Pagina 498 de 788

But meanwhile the Judge had been appeasing Rykov, and likewise

taking aside the Assessor. They were consulting how to end the

affair out of court, and, what was still more important, without

interference from the government. So Captain Rykov said to Major

Plut:-

"Major, what do we want of all these captives? If we send them up

for trial, there will be great trouble for the gentry of the

district, and no one will give you any reward for it, sir. I tell

you, Major, it will be better to settle the matter quietly; the

Judge will have to reward you for your pains, and we will say

that we came here on a visit: thus the goats will be whole and

the wolf will be full. There is a Russian proverb: 'All can be

done-with caution!' and another proverb, 'Roast your own meat on

the Tsar's spit,' and a third proverb, 'Harmony is better than

discord.' Tie the knot tight and put the ends in the water. We

will not make a report, so that nobody will find out. 'God gave

hands to take with'-that is a Russian proverb."