Losing no time, the doctor carefully wrapped up the candlestick and drove to Ukhoff. “There, old chap,” he said to the lawyer, whom he happily found at home; “there I have come to thank you for that little favor. You refused to charge me a fee, but you must accept this present in token of my gratitude. Look--what a beauty!” On seeing the present the attorney was transported with delight. “This beats everything!” he fairly howled. “Hang it all, what inventive genius! Exquisite, immense. Where did you get such a little gem?” Having expressed his delight, the lawyer anxiously looked at his friend and said: “But, you know, you must not leave this thing here. I can not accept it.” “Why?” gasped the doctor. “You know my mother calls here, clients, I would not dare to look my servants in the face. Take it away.” “Never! You must not refuse,” exclaimed the physician with the energy of despair. “Look at the workmanship! Look at the expression! I will not listen to any refusals. I will feel insulted.” With these words the doctor hurried out of the house. “A white elephant,” the lawyer mumbled sadly, while the doctor, rubbing his hands with glee, drove home with an expression of relief. The attorney studied his present at length and wondered what to do with it. “It is simply delicious, but I can not keep it. It would be vandalism to throw it away, and the only thing to do is to give it away. But to whom? “I have it now,” he fairly shouted. “The very thing, and how appropriate. I will take it to Shashkin, the comedian. The rascal is a connoisseur in such things. And this is the night of his jubilee.” In the evening the candelabrum, carefully wrapped, was taken to Shashkin’s dressing-room by a messenger boy. The whole evening that dressing-room was besieged by a crowd of men who came to view the present. An incessant roar of delight was kept up within, sounding like the joyous neighing of many horses. Whenever an actress approached the door leading to the sanctum, and curiously knocked, Shashkin’s hoarse voice was heard in reply: “No, my dear, you can’t come in, I am not fully dressed.” After the performance Shashkin shrugged his shoulders and said: “What on earth shall I do with this disreputable thing? My landlady would not tolerate it in the house. Here actresses call to see me. This is not a photograph, you can’t hide it in the drawer.” The hair-dresser listened sympathetically while arranging the comedian’s hair. “Why don’t you sell it?” he finally asked the actor. “A neighbor of mine, an old lady, deals in such things, and she will pay you a good price for it. An old woman by the name of Smirnoff, the whole town knows her.” Shashkin obeyed. * * * * *