His face was covered with freckles and
he had big saucy blue eyes and an impertinent turned-up nose. When he
came up he stopped and made a grimace.
"Serejka drank yesterday, and today Serejka's pocket is empty. Lend me
twenty kopeks. I'll not return them."
Iakov burst out laughing; Malva smiled.
"Give me the money," went on the tramp. "I'll marry you for twenty
kopeks if you like."
"You're an odd fellow," said Iakov, "are you a priest?"
"Imbecile question," replied Serejka. "Wasn't I servant to a priest at
Ouglitch?"
"I don't want to get married," said Iakov.
"Give the money all the same, and I won't tell your father you're paying
court to his queen," replied Serejka, passing his tongue over his dry
and cracked lips.
Iakov did not want to give twenty kopeks, but they had warned him to be
on his guard when dealing with Serejka, and to put up with his whims.
The tramp never demanded much, but if he was refused he spread evil
tales about you or else he would beat you. So Iakov, sighing, put his
hand in his pocket.
"That's right," said Serejka, with a tone of encouragement, and he sat
down beside them on the sand.
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