The Torrents Of Spring

XXXVII
Sanin proceeded to expound his case, that is to say, again, a second time,
to describe his property, not touching this time on the beauties of nature,
and now and then appealing to Polozov for confirmation of his ‘facts and
figures.’ But Polozov simply gasped and shook his head, whether in approval
or disapproval, it would have puzzled the devil, one might fancy,
to decide. However, Maria Nikolaevna stood in no need of his aid. She
exhibited commercial and administrative abilities that were really astonishing!
She was familiar with all the ins-and-outs of farming; she asked
questions about everything with great exactitude, went into every point;
every word of hers went straight to the root of the matter, and hit the
nail on the head. Sanin had not expected such a close inquiry, he had not
prepared himself for it. And this inquiry lasted for fully an hour and a
half. Sanin experienced all the sensations of the criminal on his trial, sitting
on a narrow bench confronted by a stern and penetrating judge.
‘Why, it’s a cross-examination!’ he murmured to himself dejectedly.
Maria Nikolaevna kept laughing all the while, as though it were a joke;
but Sanin felt none the more at ease for that; and when in the course of
the ‘cross-examination’ it turned out that he had not clearly realised the
exact meaning of the words ‘repartition’ and ‘tilth’, he was in a cold perspiration
all over.
‘Well, that’s all right!’ Maria Nikolaevna decided at last. ‘I know your
estate now … as well as you do. What price do you suggest per soul?’
(At that time, as every one knows, the prices of estates were reckoned by
the souls living as serfs on them.)
‘Well … I imagine … I could not take less than five hundred roubles
for each,’ Sanin articulated with difficulty. O Pantaleone, Pantaleone,
where were you! This was when you ought to have cried again, ‘Barbari!’
Maria Nikolaevna turned her eyes upwards as though she were
calculating.
‘Well?’ she said at last. ‘I think there’s no harm in that price. But I reserved
for myself two days’ grace, and you must wait till to-morrow. I
imagine we shall come to an arrangement, and then you will tell me how
much you want paid down. And now, basta cosi!’ she cried, noticing Sanin
was about to make some reply. ‘We’ve spent enough time over filthy
lucre … à demain les affaires. Do you know what, I’ll let you go now …
(she glanced at a little enamelled watch, stuck in her belt) … till three
o’clock … I must let you rest. Go and play roulette.’
‘I never play games of chance,’ observed Sanin.
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