And you know," said
he, looking straight into my eyes with an expression of desperation, "I
am going to tell you, square and fair, I am in a terrible situation:
pouvez-vous me preter dix rubles argent? My sister ought to send me some
by the mail, et mon pere--"
"Why, most willingly," said I, although, on the contrary, it was trying
and unpleasant, especially because the evening before, having lost at
cards, I had left only about five rubles in Nikita's care. "In a
moment," said I, arising, "I will go and get it at the tent."
"No, by and by: ne vous derangez pas."
Nevertheless, not heeding him, I hastened to the closed tent, where
stood my bed, and where the captain was sleeping.
"Aleksei Ivanuitch, let me have ten rubles, please, for rations," said I
to the captain, shaking him.
"What! have you been losing again? But this very evening, you were not
going to play any more," murmured the captain, still half asleep.
"No, I have not been playing; but I want the money; let me have it,
please."
"Makatiuk!" shouted the captain to his servant, [Footnote: Denshchik.]
"hand me my bag with the money."
"Hush, hush!" said I, hearing Guskof's measured steps near the tent.
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