The next night we were sitting in the tent of our captain; I was playing, but with no great zest. My orderly came in. 'Some one's asking for you, your honour.' 'Who is it?' 'A Jew.' 'Can it be Girshel?' I wondered. I waited till the end of the rubber, got up and went out. Yes, it was so; I saw Girshel. 'Well,' he questioned me with an ingratiating smile, 'your honour, are you satisfied?' 'Ah, you------!' (Here the colonel glanced round. 'No ladies present, I believe.... Well, never mind, any way.') 'Ah, bless you!' I responded, 'so you're making fun of me, are you?' 'How so?' 'How so, indeed! What a question!' 'Ay, ay, your honour, you 're too bad,' Girshel said reproachfully, but never ceasing smiling. 'The girl is young and modest.... You frightened her, indeed, you did.' 'Queer sort of modesty! why did she take money, then?' 'Why, what then? If one's given money, why not take it, sir?' 'I say, Girshel, let her come again, and I '11 let you off... only, please, don't show your stupid phiz inside my tent, and leave us in peace; do you hear?' Girshel's eyes sparkled. 'What do you say? You like her?' 'Well, yes.' 'She's a lovely creature! there's not another such anywhere. And have you something for me now?' 'Yes, here, only listen; fair play is better than gold. Bring her and then go to the devil. I'll escort her home myself.' 'Oh, no, sir, no, that's impossible, sir,' the Jew rejoined hurriedly. 'Ay, ay, that's impossible. I'll walk about near the tent, your honour, if you like; I'll... I'll go away, your honour, if you like, a little.... I'm ready to do your honour a service.... I'll move away... to be sure, I will.' 'Well, mind you do.... And bring her, do you hear?' 'Eh, but she's a beauty, your honour, eh? your honour, a beauty, eh?' Girshel bent down and peeped into my eyes. 'She's good-looking.' 'Well, then, give me another gold piece.' I threw him a coin; we parted. The day passed at last. The night came on. I had been sitting for a long while alone in my tent. It was dark outside. It struck two in the town. I was beginning to curse the Jew.... Suddenly Sara came in, alone. I jumped up took her in my arms... put my lips to her face.... It was cold as ice. I could scarcely distinguish her features.... I made her sit down, knelt down before her, took her hands, touched her waist.... She did not speak, did not stir, and suddenly she broke into loud, convulsive sobbing. I tried in vain to soothe her, to persuade her.... She wept in torrents.... I caressed her, wiped her tears; as before, she did not resist, made no answer to my questions and wept--wept, like a waterfall. I felt a pang at my heart; I got up and went out of the tent. Girshel seemed to pop up out of the earth before me. 'Girshel,' I said to him, 'here's the money I promised you. Take Sara away.' The Jew at once rushed up to her. She left off weeping, and clutched hold of him.