“Ach, madam, what shall I say?
Twelve, twenty thousand, approximately.
But think what tremendous expenses there are in constantly travelling.”
“Do you put away a little?”
“Well, that’s trifles; some two or three thousand a year.”
“I thought ten, twenty … ”
Horizon grew wary.
He sensed that he was beginning to be drawn out and asked insidiously:
“But why does this interest you?”
Anna Michailovna pressed the button of an electric bell and ordered the dressy maid to bring coffee with steamed cream and a bottle of Chambertaine.
She knew the tastes of Horizon.
Then she asked:
“Do you know Mr. Shepsherovich?”
Horizon simply pounced upon her.
“My God!
Who don’t know Shepsherovich!
This is a god, this is a genius!”
And, having become animated, forgetting that he was being dragged into a trap, he began speaking exaltedly:
“Just imagine what Shepsherovich did last year!
He carried to Argentine thirty women from Kovno, Vilno, Zhitomir.
Each one of them he sold at a thousand roubles— a total, madam— count it— of thirty thousand!
Do you think Shepsherovich calmed down with this?
For this money, in order to repay his expenses on the steamer, he bought several negresses and stuck them about in Moscow, Petersburg, Kiev, Odessa, and Kharkov.
But, you know, madam, this isn’t a man, but an eagle.
There’s a man who can do business!”
Barsukova caressingly laid her hand on his knee.
She had been waiting for this moment and said to him amicably:
“And so I propose to you, Mr.—— however, I don’t know how you are called now… ”
“Horizon, let’s say… ”
“So I propose to you, Mr. Horizon— could you find some innocent girls among yours?
There’s an enormous demand for them now.
I’m playing an open hand with you.
We won’t stop at money.
Now it’s in fashion.
Notice, Horizon, your lady clients will be returned to you in exactly the same state in which they were.
This, you understand, is a little depravity, which I can in no way make out … ”
Horizon cast down his eyes, rubbed his head, and said:
“You see, I’ve a wife … You’ve almost guessed it.”
“So.
But why almost?”
“I’m ashamed to confess, that she— how shall I say it … she is my bride … ”
Barsukova gaily burst into laughter.
“You know, Horizon, I couldn’t at all expect that you’re such a nasty villain!
Let’s have your wife, it’s all the same.
But is it possible that you’ve really refrained?”
“A thousand?” asked Horizon seriously.
“Ah!
What trifles; a thousand let’s say.
But tell me, will I be able to manage her?”
“Nonsense!” said Horizon self-assuredly. “Let’s again suppose that you’re my aunt, and I leave my wife with you.