“Of course if you look at it from the point of view of the crowd,” said Sasha, “then this exquisitely artistic work may appear in a certain light. . . .  But, doctor, rise superior to the crowd, especially as you will wound mamma and me by refusing it.  I am the only son of my mother, you have saved my life. . . .  We are giving you the thing most precious to us and . . . and I only regret that I have not the pair to present to you. . . .”

“Thank you, my dear fellow, I am very grateful . . .  Give my respects to your mother but really consider, my children run in here, ladies come. . . .  However, let it remain!  I see there’s no arguing with you.”

“And there is nothing to argue about,” said Sasha, relieved.  “Put the candlestick here, by this vase.  What a pity we have not the pair to it!  It is a pity!  Well, good-bye, doctor.”

After Sasha’s departure the doctor looked for a long time at the candelabra, scratched behind his ear and meditated.

“It’s a superb thing, there’s no denying it,” he thought, “and it would be a pity to throw it away. . . .  But it’s impossible for me to keep it. . . .  H’m! . . .  Here’s a problem!  To whom can I make a present of it, or to what charity can I give it?”

After long meditation he thought of his good friend, the lawyer Uhov, to whom he was indebted for the management of legal business.

“Excellent,” the doctor decided, “it would be awkward for him as a friend to take money from me, and it will be very suitable for me to present him with this.  I will take him the devilish thing!  Luckily he is a bachelor and easy-going.”

Without further procrastination the doctor put on his hat and coat, took the candelabra and went off to Uhov’s.

“How are you, friend!” he said, finding the lawyer at home.  “I’ve come to see you . . . to thank you for your efforts. . . .  You won’t take money so you must at least accept this thing here. . . .  See, my dear fellow. . . .  The thing is magnificent!”

On seeing the bronze the lawyer was moved to indescribable delight.

“What a specimen!” he chuckled.  “Ah, deuce take it, to think of them imagining such a thing, the devils!  Exquisite!  Ravishing!  Where did you get hold of such a delightful thing?”

After pouring out his ecstasies the lawyer looked timidly towards the door and said:  “Only you must carry off your present, my boy . . . .  I can’t take it. . . .”

“Why?” cried the doctor, disconcerted.

“Why . . . because my mother is here at times, my clients . . . besides I should be ashamed for my servants to see it.”

“Nonsense!  Nonsense!  Don’t you dare to refuse!” said the doctor, gesticulating.  “It’s piggish of you!  It’s a work of art! . . .  What movement . . . what expression!  I won’t even talk of it!  You will offend me!”

“If one could plaster it over or stick on fig-leaves . . .”

But the doctor gesticulated more violently than before, and dashing out of the flat went home, glad that he had succeeded in getting the present off his hands.