'You should--then,' Styopushka said suddenly. He grew confused, was silent, and began to rummage in the worm-pot. 'And shall you go to the bailiff?' continued Tuman, looking with some amazement at Styopka. 'What should I go to him for?--I'm in arrears as it is. My son was ill for a year before his death; he could not pay even his own rent. But it can't hurt me; they can get nothing from me.... Yes, my friend, you can be as cunning as you please--I'm cleaned out!' (The peasant began to laugh.) 'Kintlyan Semenitch'll have to be clever if--' Vlass laughed again. 'Oh! things are in a sad way, brother Vlass,' Tuman ejaculated deliberately. 'Sad! No!' (Vlass's voice broke.) 'How hot it is!' he went on, wiping his face with his sleeve. 'Who is your master?' I asked him. 'Count Valerian Petrovitch.' 'The son of Piotr Ilitch?' 'The son of Piotr Ilitch,' replied Tuman. 'Piotr Hitch gave him Vlass's village in his lifetime.' 'Is he well?' 'He is well, thank God!' replied Vlass. 'He has grown so red, and his face looks as though it were padded.' 'You see, your honour,' continued Tuman, turning to me, 'it would be very well near Moscow, but it's a different matter to pay rent here.' 'And what is the rent for you altogether?' 'Ninety-five roubles,' muttered Vlass. 'There, you see; and it's the least bit of land; all there is is the master's forest.' 'And that, they say, they have sold,' observed the peasant. 'There, you see. Styopka, give me a worm. Why, Styopka, are you asleep--eh?' Styopushka started. The peasant sat down by us. We sank into silence again. On the other bank someone was singing a song--but such a mournful one. Our poor Vlass grew deeply dejected. Half-an-hour later we parted. IV THE DISTRICT DOCTOR