登陆注册
5233000000074

第74章 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 humble 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--perhaps 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 arrange his clothes, smoothing down his fur collar, 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 envelope. 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 BEFOUND!

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.

同类推荐
  • 薛丁山征西

    薛丁山征西

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 唯识论

    唯识论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 删补名医方论

    删补名医方论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 仁王经疏

    仁王经疏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 运气要诀

    运气要诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 武侠见闻录

    武侠见闻录

    “降龙十八掌?听起来好威风啊,但是好像不适合我。” 书友群:515331397,欢迎各位加入。“井中八法?杀气太重了吧,再说了动不动就抽刀砍人可能不太符合我的气质。”“折花百式倒是挺潇洒,不过成天拿个扇子会不会有点装13的嫌疑?”“七伤拳,算了吧,别玩着玩着别人还没打到我我先吐血了。”“你问我想练什么?我也不知道诶,对了,你听说过一招从天而降的掌法吗?”
  • 必知的航天科技(青少年科技爱好培养)

    必知的航天科技(青少年科技爱好培养)

    科学是人类进步的第一推动力,而科学知识的普及则是实现这一推动的必由之路。在新的时代,社会的进步、科技的发展、人们生活水平的不断提高,为我们青少年的科普教育提供了新的契机。抓住这个契机,大力普及科学知识,传播科学精神,提高青少年的科学素质,是我们全社会的重要课题。
  • 冒充大魔头

    冒充大魔头

    群星降世,阴司主宰。和平繁华的背后是一庄庄肮脏的交易。邪恶的地狱泉眼复苏,寄附柳无晨的体内。当消息外泄的那一刻,名门正派、满天神佛要杀他,以绝地狱泉眼之祸。魔道巨枭也要杀他,得到地狱泉眼,改写三界统治。他是一个没有魔头实力的魔头。他的一生从此改写。本书慢热不喜勿喷。
  • 快穿游戏:这个宿主不太冷

    快穿游戏:这个宿主不太冷

    【新文《娇妻很大牌:影帝大人别傲娇》正在连载中~】这是一个赏金猎人玩快穿游戏徒手拆CP的故事。听说高冷校草配温柔校草?送你一个字:拆!听说腹黑王爷配高冷将军?再送你一个字:拆!听说兽人族长配平民小白脸?啥也不别说了,上去就是拆!听说傲娇大明星配毒舌黑粉?拆!拆!拆!颜值逆天,不管怎么看都配一脸是吧?拆你不解释!什么?你问我为什么看不惯你非要拆你?呵呵!我的游戏我做主,我拆你就拆你,还用选日子吗?不过,为什么她拆完了CP之后才后知后觉的发现似乎有什么不对?比如说……为什么被拆了CP的男二似乎当起了自己的神助攻?还有,这个在游戏之外一直黏着自己的傲娇太子爷,到底是谁?
  • 婚后危机

    婚后危机

    婚礼那天,新娘李丽失踪,我只好和她姐姐李艳举行婚礼。从此以后,我和李艳就被李丽怀疑。然而我却在婚后不久发现李丽不但跟初恋情人频繁联系,还跟学校领导走的很近……
  • 禅要经

    禅要经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 全球顶级企业通用的10种人力资源管理方法

    全球顶级企业通用的10种人力资源管理方法

    只有基于人性的管理方法才是最好的;所有管理方法最终的目的只有一个,就是充分整合人才以发挥最佳功效。所有这些构成了本书的第一个视角——通用管理方法。所谓项级企业并不仅仅因为他们在销售或利润上有着惊人的数字,更重要的是他们所取得的成就从侧面反映了企业所采用的管理方法的成功。
  • 粮田

    粮田

    粮田几亩;鸡鸭几只,牛羊几头,驴马几匹;一窝兔子,一圈猪;一只猫,一条狗,一家人;新书《福福德正》
  • 颂古钩钜

    颂古钩钜

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 你不理财 财不理你大全集(超值金版)

    你不理财 财不理你大全集(超值金版)

    改变千万人命运的创富理财法则,不要低估你对财富的需求,可以不赚钱,但决不要赔钱,只有投资才能抵御通货膨胀对财富的侵蚀,投资要有计划,需要学习相关知识和听取专家的建议,投资越早,时间越长,回报越多,养成定期投资的习惯,敢于承担适度的风险,才可能获得更高回报,不同的人生阶段,应有不同的投资组合,适度分散是对投资最好的保护,不要过分选时,也不要追逐热点,关注投资品种的内在价值,想要长期地赚大钱一定要脚踏实地,读懂市场会令你财源滚滚。