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"I aan rapidly "As I said

before I say again, I did not take it--I did not take it; I did

not take anything, and the ring he gavestolen 2,500 roubles?" asked

the president

"I've said I took nothing but the 40 roubles"

"Well, and do you plead guilty of having given the merchant

Smelkoff a powder in his drink?"

"Yes, that I did Only I believed what they toldpowders, and that no harht, and never wishedGod is my witness; I say, I

neverstolen thefroave him

the powder?" said the president

"Well, yes, I do confess this, but I thought they were sleeping

powders I only gave theht of worse"

"Very well," said the president, evidently satisfied with the

results gained "Now tell us how it all happened," and he leaned

back in his chair and put his folded hands on the table "Tell us

all about it A free and full confession will be to your

advantage"

Maslova continued to look at the president in silence, and

blushing

"Tell us how it happened"

"How it happened?" Maslova suddenly began, speaking quickly "I

ca-house, and was shown into the room He was

there, already very drunk" She pronounced the word _he_ with a

look of horror in her wide-open eyes "I wished to go away, but