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or not； with scorn； or love； Grouchetsky。〃
〃There we have it！ Such a pig！ Could he not wait a while？ I will
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have another try。〃
Mitia went to his mother。 This was his last hope。 His mother was
very kind； and hardly ever refused him anything。 She would probably have
helped him this time also out of his trouble； but she was in great anxiety：
her younger child； Petia； a boy of two； had fallen ill。 She got angry with
Mitia for rushing so noisily into the nursery； and refused him almost
without listening to what he had to say。 Mitia muttered something to
himself and turned to go。 The mother felt sorry for him。 〃Wait； Mitia；〃
she said； 〃I have not got the money you want now； but I will get it for you
to…morrow。〃
But Mitia was still raging against his father。
〃What is the use of having it to…morrow； when I want it to…day？ I am
going to see a friend。 That is all I have got to say。〃
He went out； banging the door。 。 。 。
〃Nothing else is left to me。 He will tell me how to pawn my watch；〃
he thought； touching his watch in his pocket。
Mitia went to his room； took the coupon and the watch from the
drawer； put on his coat； and went to Mahin。
II
MAHIN was his schoolfellow； his senior； a grown…up young man with
a moustache。 He gambled； had a large feminine acquaintance； and
always had ready cash。 He lived with his aunt。 Mitia quite realised that
Mahin was not a respectable fellow； but when he was in his company he
could not help doing what he wished。 Mahin was in when Mitia called；
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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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 af