“Well,” said I, coolly, “if you will not give him half a rouble, give one of my coats—­he is too thinly clad; give him the hare-skin touloup.”

“Have mercy on me!  My dear Peter,” said Saveliitch, “what does he want with your touloup?  He will drink its price, the dog, at the first inn.”

“That, my good old man, is none of your business,” said the vagabond; “his lordship following the custom of royalty to vassals, gives me a coat from his own back, and your duty as serf is not to dispute, but to obey.”

“You have not the fear of God, brigand that you are,” said Saveliitch, angrily; “you see that the child has not yet attained to full reason, and there you are, glad to pillage him, thanks to his kind heart.  You can not even wear the pelisse on your great, cursed shoulders.”

“Come,” said I, “do not play the logician; bring the touloup quickly.”

“Oh, Lord!” said the old man, moaning—­“a touloup of hare-skin!  Quite new,—­to give it to a drunkard in rags.”

It was brought, however, and the vagabond began to get into it.  It was rather tight for me, and was much too small for him.  He put it on, nevertheless, but with great difficulty, bursting all the seams.  Saveliitch uttered something like a smothered howl, when he heard the threads crack.  As for the vagabond, he was well pleased with my present.  He re-conducted me to my kibitka, and said, with a profound bow:  “Thanks, my lord, may god reward you.  I shall never forget your goodness.”

He went his way,—­I set out on mine, paying no attention to the sullenness of Saveliitch.  I soon forgot the hurricane and the guide, as well as the touloup of hare-skin.

Arrived at Orenbourg, I presented myself at once to the General.  He was a tall man, bent by age, with long hair quite white.  An old, worn-out uniform, recalled the soldier of the times of the Empress Anne, and his speech betrayed a strong German accent.

I gave him my father’s letter.

Reading my name, he glanced at me quickly.  “Mein Gott,” said he, “it is so short a time since Andrew Grineff was your age, and now, see what a fine fellow of a son he has.  Ah! time! time!” He opened the letter and began to run it over with a commentary of remarks.

“’Sir, I hope your Excellency,’—­What is this; what is the meaning of this ceremony? discipline, of course before all, but is this the way to write to an old friend?  Hum—­’Field-marshal Munich—­little Caroline—­brother.’  Ah! then he remembers—­’Now to business.  I send you my son; hold him with porcupine gloves.’

“What does that mean?” said he, “that must be a Russian proverb.”

“It means,” said I, with an air of innocence, “to treat a person mildly, to give one liberty.”

“Hum!” said he, reading, “‘and give him no liberty.’  No,” he continued, “your proverb does not mean liberty.  Well, my son,” said he, having finished the letter, “every thing shall be done for you.  You shall be an officer in the —–­ regiment, and not to lose time, go tomorrow to the fort of Belogorsk, where you will serve under Captain Mironoff, a brave and honest man.  There you will see service and learn discipline.  You have nothing to do here at Orenbourg, and amusements are dangerous to a young man.  Today I invite you to dine with me.”