“Gentlemen, I know that you’re all good, close friends,” he gave a quick and sidelong look at Simanovsky, “and responsive people.  I heartily beg of you to come to my aid.  The deed was done by me in a hurry—­this I must confess—­but done through a sincere, pure inclination of the heart.”

“And that’s the main thing,” put in Soloviev.

“It’s absolutely all one to me what acquaintances and strangers will begin saying about me; but from my intention to save—­pardon the fool word, which slipped out—­to encourage, to sustain this girl, I will not decline.  Of course, I’m able to rent an inexpensive, small room for her; to give her something for board at first; but what’s to be done further—­that’s what presents difficulties to me.  The matter, of course, isn’t one of money, which I’d always find for her; but, then, to compel her to eat, drink, and with all that to do nothing—­that would mean to condemn her to idleness, indifference, apathy; and you know what the end will be then.  Therefore, we must think of some occupation for her.  And that’s the very matter which we must exert our brains about.  Make an effort, gentlemen; advise something.”

“We must know what she’s fitted for,” said Simanovsky.  “For she must have been doing something before getting into the house.”

Lichonin, with an air of hopelessness, spread out his hands.

“Almost nothing.  She can sew just the least bit, just like any country lass.  Why, she wasn’t fifteen when some government clerk led her astray.  She can sweep up a room, wash a little, and, if you will, cook cabbage soup and porridge.  Nothing more, it seems.”

“Rather little,” said Simanovsky, and clacked his tongue.

“And in addition to that, she’s illiterate as well.”

“But that’s not at all important!” warmly defended Soloviev.  “If we had to do with a well-educated girl, or, worse still, with a half-educated one, then only nonsense would result out of all that we’re preparing to do, a mere soap-bubble; while here before us is maiden ground, untouched virgin soil.”

“He-ee!” Nijeradze started neighing equivocally.

Soloviev, now no longer joking, but with real wrath, pounced upon him: 

“Listen, prince!  Every holy thought, every good deed, can be made disgusting, obscene.  There’s nothing clever or worthy in that.  If you regard that which we’re preparing to do so like a stallion, then there’s the door and God be with you.  Go away from us!”

“Yes, but you yourself just now in the room ...” retorted the prince in confusion.

“Yes, I too,” Soloviev at once softened and cooled down.  “I popped out with a stupidity and I regret it.  But now I willingly admit that Lichonin is a fine fellow and a splendid man; and I’m ready to do everything, for my part.  And I repeat, that knowledge of reading and writing is a secondary matter.  It is easy to attain it in play.  For such an untouched mind to learn reading, writing, counting, and especially without school, of one’s free will, is like biting a nut in two.  And as far as a manual trade is concerned, through which it would be possible to live and earn one’s keep, then there are hundreds of trades, which can be easily mastered in two weeks.”