"How dare you annoy me with these trifles?" said he, snatching the
paper from the Secretary and throwing it in the old man's face. "You
have been despoiled! old fool! great harm! You ought to thank God
that you are not hanging up there, with the other rebels, both you
and your master. I'll give you a hare-skin touloup! Do you know
that I will have you flayed alive, that touloups may be made of you?"

"As you please," replied Saveliitch; "but I am not a free man, and I
am responsible for my master's goods."

Pougatcheff, who was evidently playing the magnanimous, turned his head
and set off without a word. Alexis and the other chiefs followed him.
The whole army left the fortress in good order, the people forming an
escort. I stayed alone on the square with Saveliitch, who held in his
hand the bill and considered it with deep regret. I could not help
laughing.

"Laugh, my lord, laugh, but when the household is to be furnished
again, we shall see if it be a laughing matter."

I went to learn of Marie Mironoff. Accoulina met me and told me a sad
piece of news. During the night a burning fever had seized the poor
girl. Accoulina took me into her chamber. The invalid was delirious
and did not recognize me. I was shocked by the change in her
countenance. The position of this sorrowing orphan, without defenders,
alarmed me as much as my inability to protect grieved me. Alexis,
above all, was to be feared. Chief, invested with the usurper's
authority, in the fortress with this unhappy girl, he was capable of
any crime. What ought I to do to deliver her? To set out at once for
Orenbourg, to hasten the deliverance of Belogorsk, and to co-operate