Page 592 - the-idiot

times audacious, but never offensive familiarity, which
I liked in reality, but for which I also detested him. ‘Why
what’s the matter?’ he cried in alarm. ‘Are you ill?’
‘That confounded cough of mine had come on again; I
fell into a chair, and with difficulty recovered my breath.
‘It’s all right, it’s only consumption’ I said. ‘I have come to
you with a petition!’
‘He sat down in amazement, and I lost no time in telling
him the medical man’s history; and explained that he, with
the influence which he possessed over his uncle, might do
some good to the poor fellow.
‘I’ll do it—I’ll do it, of course!’ he said. ‘I shall attack my
uncle about it tomorrow morning, and I’m very glad you
told me the story. But how was it that you thought of com-
ing to me about it, Terentieff?’
‘So much depends upon your uncle,’ I said. ‘And besides
we have always been enemies, Bachmatoff; and as you are a
generous sort of fellow, I thought you would not refuse my
request because I was your enemy!’ I added with irony.
‘Like Napoleon going to England, eh?’ cried he, laughing.
‘I’ll do it though—of course, and at once, if I can!’ he added,
seeing that I rose seriously from my chair at this point.
‘And sure enough the matter ended as satisfactorily as
possible. A month or so later my medical friend was ap-
pointed to another post. He got his travelling expenses paid,
and something to help him to start life with once more. I
think Bachmatoff must have persuaded the doctor to ac-
cept a loan from himself. I saw Bachmatoff two or three
times, about this period, the third time being when he gave

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