"Come," said I, "do not play the logician; bring the touloup quickly."
"Oh, Lord!" said the old man, moaning--"a touloup of hare-skin! Quite new,--to give it to a drunkard in rags."
It was brought, however, and the vagabond began to get into it. It was rather tight for me, and was much too small for him. He put it on, nevertheless, but with great difficulty, bursting all the seams. Saveliitch uttered something like a smothered howl, when he heard the threads crack. As for the vagabond, he was well pleased with my present. He re-conducted me to my kibitka, and said, with a profound bow: "Thanks, my lord, may god reward you. I shall never forget your goodness."
He went his way,--I set out on mine, paying no attention to the sullenness of Saveliitch. I soon forgot the hurricane and the guide, as well as the touloup of hare-skin.
Arrived at Orenbourg, I presented myself at once to the General. He was a tall man, bent by age, with long hair quite white. An old, worn- out uniform, recalled the soldier of the times of the Empress Anne, and his speech betrayed a strong German accent.
I gave him my father's letter.
Reading my name, he glanced at me quickly. "Mein Gott," said he, "it is so short a time since Andrew Grineff was your age, and now, see what a fine fellow of a son he has. Ah! time! time!" He opened the letter and began to run it over with a commentary of remarks.
"'Sir, I hope your Excellency,'--What is this; what is the meaning of this ceremony? discipline, of course before all, but is this the way to write to an old friend? Hum--'Field-marshal Munich--little Caroline--brother.' Ah! then he remembers--'Now to business. I send you my son; hold him with porcupine gloves.'
"What does that mean?" said he, "that must be a Russian proverb."
"It means," said I, with an air of innocence, "to treat a person mildly, to give one liberty."
"Hum!" said he, reading, "'and give him no liberty.' No," he continued, "your proverb does not mean liberty. Well, my son," said he, having finished the letter, "every thing shall be done for you. You shall be an officer in the --- regiment, and not to lose time, go tomorrow to the fort of Belogorsk, where you will serve under Captain Mironoff, a brave and honest man. There you will see service and learn discipline. You have nothing to do here at Orenbourg, and amusements are dangerous to a young man. Today I invite you to dine with me."