It was late when the party ended. Vasya Chesnokov, sweating profusely from exhaustion, with the emcee's bow pinned to his civilian clothes, stood before Mashenka and begged: "Wait a moment. My good man . . . The tram comes and goes. Seriously, where are you going in a hurry... There is a place to sit here, you can wait a little longer, what's wrong... But you have to go. Wait for the next train to come, You must go. Otherwise, look, you are sweating all over your body, and I am also sweating... If you catch a cold like this, you will get sick..." "No," said Mashenka, putting on her goloshes. "You're afraid of the cold, and you wouldn't even give it to a girl. What kind of boyfriend are you?"

"It's because I'm sweating." Vasya almost cried as he said. "Put on your coat!" Vasya Chesnokov obediently put on his fur coat, went out into the street with Mashenka, and took her arm tightly. The street was chilly, and the moon was shining like a wash.His feet creaked on the snow. "You are such a quick temper," Vasya said, looking at her profile with admiration. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't say anything. Really, I came out to send you because I love you." Mashenka smiled. "You're still grinning," Vasya said. "Maria Vasilyetina, I really adore you and love you. If you say: Vasya Chesnokov, lie down on the tramway and lie on the track when the next train comes. I will go .No further words..."

"Stop talking nonsense," said Mashenka. "Let's enjoy the night. The moon is shining now, and the surroundings are so beautiful. The night scene in the city is so beautiful! How charming!" "Yes, it's quite beautiful," said Vasya, a little surprised at the peeling plaster on the wall of the building. "Honestly, she's really beautiful... Marya Vasilievna, but it's also very strange: when you're really moved by someone, you think they're beautiful... There aren't many intellectuals, Many party members do not admit love. But I, Maria Vasilyevna, do not deny love. My love for you will not change even if the sea is dry and the stone is broken. Just say: Vasya Chesnokov, bang your head against that wall, and I'll bang it right away."

"Come on, let's go," said Mashenka, evidently pleased with herself. "I'm not lying to you, I'm really going to hit it. Do you want me to?" The couple came to the Kryukov Canal. Vasya confessed again: "I'm not kidding you, if you want, I'll jump into the river right away. How about it? Ah? Maria Vasilyevna, if you don't believe me, I can show you..." Shasha Chesnokov grasped the railing with both hands, and pretended to climb over it. "Oh!" cried Mashenka. "Vasya! What are you doing!" At this moment, a black figure sprang out from the corner and stopped under the street lamp.

"Why, what happened?" Hei Ying asked in a low voice, looking the pair up and down. Mashenka screamed and leaned tightly against the railing. The man came up, grabbed Vasya Chesnokov by the sleeve, and said in a low voice: "You bastard, take off the coat for me, hurry up. If you don't dare to say a word, I will Give you a dick and you're dead ass. Get it, bastard, take it off!" "D-d-d-d..." Vasya was about to say, "Why?" "Take it off quickly!..." The man tugged at the front of his coat. With trembling hands Vasya unbuttoned and took off his overcoat.

"Take off your boots, too!" said the man again. "I want leather boots too." "How-how-how-" Vasya muttered, "How come...it's cold..." "Get off!" "You don't even touch this woman, and I have to take off my boots." Vasya was full of grievances. "She's wearing a fur coat and overshoes, but she tells me to take off my boots." The man cast a cold glance at Mashenka, and said: "Take her clothes off and go with a burden on her back. There must be a crime. I know what to do. Still not taking off?" Mashenka froze in terror and watched the man without moving.Vasya Chesnokov sat down on the snow and untied his shoelaces.

"She's a coat again," Vasya muttered again. "It's overshoes again, tell me to take the place of the dead..." The man pulled Vasya's fur coat tight on his body, put his two boots in his coat pocket, and said: "Sit here and don't move or make noise. If you dare to shout or move, you will be called." It's over. Get it, bastard! And you, lady, too..." The man wrapped his coat hastily and disappeared in an instant. The Vasya, completely paralyzed, sat down in the snow like a bundle of fagots, staring at his feet in white socks.He was still skeptical about what happened just now.

"What a pity," he said, casting a sharp glance at Mashenka. "I have to give it to her, and I have to lose money, huh?" When the robbing footsteps could not be heard at all, Vasya Chesnokov suddenly kicked up on the snowy ground and shouted in a piercing piercing voice: "Help... there are robbers..." Then he stood up abruptly and ran in the snow, jumping and jumping in panic.Mashenka still leaned against the railing and did not move. (1924)⑧ Translated by Gu Yaling and Bai Chunren