oppressive man, having learned that one of his serfs was detained without cause or reason at Alexey Sergeitch's, began to demand him back; in case of refusal he threatened legal proceedings, and the threat was not an empty one, as he was himself of the rank of privy councillor, and had great weight in the province. Ivan had rushed in terror to Alexey Sergeitch. The old man was sorry for his dancer, and he offered the privy councillor to buy Ivan for a considerable sum. But the privy councillor would not hear of it; he was a Little Russian, and obstinate as the devil. The poor fellow would have to be given up. 'I have spent my life here, and I'm at home here; I have served here, here I have eaten my bread, and here I want to die,' Ivan said to me—and there was no smile on his face now; on the contrary, it looked turned to stone. . . . 'And now I am to go to this wretch. . . Am I a dog to be flung from one kennel to another with a noose round my neck? . . . to be told: "There, get along with you!" Save me, master; beg your uncle, remember how I always amused you. . . . Or else there'll be harm come of it; it won't end without sin.'
'What sort of sin, Ivan?'
'I shall kill that gentleman. I shall simply go and say to him, "Master, let me go back; or else, mind, be careful of yourself . . . I shall kill you."'
If a siskin or a chaffinch could have spoken,
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