But he himself said to his neighbours:
“You know, it’s all the same to me if it’s TREIF or kosher.
I don’t recognize any difference.
But what can I do with my stomach!
The devil knows what stuff they’ll feed you sometimes at these stations.
You’ll pay some three or four roubles, and then you’ll spend a hundred roubles on the doctors curing yourself.
But maybe you, now, Sarochka”— he would turn to his wife— “maybe you’ll get off at the station to eat something?
Or shall I send it up to you here?”
Sarochka, happy over his attention, would turn red, beam upon him with grateful eyes, and refuse.
“You’re very kind, Senya, only I don’t want to.
I’m full.”
Then Horizon would reach out of a travelling hamper a chicken, boiled meat, cucumbers, and a bottle of Palestine wine; have a snack, without hurrying, with appetite; regale his wife, who ate very genteelly, sticking out the little fingers of her magnificent white hands; then painstakingly wrap up the remnants in paper and, without hurrying, lay them away accurately in the hamper.
In the distance, far ahead of the locomotive, the cupolas and belfries were already beginning to sparkle with fires of gold.
Through the Coupe passed the conductor and made some imperceptible sign to Horizon.
He immediately followed the conductor out to the platform.
“The inspector will pass through right away,” said the conductor, “so you’ll please be so kind as to stand for a while here on the platform of the third class with your spouse.”
“Nu, Nu, Nu!” concurred Horizon.
“And the money as agreed, if you please.”
“How much is coming to you, then?”
“Well, just as we agreed; half the extra charge, two roubles eighty kopecks.”
“What?” Horizon suddenly boiled over. “Two roubles eighty kopecks?
You think you got it a crazy one in me, what?
Here’s a rouble for you and thank God for that!”
“Pardon me, sir.
This is even absurd— didn’t you and I agree?”
“Agree, agree! … Here’s a half more, and not a thing besides.
What impudence!
I’ll tell the inspector yet that you carry people without tickets.
Don’t you think it, brother— you ain’t found one of that sort here!”
The conductor’s eyes suddenly widened, became blood-shot.
“O-oh!
You sheeny!” he began to roar. “I ought to take a skunk like you and under the train with you!”
But Horizon at once flew at him like a cock.
“What?
Under the train?
But do you know what’s done for words like that?
A threat by action!
Here, I’ll go right away and will yell ‘help!’ and will turn the signal handle,” and he seized the door-knob with such an air of resolution that the conductor just made a gesture of despair with his hand and spat.
“May you choke with my money, you mangy sheeny!”
Horizon called his wife out of the Coupe:
“Sarochka!
Let’s go out on the platform for a look; one can see better there.
Well, it’s so beautiful— just like on a picture!”
Sarah obediently went after him, holding up with an unskilled hand the new dress, in all probability put on for the first time, bending out and as though afraid of touching the door or the wall.
In the distance, in the rosy gala haze of the evening glow, shone the golden cupolas and crosses.
High up on the hill the white, graceful churches seemed to float in this flowery, magic mirage.
Curly woods and coppices had run down from above and had pushed on over the very ravine.
And the sheer, white precipice which bathed its foot in the blue river, was all furrowed over with occasional young woods, just like green little veins and warts.
Beautiful as in a fairy tale, the ancient town appeared as though it were itself coming to meet the train.
When the train stopped, Horizon ordered three porters to carry the things into the first class, and told his wife to follow him.