If I hadn't had something to keep me here, I would have run over myself long ago, for I've some business there in a hurry. But here I... it's not the time for me to go now.... You see, I've two pieces of copse land there.
The Maslovs, an old merchant and his son, will give eight thousand for the timber. But last year I just missed a purchaser who would have given twelve.
There's no getting anyone about here to buy it. The Maslovs have it all their own way. One has to take what they'll give, for no one here dare bid against them.
The priest at Ilyinskoe wrote to me last Thursday that a merchant called Gorstkin, a man I know, had turned up. What makes him valuable is that he is not from these parts, so he is not afraid of the Maslovs.
He says he will give me eleven thousand for the copse. Do you hear?
But he'll only be here, the priest writes, for a week altogether, so you must go at once and make a bargain with him."
"Well, you write to the priest; he'll make the bargain."
"He can't do it.
He has no eye for business.
He is a perfect treasure, I'd give him twenty thousand to take care of for me without a receipt; but he has no eye for business, he is a perfect child, a crow could deceive him.
And yet he is a learned man, would you believe it?
This Gorstkin looks like a peasant, he wears a blue kaftan, but he is a regular rogue. That's the common complaint. He is a liar.
Sometimes he tells such lies that you wonder why he is doing it.
He told me the year before last that his wife was dead and that he had married another, and would you believe it, there was not a word of truth in it? His wife has never died at all, she is alive to this day and gives him a beating twice a week.
So what you have to find out is whether he is lying or speaking the truth when he says he wants to buy it and would give eleven thousand."
"I shall be no use in such a business. I have no eye either."
"Stay, wait a bit! You will be of use, for I will tell you the signs by which you can judge about Gorstkin. I've done business with him a long time.
You see, you must watch his beard; he has a nasty, thin, red beard.
If his beard shakes when he talks and he gets cross, it's all right, he is saying what he means, he wants to do business. But if he strokes his beard with his left hand and grins- he is trying to cheat you.
Don't watch his eyes, you won't find out anything from his eyes, he is a deep one, a rogue but watch his beard!
I'll give you a note and you show it to him.
He's called Gorstkin, though his real name is Lyagavy;* but don't call him so, he will be offended.
If you come to an understanding with him, and see it's all right, write here at once.
You need only write:
'He's not lying.'
Stand out for eleven thousand; one thousand you can knock off, but not more. just think! there's a difference between eight thousand and eleven thousand.
It's as good as picking up three thousand; it's not so easy to find a purchaser, and I'm in desperate need of money.
Only let me know it's serious, and I'll run over and fix it up. I'll snatch the time somehow.
But what's the good of my galloping over, if it's all a notion of the priest's?
Come, will you go?" * i.e. setter dog.
"Oh, I can't spare the time. You must excuse me."
"Come, you might oblige your father. I shan't forget it.
You've no heart, any of you that's what it is!
What's a day or two to you?
Where are you going now- to Venice?
Your Venice will keep another two days.
I would have sent Alyosha, but what use is Alyosha in a thing like that?
I send you just because you are a clever fellow. Do you suppose I don't see that?
You know nothing about timber, but you've got an eye.
All that is wanted is to see whether the man is in earnest.
I tell you, watch his beard- if his beard shakes you know he is in earnest."
"You force me to go to that damned Tchermashnya yourself, then?" cried Ivan, with a malignant smile.
Fyodor Pavlovitch did not catch, or would not catch, the malignancy, but he caught the smile.
"Then you'll go, you'll go?
I'll scribble the note for you at once."
"I don't know whether I shall go. I don't know. I'll decide on the way."
"Nonsense! Decide at once.
My dear fellow, decide!
If you settle the matter, write me a line; give it to the priest and he'll send it on to me at once.
And I won't delay you more than that. You can go to Venice.