"But what wilt thou think, Akím Semyónitch.... Why, the money .... was thy money.... It is gone, thy money... For I took it, accursed that I am, I got it from the cellar..... I gave it all to that man, that villain, that Naúm, accursed creature that I am!... And why didst thou tell me where thou hadst hidden thy money, wretched being that I am!.... For he bought the inn with thy money .... the villain...." Sobs drowned her voice. Akím clutched his head with both hands. "What!"--he screamed at last;--"and so all the money too ... the money, and the inn, thou hast.... Ah! thou hast got it from the cellar .... from the cellar.... Yes, I will kill thee, thou brood of vipers!..." And he leaped from the cart.... "Semyónitch, Semyónitch, don't beat her, don't fight,"--stammered Efrém, whose intoxication began to dissipate at such an unexpected event. "Yes, dear little father, kill me, kill me, dear little father, kill me, the vile creature: beat away, don't heed him!"--shrieked Avdótya, as she writhed convulsively at Akím's feet. He stood awhile and stared at her, then retreated a few paces, and sat down on the grass, by the roadside. A brief silence ensued. Avdótya turned her head in his direction. "Semyónitch, hey, Semyónitch!"--began Efrém, half-rising in the cart;--"have done with that--that will do ... for thou canst not repair the calamity. Phew, what an affair!"--he continued, as though to himself;--"what a damned bad woman... Do thou go to him,"--he added, bending over the cart-rail toward Avdótya;--"canst not see that he has gone crazy?" Avdótya rose, approached Akím and again fell at his feet. "Dear little father,"--she began in a faint voice. Akím rose and went back to the cart. She clutched the skirt of his kaftan. "Get away!"--he shouted fiercely, repulsing her. "Whither art thou going?"--Efrém asked him, perceiving that he was taking his seat again beside him. "Why, thou didst offer to drive me to the inn,"--said Akím:--"so drive me to thy house.... I have none any more, seest thou. They have bought it from me, you know." "Well, all right, let 's go to my house. And how about her?" Akím made no answer. "And me, me,"--chimed in Avdótya, weeping;--"to whose care dost thou leave me .... whither am I to go?" "Go to him,"--returned Akím, without turning round:--"to the man to whom thou didst carry my money... Drive on, Efrém!" Efrém whipped up the horse, the cart rolled off, and Avdótya set up a shrill scream....