But the peasant spoke to him reasonably: "'Your Honour! Of what use is she to me at this time?
Utterly useless.
I have,' says he, 'three boys--they will be working men; it is necessary to keep them up.

Give me,' says he, 'ten roubles for the girl, and that will improve my lot and that of my boys.' "How is that?
Eh?
It is simply terrible, I tell you." "No good!" sighed Yefim.

"As they say--hunger will break through stone walls.

The stomach, you see, has its own laws." This story called forth in Foma a great incomprehensible interest in the fate of the girl, and the youth hastened to enquire of the receiver: "Well, did the man buy her ?" "Of course not!" exclaimed the receiver, reproachfully.
"Well, and what became of her ?" "Some good people took pity on her--and provided for her." "A-h!" drawled Foma, and suddenly he said firmly and angrily: "I would have given that peasant such a thrashing! I would have broken his head!" And he showed the receiver his big tightly-clenched fist.
"Eh! What for ?" cried the receiver in a sickly, loud voice, tearing his spectacles from his eyes.

"You do not understand the motive." "I do understand it!" said Foma, with an obstinate shake of his head.
"But what could he do?
It came to his mind." "How can one allow himself to sell a human being ?" "Ah! It is brutal, I agree with you." "And a girl at that! I would have given him the ten roubles!" The receiver waved his hand hopelessly and became silent.