_By Lyoff Tolstoi_ In the town of Vladimir there lived a young merchant, Aksenof by name. He owned two shops and a home. Aksenof was a fair, curly-headed, handsome fellow, always jolly and singing. In his youth, Aksenof drank much, and when he was intoxicated his ways were rough. Since his marriage, however, he had stopped drinking, except upon rare occasions. One day, in summer, Aksenof prepared to go to Nijni Novgorod, to the fair. When he was bidding good-by to his wife she said to him: “Ivan Dmitrievich,[4] don’t go this time. I dreamt a bad dream about you.” Aksenof laughed and replied: “You are always afraid that I might get a bit jolly at the fair!” His wife said: “I myself hardly know why I’m afraid, but I dreamt evil. I dreamt that you came home from town, and took off your hat; and I saw that your head was gray.” Aksenof laughed. “Well, that means good luck. You’ll see. I’ll make some nice bargains, and bring fine presents home.” He bid his family farewell, and departed. In the middle of his journey he met a merchant he knew, and they took lodgings together for the night. First they drank tea, and then they went to sleep in separate rooms which were near each other. Aksenof was not a heavy sleeper. Awaking in the middle of the night, and wishing to take advantage of its cool for travelling, he roused the driver and ordered him to harness the carriage. Having paid his host, he took his departure. After he had covered some forty versts, he stopped again for food; and, having rested and had his dinner in the shelter of the hotel, he ordered tea, got hold of a guitar, and began to play. Suddenly there arrived a troika, jingling its bells, and from the carriage descended an official, accompanied by two soldiers. He approached Aksenof and asked, “Who are you? Where are you from?” Aksenof answered properly, and invited the official to tea. The latter, however, persisted in his inquiries: “Where did you sleep the past night?”... “Alone or with the merchant?”... “Did you see the merchant in the morning?”... “Why did you depart so early from the hotel?” Aksenof told all as it happened, and added, “Why do you ask all these questions? I’m not a thief or a highwayman. I’m travelling on my business, and I do not see why I should be asked questions.” It was then that the official called to the soldiers, and said: “I am a police official, and I am asking these questions because the merchant with whom you lodged the past night has been found murdered. Show us your things.... Search him!” They entered the room, seized his travelling bag and sack, and started to unbind and search. Suddenly the official brought forth a knife from the sack, and roared out: “Whose knife is this?” Aksenof looked, and saw that a knife smeared with blood had been taken out of his sack, and he was frightened. “And why is there blood on this knife?” Aksenof wished to reply, but he couldn’t utter a word.