Page:Complete Works of Count Tolstoy - 18.djvu/226

. That is as you had made the preposition to us last year. It originates, so to speak, from the sum in its totality of 32,864 roubles for the purchase of the proprietorship of the land.

. That is so. How about the pay?

. In respect to the pay the Commune preposes, as has been said last year, to depone, so to speak, the reception of the cash, by the laws of the statutes, in the totality of four thousand roubles.

. That is, you will get four thousand now, and for the rest you are to wait.

(unrolling the money). You may be sure we will pawn ourselves, but we will not do, let me say, in any slipshod manner, but, let me say, so to speak, as is proper.

. But I wrote to you that I should be willing only in case you had collected all the money.

. This would, in rivality, be pleasanter, but it is not in the possibilities, so to speak.

. I cannot help it.

. The Commune, for example, has been relaying on your preposition of last year to depone the payment—

. That was last year; then I was willing, but now I cannot—

. How is that? You had given us hope, and we had the paper written up, and the money collected.

. Have pity on us, father. Our land is small, there is not enough room to drive out a cow, nay, not even a chick, let me say. (Bows.) Don't sin, father! (Bows.)

. I must say it is true that I was willing last year to postpone the payment, but something has happened—and so it is not convenient for me now.