The next morning, over their tea, Lemm asked Lavretsky to let him have the horses to return to town.

"It's time for me to set to work, that is, to my lessons," observed the old man.

"Besides, I am only wasting time here." Lavretsky did not reply at once; he seemed abstracted.

"Very good," he said at last; "I will come with you myself." Unaided by the servants, Lemm, groaning and wrathful, packed his small box and tore up and burnt a few sheets of music-paper.

The horses were harnessed.