In less than five minutes he came out again with something in his hand.
"Three and a half," he said, handing her the money.
"I had hoped it would be worth more," she answered, putting the coins with the rest.
"No.

He weighed it with silver marks.

It weighed just four of them, and he said he must have half a mark to make it worth his while." "Very well," said Vjera, "it is always something.

I have twenty-eight and a half now." When they reached her lodging Schmidt set down the samovar upon the pavement and made himself a cigarette, while he waited for her.

She was gone a long time, as it seemed to him, and he was beginning to wonder whether anything had happened, when she suddenly made her appearance, noiseless in her walk, as always.