'Oh, I only--I've only come, sir, to know if I can't be of use to your honour in some way...' 'I don't want you; you can go.' 'At your honour's service, as you desire.... I thought there might be, sir, something....' 'You bother me; go along, I tell you.' 'Certainly, sir, certainly. But your honour must permit me to congratulate you on your success....' 'Why, how did you know?' 'Oh, I know, to be sure I do.... An immense sum... immense....Oh! how immense....' Girshel spread out his fingers and wagged his head. 'But what's the use of talking,' I said peevishly; 'what the devil's the good of money here?' 'Oh! don't say that, your honour; ay, ay, don't say so. Money's a capital thing; always of use; you can get anything for money, your honour; anything! anything! Only say the word to the agent, he'll get you anything, your honour, anything! anything!' 'Don't tell lies, Jew.' 'Ay! ay!' repeated Girshel, shaking his side-locks. 'Your honour doesn't believe me.... Ay... ay....' The Jew closed his eyes and slowly wagged his head to right and to left.... 'Oh, I know what his honour the officer would like.... I know,... to be sure I do!' The Jew assumed an exceedingly knowing leer. 'Really!' The Jew glanced round timorously, then bent over to me. 'Such a lovely creature, your honour, lovely!...' Girshel again closed his eyes and shot out his lips. 'Your honour, you've only to say the word... you shall see for yourself... whatever I say now, you'll hear... but you won't believe... better tell me to show you... that's the thing, that's the thing!' I did not speak; I gazed at the Jew. 'Well, all right then; well then, very good; so I'll show you then....' Thereupon Girshel laughed and slapped me lightly on the shoulder, but skipped back at once as though he had been scalded. 'But, your honour, how about a trifle in advance?' 'But you 're taking me in, and will show me some scarecrow?' 'Ay, ay, what a thing to say!' the Jew pronounced with unusual warmth, waving his hands about. 'How can you! Why... if so, your honour, you order me to be given five hundred... four hundred and fifty lashes,' he added hurriedly....' You give orders--' At that moment one of my comrades lifted the edge of his tent and called me by name. I got up hurriedly and flung the Jew a gold coin. 'This evening, this evening,' he muttered after me.