When I asked him where he got them, he said that he picked them up in the street.

I did not ask him anything more.' I am telling you Dushkin's story.

'I gave him a note'-- a rouble that is--'for I thought if he did not pawn it with me he would with another.

It would all come to the same thing--he'd spend it on drink, so the thing had better be with me.

The further you hide it the quicker you will find it, and if anything turns up, if I hear any rumours, I'll take it to the police.' Of course, that's all taradiddle; he lies like a horse, for I know this Dushkin, he is a pawnbroker and a receiver of stolen goods, and he did not cheat Nikolay out of a thirty-rouble trinket in order to give it to the police.