggars all seemed to be dumbfounded…. I ordered the coachman to whip up the horses, and the calash rolled on.

This is what I wished to propose to Misha: the idea had suddenly occurred to me to take him into my establishment, into my country-house, which was situated about thirty versts from that posting-station,–to save him, or, at least, to make an effort to save him.

“Hearken, Misha,” said I; “wilt thou settle down with me?… Thou shalt have everything provided for thee, clothes and under-linen shall be made for thee, thou shalt be properly fitted out, and thou shalt receive money for tobacco and so forth, only on one condition: not to drink liquor!… Dost thou accept?”

Misha was even frightened with joy. He opened his eyes very wide, turned crimson, and suddenly falling on my shoulder, he began to kiss me and to repeat in a spasmodic voice:–“Uncle … benefactor…. May God reward you!…” He melted into tears at last, and doffing his kazak cap, began to wipe his eyes, his nose, and his lips with it.

“Look out,” I said to him. “Remember the condition–not to drink liquor!”

“Why, damn it!” he exclaimed, flourishing both hands, and as a result of that energetic movement I was still more strongly flooded with that spirituous odour wherewith he was thoroughly impregnated…. “You see, dear uncle, if you only knew my life…. If it were not for grief, cruel Fate, you know…. But now I swear,–I swear that I will reform, and will prove…. Uncle, I have never lied–ask any one you like if I have…. I am an honourable, but an unhappy man, uncle; I have never known kindness from any one….”

At this point he finally dissolved in sobs. I tried to soothe him and succeeded, for when we drove up to my house Misha had long been sleeping the sleep of the dead, with his head resting on my knees.