human
My little sir, the old man replied to me,
gpt
I would be only too delighted, but how can I?--I have offered that Topknot[49] huge remuneration. I offered him three hundred rubles, I assure thee on my honour! but in vain. What is one to do? We had acted illegally, on faith, after the ancient fashion ... and now see what a bad thing has come of it! I am sure that Topknot will take Iván from me by force the first thing we know; he has a strong hand, the Governor eats sour cabbage-soup with him--the Topknot will send a soldier! I'm afraid of those soldiers! In former days, there's no denying it, I would have defended Iván,--but just look at me now, how decrepit I have grown. How am I to wage war?