It seemed to him that he could not alter his promise to the workingmen, who were to come that morning. He decided to leave the house, so as not to be in when they came. Let Chyenke do as she pleased. His hands would be clean. He began to feel a keen displeasure that things should not be as he desired, and somewhere in the recesses of his mind arose the thought that he ought to throw up the whole business. But that was a futile notion. The wisest thing, he thought, was not to be in when the workingmen came. He dressed hurriedly and left. “Where are you going?” “Where I need to go.” But Chyenke took no offence. She understood his idea and rejoiced. “Aha! My fine statesman!” she spoke triumphantly, shaking her head, after he had shut the door behind him. Soon the workingmen arrived one after the other. Chyenke held herself somewhat aloof, not even looking at them and feigning to search for something. “Where is Drabkin?” “Gone out!” she mumbled in reply. “What is it?” “We’ve come ready to work. He hired us. Didn’t he tell you anything about it?” “You’ve come ready to work?” she suddenly scowled, raising her voice and filling it with all the venom of her anger. “Fine folks you are! I tell you! Found a fool and.... What do you think? Found an easy-mark, didn’t you? You ought to be ashamed of yourselves even to mention such conditions. Why, it’s downright robbery! What do you take us for,—millionaires? Do you think we’re rolling in roubles? Where are we going to get the money to pay you such wages?”... She was now screaming. “They found a fool and turned his head! With him everything is right. Whatever you tell him, he lets you have your way. If another fellow happened along at the same time and told him to give away all he had, he would have done so. Does he stop to consider? Does he care a jot? You were foolish not to ask him four times as much as you did, as wages for sitting in his shop and looking at him!... Bah! Upon my word!...” “What’s all this screeching about?” asked one of the men with an ironic smile. “You don’t want us? You don’t have to! We’ve had work up to now and we won’t go around idle now. We didn’t come asking him for work, either. He came to us!...” “Suppose he did! Is that any reason for trying to skin him?” replied Chyenke indignantly. “You came to the right place.... Do you think you’ve got another fool here?” “If we’re given, why shouldn’t we take?” “That’s just the trouble. You struck a fool. But, thank Heaven, I’ve a little say in the matter. If you’re willing to work at regular rates then you may start in at once. If not, suit yourselves—I’ll find plenty of hands.” “We know nothing about all this,” insisted the men. “Drabkin told us to come to work.” “Just for that,” cried Chyenke in fury, “I’ll not take you even for nothing. Let Drabkin take you! I am the boss here!” For a while the workingmen eyed her with scorn, a smile of contempt upon their lips, then they turned to the door.