I would
willingly take you and set you up."
"You're married," the girl objected, touching his ring.
"Yes, but, you understand, I don't live with my wife; she isn't
well, she can't fulfill her conjugal duties."
"The poor thing! If she were to find out where you go, daddy, she
would cry for sure."
"Let's drop that. So, you know, Mary, I am always looking out for
such a girl as you for myself, so modest and pretty. I am a man of
means, I would find a flat with board for you, with fuel and
light. And forty roubles a month pin money. Would you go?"
"Why not go--I'd go."
He kissed her violently, but a secret apprehension glided swiftly
through his cowardly heart.
"But are you healthy?" he asked in an inimical, quavering voice.
"Why, yes, I am healthy. There's a doctor's inspection every
Saturday in our place."
After five minutes she went away from him, as she walked putting
away in her stocking the earned money, on which, as on the first
handsel, she had first spat, after a superstitious custom. There
had been no further speech either about maintenance or natural
liking.
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