University of Virginia Library

5.
CHAPTER V.

BEFORE dawn the next morning Polikey was
up, and after harnessing the mare and looking
in his hat to see that the money was all right,
he started on his return journey.

Many times on the way Polikey took off his
hat to see that the money was safe. Once he
said to himself, "I think that perhaps it would
be better if I should put it in my bosom." This
would necessitate the untying of his sash, so he
decided to keep it still in his hat, or until he
should have made half the journey, when he
would be compelled to stop to feed his horse
and to rest.

He said to himself: "The lining is not sewn
in very strongly and the envelope might fall
out, so I think I had better not take off my hat
until I reach home."

The money was safe—at least, so it seemed to
him—and he began to think how grateful his
mistress would be to him, and in his excited
imagination he saw the five rubles he was so
sure of receiving.

Once more he examined the hat to see that
the money was safe, and finding everything all
right he put on his hat and pulled it well down
over his ears, smiling all the while at his own
thoughts.

Akulina had carefully sewed all the holes in
the hat, but it burst out in other places owing
to Polikey's removing it so often.

In the darkness he did not notice the new
rents, and tried to push the envelope further
under the lining, and in doing so pushed one
corner of it through the plush.

The sun was getting high in the heavens,
and Polikey having slept but little the previous
night and feeling its warm rays fell fast asleep,
after first pressing his hat more firmly on his
head. By this action he forced the envelope

still further through the plush, and as he rode
along his head bobbed up and down.

Polikey did not awake till he arrived near his
own house, and his first act was to put his hand
to his head to learn if his hat was all right.

Finding that it was in its place, he did not
think it necessary to examine it and see that the
money was safe. Touching the mare gently
with the whip she started into a trot, and as he
rode along he arranged in his own mind how
much he was to receive. With the air of a
man already holding a high position at the
court, he looked around him with an expression
of lofty scorn on his face.

As he neared his house he could see before
him the one room which constituted their hum-
ble home, and the joiner's wife next door carry-
ing her rolls of linen. He saw also the office of
the court and his mistress's house, where he
hoped he would be able presently to prove that
he was an honest, trustworthy man.

He reasoned with himself that any person

can be abused by lying tongues, but when his
mistress would see him she would say: "Well
done, Polikey; you have shown that you can be
honest. Here are three—it may be five—per-
haps ten—rubles for you;" and also she would
order tea for him, and might treat him to vodki
—who knows? The latter thought gave him
great pleasure, as he was feeling very cold.

Speaking aloud he said: "What a happy
holy-day we can have with ten rubles! Having
so much money, I could pay Nikita the four
rubles fifty kopecks which I owe him, and yet
have some left to buy shoes for the children."

When near the house Polikey began to ar-
range his clothes, smoothing down his fur col-
lar, re-tying his sash, and stroking his hair.

To do the latter he had to take off his hat, and
when doing so felt in the lining for the enve-
lope. Quicker and quicker he ran his hand
around the lining, and not finding the money
used both hands, first one and then the other.

But the envelope was not to be found.

Polikey was by this time greatly distressed,
and his face was white with fear as he passed
his hand through the crown of his old hat.

Polikey stopped the mare and began a diligent
search through the wagon and its contents. Not
finding the precious envelope, he felt in all his
pockets—
but the money could not be found!

Wildly clutching at his hair, he exclaimed:

"Batiushka!
What will I do now? What will
become of me?" At the same time he realized
that he was near his neighbors' house and could
be seen by them; so he turned the mare around,
and, pulling his hat down securely upon his
head, he rode quickly back in search of his lost
treasure.