“’What are you doing, you good-natured fool?  Why did you let him take the watch in his hand?  And are you going to show the ring, too?  You will see, he has bad intentions.  I’ll bet my head he will bring misfortune on yours.  Do you not see his greedy eyes?  He will ruin you altogether, you and house, and ground,’ I said.

“I had my trouble for my pains.  Although a man of ripe years, Sarkis was nevertheless like a mere boy, believing all people as honest as himself.  Heaven knows! perhaps such a fate was destined for him, and it was impossible for him to get out of the way of misfortune.

“Mairam brought the ring, and as soon as the scoundrel saw it he grabbed it from her hand and put it on his finger.

“‘What a pretty thing it is!’ he said, smirking.  ’How it glistens!  What a precious ring!  What wonderfully beautiful brilliants!  What ought I to give you for such a ring?  Tell me.  It pleases me exceedingly.  Yes, without joking, sell it to me.  No, we will arrange it otherwise:  I will give you all kinds of goods out of my store at a very low price, yes, very cheap.  May the apoplexy strike me if I make anything out of you!  I will sell you everything at cost price, and if you wish, will give you ten kopecks rebate on the ruble.’

“‘No, my dear sir,’ said Mairam, embarrassed.  ’Can one sell a souvenir of the Czar, and one of such great value?  We have no occasion to do it.  We are no Jews, to sell off everything, to turn into money whatever comes into our hands.  Are we such poor beggars that we cannot have something good and valuable in our chest?  No, Mr. John, what you say seems to me to be very singular.  You are rich, yet you say that you have never in your life seen a gold watch nor a ring set with brilliants.  It seems to me a fine new custom that one must immediately have what one sees.  No, dear sir, cast not your eyes upon our property; be content with what you have.’

“‘Mrs. Mairam,’ said the scoundrel, smirking, ’why are you so angry?  May one not joke with you?’

“‘A fine joke!’ I said, putting in my oar.  ’You looked at the trees, and you will at once tear them down.  You fell on the fruit like a wolf.  You saw the garden, and at once wanted to buy.  Now you want the ring, and will exchange for it your wares.  What sort of tomfoolery are you talking to us?  You are either crazy yourself or will make others so.  The apple falls not far from the stem—­one sees that in you.’

“‘Aunt Hripsime, why are you so cross?  Dare one not jest?’

“‘Enough, enough; I understand your joke very well,’ I cried indignantly.

“Yes, we women scolded him right well, but Sarkis said no earthly word.  He sat there dumb and speechless as the stick in my hand.  The Lord God gave him a tongue to speak with, but, dear heaven, he sat there like a clod and never uttered a syllable.  I was like to burst with wrath.