now, you others, untie his other hand."

But poor Gregory was in no state to thank anybody; nearly swooning with
pain, he could scarcely stand.

Two moujiks took him by the arms and led him towards the serfs' quarters,
followed by Ivan. Having reached the door, however, Gregory stopped,
turned his head, and seeing the aide-de-camp gazing pitifully at him, "Oh
sir," he cried, "please thank his excellency the general for me. As for
the lady Vaninka," he added in a low tone, "I will certainly thank her
myself."

"What are you muttering between your teeth?" cried the young officer,
with an angry movement; for he thought he had detected a threatening tone
in Gregory's voice.

"Nothing, sir, nothing," said Ivan. "The poor fellow is merely thanking
you, Mr. Foedor, for the trouble you have taken in being present at his
punishment, and he says that he has been much honoured, that is all."

"That is right," said the young man, suspecting that Ivan had somewhat
altered the original remarks, but evidently not wishing to be better
informed. "If Gregory wishes to spare me this trouble another time, let
him drink less vodka; or else, if he must get drunk, let him at least
remember to be more respectful."

Ivan bowed low and followed his comrades, Foedor entered the house again,
and the crowd dispersed, much dissatisfied that Ivan's trickery and the
general's generosity had deprived them of four strokes of the
knout--exactly a third of the punishment.