Sophya Pavlovna Medinskaya, the wealthy architect's wife, who was well known in the city for her tireless efforts in the line of arranging various charitable projects, persuaded Ignat to endow seventy-five thousand roubles for the erection of a lodging-house in the city and of a public library with a reading-room.

Ignat had given the money, and already the newspapers lauded him for his generosity.

Foma had seen the woman more than once on the streets; she was short; he knew that she was considered as one of the most beautiful women in the city, and that bad rumours were afoot as to her behaviour.
"Is that all ?" exclaimed Foma, when his godfather concluded the story.
"And I thought God knows what!" "You?
You thought ?" cried Mayakin, suddenly grown angry.

"You thought nothing, you beardless youngster!" "Why do you abuse me ?" Foma said.
"Tell me, in your opinion, is seventy-five thousand roubles a big sum or not ?" "Yes, a big sum," said Foma, after a moment's thought.
"Ah, ha!" "But my father has much money.

Why do you make such a fuss about it ?" Yakov Tarasovich was taken aback.