the forged coupon()-第2节
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and was just preparing to go to the theatre。 His untidy room smelt of
scented soap and eau…de…Cologne。
〃That's awful； old chap；〃 said Mahin； when Mitia telling him about his
troubles； showed the coupon and the fifty kopeks； and added that he
wanted nine roubles more。 〃We might； of course； go and pawn your
watch。 But we might do something far better。〃 And Mahin winked an
eye。
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〃What's that？〃
〃Something quite simple。〃 Mahin took the coupon in his hand。 〃 Put
ONE before the 2。50 and it will be 12。50。〃
〃But do such coupons exist？〃
〃Why； certainly； the thousand roubles notes have coupons of 12。50。 I
have cashed one in the same way。〃
〃You don't say so？〃
〃Well； yes or no？〃 asked Mahin； taking the pen and smoothing the
coupon with the fingers of his left hand。
〃But it is wrong。〃
〃Nonsense！〃
〃Nonsense； indeed；〃 thought Mitia； and again his father's hard words
came back to his memory。 〃Scoundrel！ As you called me that； I might
as well be it。〃 He looked into Mahin's face。 Mahin looked at him；
smiling with perfect ease。
〃Well？〃 he said。
〃All right。 I don't mind。〃
Mahin carefully wrote the unit in front of 2。50。
〃Now let us go to the shop across the road； they sell photographers'
materials there。 I just happen to want a framefor this young person here
〃He took out of his pocket a photograph of a young lady with large eyes；
luxuriant hair； and an uncommonly well…developed bust。
〃Is she not sweet？ Eh？〃
〃Yes； yes。 。 。of course。 。 。〃
〃Well； you see。But let us go。〃
Mahin took his coat； and they left the house。
III
THE two boys； having rung the door…bell； entered the empty shop；
which had shelves along the walls and photographic appliances on them；
together with show…cases on the counters。 A plain woman； with a kind face；
came through the inner door and asked from behind the counter what they
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THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
required。
〃A nice frame； if you please； madam。〃
〃At what price？〃 asked the woman； she wore mittens on her swollen
fingers with which she rapidly handled picture…frames of different shapes。
〃These are fifty kopeks each； and these are a little more expensive。
There is rather a pretty one； of quite a new style； one rouble and twenty
kopeks。〃
〃All right； I will have this。 But could not you make it cheaper？ Let
us say one rouble。〃
〃We don't bargain in our shop；〃 said the shopkeeper with a dignified
air。 〃Well； I will take it；〃 said Mahin； and put the coupon on the counter。
〃Wrap up the frame and give me change。 But please be quick。 We must
be off to the theatre； and it is getting late。〃
〃You have plenty of time；〃 said the shopkeeper； examining the coupon
very closely because of her shortsightedness。
〃It will look lovely in that frame； don't you think so？〃 said Mahin；
turning to Mitia。
〃Have you no small change？〃 asked the shop…woman。
〃I am sorry； I have not。 My father gave me that； so I have to cash it。〃
〃But surely you have one rouble twenty？〃
〃I have only fifty kopeks in cash。 But what are you afraid of？ You
don't think； I suppose； that we want to cheat you and give you bad
money？〃
〃Oh； no； I don't mean anything of the sort。〃
〃You had better give it to me back。 We will cash it somewhere else。〃
〃How much have I to pay you back？ Eleven and something。〃
She made a calculation on the counter； opened the desk； took out a ten…
roubles note； looked for change and added to the sum six twenty…kopeks
coins and two five…kopek pieces。
〃Please make a parcel of the frame；〃 said Mahin； taking the money in a
leisurely fashion。
〃Yes； sir。〃 She made a parcel and tied it with a string。
Mitia only breathed freely when the door bell rang behind them； and
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they were again in the street。
〃There are ten roubles for you； and let me have the rest。 I will give it
back to you。〃
Mahin went off to the theatre； and Mitia called on Grouchetsky to
repay the money he had borrowed from him。
IV
AN hour after the boys were gone Eugene Mihailovich； the owner of
the shop； came home； and began to count his receipts。
〃Oh； you clumsy fool！ Idiot that you are！〃 he shouted； addressing his
wife； after having seen the coupon and noticed the forgery。
〃But I have often seen you； Eugene； accepting coupons in payment；
and precisely twelve rouble ones；〃 retorted his wife； very humiliated；
grieved； and all but bursting into tears。 〃I really don't know how they
contrived to cheat me；〃 she went on。 〃They were pupils of the school； in
uniform。 One of them was quite a handsome boy； and looked so comme il
faut。〃
〃A comme il faut fool； that is what you are！〃 The husband went on
scolding her； while he counted the cash。 。 。 。 When I accept coupons； I see
what is written on them。 And you probably looked only at the boys' pretty
faces。 〃You had better behave yourself in your old age。〃
His wife could not stand this； and got into a fury。
〃That is just like you men！ Blaming everybody around you。 But
when it is you who lose fifty…four roubles at cards that is of no
consequence in your eyes。〃
〃That is a different matter
〃I don't want to talk to you；〃 said his wife； and went to her room。
There she began to remind herself that her family was opposed to her
marriage； thinking her present husband far below her in social rank； and
that it was she who insisted on marrying him。 Then she went on thinking
of the child she had lost； and how indifferent her husband had been to their
loss。 She hated him so intensely at that moment that she wished for his
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death。 Her wish frightened her； however； and she hurriedly began to
dress and left the house。 When her husband came from the shop to the
inner rooms of their flat she was gone。 Without waiting for him she had
dressed and gone off to friends a teacher of French in the school； a
Russified Pole； and his wife who had invited her and her husband to a
party in their house that evening。
V
THE guests at the party had tea and cakes offered to them； and sat
down after that to play whist at a number of card…tables。
The partners of Eugene Mihailovich's wife were the host himself； an
officer； and an old and very stupid lady in a wig； a widow who owned a
music…shop； she loved playing cards and played remarkably well。 But it
was Eugene Mihailovich's wife who was the winner all the time。 The best
cards were continually in her hands。 At her side she had a plate with
grapes and a pear and was in the best of spirits。
〃And Eugene Mihailovich？ Why is he so late？〃 asked the hostess；
who played at another table。
〃Probably busy settling accounts；〃 said Eugene Mihailovich's wife。
〃He has to pay off the tradesmen； to get in firewood。〃 The quarrel she
had with her husband revived in her memory； she frowned； and her hands；
from which she had not taken off the mittens； shook with fury against him。
〃Oh； there he is。We have just been speaking of you；〃 said the hostess
to Eugene Mihailovich； who came in at that very moment。 〃Why are you
so late？〃
〃I was busy；〃 answered Eugene Mihailovich； in a gay voice； rubbing
his hands。 And to his wife's surprise he came to her side and said；〃You
know； I managed to get rid of the coupon。〃
〃No！ You don't say so！〃
〃
