condition that you return it later, when I come back from town. I
give it to you in front of these witnesses. You will be my
witnesses! [Takes a gold medallion out from the breast of his coat]
Here it is. ... I ought to take the portrait out, but I've nowhere
to put it; I'm wet all over. ... Well, take the portrait, too! Only
mind this ... don't let your fingers touch that face. ... Please ...
I was rude to you, my dear fellow, I was a fool, but forgive me and ...
don't touch it with your fingers. ... Don't look at that face with
your eyes. [Gives TIHON the medallion.]

TIHON. [Examining it] Stolen property. ... All right, then, drink. ...
[Pours out vodka] Confound you.

BORTSOV. Only don't you touch it ... with your fingers. [Drinks
slowly, with feverish pauses.]

TIHON. [Opens the medallion] Hm ... a lady! ... Where did you get
hold of this?

MERIK. Let's have a look. [Goes to the bar] Let's see.

TIHON. [Pushes his hand away] Where are you going to? You look
somewhere else!

FEDYA. [Gets up and comes to TIHON] I want to look too!

[Several of the tramps, etc., approach the bar and form a group.
MERIK grips TIHON's hand firmly with both his, looks at the
portrait, in the medallion in silence. A pause.]