The whole sum, however, was sent the young man by Varvara Petrovna, and Stepan Trofimovitch had nothing to do with a single rouble of it.

On the other hand, the whole revenue from the land remained in his pocket, and he had, besides, completely ruined the estate, letting it to a mercenary rogue, and without the knowledge of Varvara Petrovna selling the timber which gave the estate its chief value.

He had some time before sold the woods bit by bit.

It was worth at least eight thousand, yet he had only received five thousand for it.

But he sometimes lost too much at the club, and was afraid to ask Varvara Petrovna for the money.