Page 332 of 1294

"Oh, yes! Well, here's the story. Early on the third day after

the murder, when they were still dandling Koch and

Pestryakov--though they accounted for every step they took and it

was as plain as a pikestaff--an unexpected fact turned up. A

peasant called Dushkin, who keeps a dram-shop facing the house,

brought to the police office a jeweller's case containing some

gold ear-rings, and told a long rigamarole. 'The day before

yesterday, just after eight o'clock'--mark the day and the

hour!--'a journeyman house-painter, Nikolay, who had been in to

see me already that day, brought me this box of gold ear-rings

and stones, and asked me to give him two roubles for them. When I

asked him where he got them, he said that he picked them up in

the street. I did not ask him anything more.' I am telling you

Dushkin's story. 'I gave him a note'--a rouble that is--'for I

thought if he did not pawn it with me he would with another.