The Horse-Stealers and other stories

al to speak only in whispers, had come to see Stytchkin, the head guard, on a day when he was off duty. Stytchkin, somewha

ide. I may tell you between ourselves that apart from my salary I have also money in the bank which my manner of living has enabled me to save. I am a practical and sober man, I lead a sensible and consistent life, so that I may hold myself up as an example to many. But one thing I lack—a domestic hearth of my own and a partner in life, and I live like a wandering Magyar, moving from place to place without any satisfaction. I have no one with whom to take coun

g,” said the match

h advised me to address myself to a person who is a specialist in this line, and makes the arrangement of the happiness of others her profession. And therefore I most ea

an.

wine, I be

maker raised her glass to her mout

what sort of bride would you

e? The bride

everyone has his own taste, you know. One li

es. A glass of wine, I beg. . . . Of course, it would be very agreeable that one’s wife should be rather plump, but for mutual happiness it is not of great consequence; what matters is the mind. Properly speaking, a woman does not need mind either, for if she has brains she will have too high an opinion of herself, and take all sorts of ideas into her head. One cannot do without education nowadays, of course, but education is of different kinds. It

be s

o be kept by my wife, but to keep her, and that she may be sensible of it. But I do not want a poor girl either. Though I am a man of means, and am marryin

e with a dowry,” s

f wine, I

pause of f

igh, took a sidelong glan

the bachelor line? I have some fine bargains. One is a

ought a mome

isposition, allow me to enquire now how much y

stuff for a dress, as is usual, and I will say thank yo

and fell to pondering in silence. After

s dear

did do it cheaper, but nowadays what are our earnings? If you make fifty roubles in a month t

atchmaker in amazement an

call fifty rouble

In old days we sometimes

rn such a sum by these jobs. Fifty roubles! It is not e

ut winking. Stytchkin looked her over

ease take some more. . . With such dividends, you know, Lyubov Grigorye

ed the matchmaker,

a figure, and your face is plump

d. Stytchkin was also embarra

, steady, careful husband, with his salary and your earnings you might

t you are saying, N

eant no ha

lowing his nose, while the matchmaker turned

o you get, Niko

ips. . . . Apart from that we make

huntin

vel without tickets are

ce. Stytchkin got up and walke

n, and I want someone who . . . as it might be like you . .

. . .” giggled the matchmaker, hid

t, and you suit me in your qualities. I am a practical, sober man, and if

ughed, and, in token of her conse

you. . . . I am a strict, respectable, practical man. I take a gentlemanly view of everything. And I desire that my w

egan expounding to his bride-elect his v