a few days later the one groom who was left to tchertop-hanov announced that someone had come on horseback and wanted to speak to him. tchertop-hanov went out on to the steps and recognised the jew, riding a splendid horse of the don breed, which stood proud and motionless in the middle of the courtyard. the jew was bareheaded; he held his cap under his arm, and had thrust his feet into the stirrup-straps, not into the stirrups themselves; the ragged skirts of his long coat hung down on both sides of the saddle. on seeing tchertop-hanov, he gave a smack with his lips, and ducked down with a twitch of the elbows and a bend of the legs. tchertop-hanov, however, not only failed to respond to his greeting, but was even enraged by it; he was all on fire in a minute: a scurvy jew dare to ride a magnificent horse like that!... it was positively indecent!

'hi, you ethiopian fright!' he shouted; 'get off at once, if you don't want to be flung off into the mud!'

the jew promptly obeyed, rolled off the horse like a sack, and keeping hold of the rein with one hand, he approached tchertop-hanov, smiling and bowing.

'what do you want?' panteley eremyitch inquired with dignity.

'your ex-shelency, deign to look what a horse!' said the jew, never ceasing to bow for an instant.

'er... well... the horse is all right. where did you get it from? stole it, i suppose?'

'how can you say that, your ex-shelency! i'm an honest jew. i didn't steal it, but i obtained it for your ex-shelency--really! and the trouble, the trouble i had to get it? but, then, see what a horse it is! there's not another horse like it to be found in all the don country! look, your ex-shelency, what a horse it is! here, kindly step this way! wo!... wo!... turn round, stand sideways! and we'll take off the saddle. what do you think of him, your ex-shelency?'

'the horse is all right,' repeated tchertop-hanov with affected indifference, though his heart was beating like a sledge-hammer in his breast. he was a passionate lover of 'horse-flesh,' and knew a good thing when he saw it.

'only take a look at him, your ex-shelency! pat him on the neck! yes, yes, he-he-he-he! like this, like this!'

tchertop-hanov, with apparent reluctance, laid his hand on the horse's neck, gave it a pat or two, then passed his fingers from the forelock along the spine, and when he had reached a certain spot above the kidneys, like a connoisseur, he lightly pressed that spot. the horse instantly arched its spine, and looking round suspiciously at tchertop-hanov with its haughty black eye, snorted and moved its hind legs.

the jew laughed and faintly clapped his hands. 'he knows his master, your ex-shelency, his master!'

'don't talk nonsense,' tchertop-hanov interrupted with vexation. 'to buy this horse from you... i haven't the means, and as for presents, i not only wouldn't take them from a jew; i wouldn't take a present from almighty god himself!'

'as though i would presume to offer you a present, mercy upon me!' cried the jew: 'you buy it, your ex-shelency... and as to the little sum--i can wait for it.'

tchertop-hanov sank into thought.

'what will you take for it?' he muttered at last between his teeth.

the jew shrugged his shoulders.

'what i paid for it myself. two hundred roubles.'

the horse was well worth twice---perhaps even three times that sum.

tchertop-hanov turned away and yawned feverishly.

'and the money... when?' he asked, scowling furiously and not looking at the jew.

'when your ex-shelency thinks fit.'

tchertop-hanov flung his head back, but did not raise his eyes. 'that's no answer. speak plainly, son of herod! am i to be under an obligation to you, hey?'

'well, let's say, then,' the jew hastened to add, 'in six months' time... do you agree?'

tchertop-hanov made no reply.

the jew tried to get a look at his face. 'do you agree? you permit him to be led to your stable?'

'the saddle i don't want,' tchertop-hanov blurted out abruptly. 'take the saddle--do you hear?'

'to be sure, to be sure, i will take it,' faltered the delighted jew, shouldering the saddle.

'and the money,' tchertop-hanov pursued... 'in six months. and not two hundred, but two hundred and fifty. not a word! two hundred and fifty, i tell you! to my account.'

tchertop-hanov still could not bring himself to raise his eyes. never had his pride been so cruelly wounded.

'it's plain, it's a present,' was the thought in his mind; 'he's brought it out of gratitude, the devil!' and he would have liked to kiss the jew, and he would have liked to beat him.

'your ex-shelency,' began the jew, gaining a little courage, and grinning all over his face, 'should, after the russian fashion, take from hand to hand....'

'what next? what an idea! a hebrew... and russian customs! hey! you there! take the horse; lead him to the stable. and give him some oats. i'll come myself and look after him. and his name is to be--malek-adel!'

tchertop-hanov turned to go up the steps, but turning sharply back, and running up to the jew, he pressed his hand warmly. the latter was bending down to kiss his hand, but tchertop-hanov bounded back again, and murmuring, 'tell no one!' he vanished through the door.