III + 

The student had long since fathomed just what the matter was. It was perfectly clear to him that these three men formed the usual party of steamer card sharpers. But, evidently, it was necessary for him to ponder over certain things and to comprehend them. He took a long black cigar at the counter, and settled down on the balcony, watching the steamer’s shadow gliding over the yellow water, refracting the fantastic little spots of sunlight. The captain’s mate upon seeing him ran down from the bridge, laughing significantly. + 

“Do you want me to show you one of the most interesting people in Russia, professor?” + 

“Really?” said the student indifferently, flicking the ashes off his cigar with a fingernail. + 

“Look at that gentlernan over there⁠—the one with the gray mustaches and a green silk shade over his eyes. That’s Balunsky⁠—the King of the Cardsharpers.” + 

The student grew animated and threw a quick glance to his right. + 

“That fellow? Really? Is that truly Balunsky himself?” + 

“Yes. The very same.” + 

“Well, is he playing now?” + 

“No. He’s done for, entirely. And even if he were to sit down to play⁠—why then, as you know yourself, it would be our bounden duty to warn the public.⁠ ⁠… All he does is to hang about the tables, just watching and nothing more.” + 

At this moment Balunsky was passing by them, and the student’s eyes followed him with the liveliest interest. Balunsky was a tall, splendidly formed old man, with fine, proud features. The student saw much in his appearance: a habit from of old of bearing himself unconstrainedly with self-assurance before the eyes of a great gathering; soft, well-cared for hands; an assumed, extrinsic air of seigneur. But the student also noticed a slight defect in the use of his right leg, and the time-whitened seams of his one time splendid Parisian overcoat. And the student, with an unfailing attentiveness and some peculiar feeling compounded of indifferent pity and a contempt devoid of any malice, observed all these trifles. + 

“There was a chap for you⁠—but he’s all done for now,” said the captain’s mate. + 

“There’s rather a big game going on downstairs,” said the student calmly. + 

Then, suddenly, turning toward the captain’s mate and staring stonily into his very pupils, he said as simply as if he were ordering his breakfast or dinner: + 

“To tell you the truth, mon cher ami, I have been keeping my eye on you for two whole days now, and I see that you aren’t at all a stupid fellow, and, of course, are above any prejudices, such as are common to old women. For we are supermen, you and I⁠—isn’t that so?” + 

“Well, generally speaking.⁠ ⁠… And according to the general theory of Nietzsche⁠ ⁠…” the captain’s mate mumbled sententiously. “The life of man⁠ ⁠…” + 

“Yes, yes⁠ ⁠… Particulars by mail.” + 

The student unbuttoned his frock-coat, and took a dandified wallet of red leather with a gold monogram out of his side-pocket, and extracted two bills of a hundred roubles each out of the wallet. + 

“Catch hold, admiral! They are yours,” said he, impressively. + 

“What for?” asked the captain’s mate, blinking his eyes in surprise. + 

“For your so-resplendent beauty,” said the student gravely. “And for the pleasure of conversing with a clever man who is unhampered by any prejudices.” + 

“What am I supposed to do?” + 

This time the student spoke curtly and significantly, just like a general before an encounter: + 

“First of all, not to warn anybody about Balunsky. I need him as a control and a sort of a left hand. Is that a go?” + 

“It’s a go!” answered the captain’s mate gayly. + 

“Secondly: show me which one of the waiters can bring my own pack of cards to the table.” + 

The sailor became somewhat hesitant. + 

“Procophii, perhaps?” he said, as though deliberating with himself. + 

“Ah, that’s the thin, yellow chap, with drooping mustaches? Isn’t it?” + 

“Yes, that’s the fellow.” + 

“Very well, then⁠ ⁠… He has a suitable face. I’ll have a little private talk with him by myself, and a separate reckoning. After that, my youthful but ardent friend, I offer you the following proposition: I offer you two-and-a-half percent of the gross receipts.” + 

“Of the gross receipts?” the captain’s mate began to snicker in delight. + 

“Yes, sir! That ought to make, approximately, let me see⁠ ⁠… The colonel, I think, has a thousand roubles or so of his own, and, perhaps, some official money⁠—two thousand, let us say, in round figures. I estimate the justice of the peace at a thousand also. If we succeed in making his wife loosen up, I consider all this money as good as in my pocket already. All the others don’t amount to much. And then I reckon all those snot-noses have about six or seven thousand among them.⁠ ⁠…” + 

“Whom do you mean?” + 

“Why, these petty steamboat sharpers. These same young men that, as you say, trade in grain and flour.” + 

“But really⁠ ⁠… but really⁠ ⁠…” The captain’s mate suddenly saw the light. + 

“Oh, yes, really! I’ll show them how the game ought to be played. They ought to be working a three card monte game around some corner at fairs. Captain, you have three hundred more guaranteed you, beside these two hundred. But there must be an agreement: you must not pull any awful faces at me, even if I lose my shirt; you must not interfere where you are not asked; nor back me up to win; and⁠—most important of all⁠—no matter what happens to me, even the very worst, you must not reveal your acquaintance with me. Remember, you are neither a master nor a pupil, but just a capper.” + 

“A capper!” snickered the captain’s mate. + 

“What a fool!” said the student calmly. + 

And, throwing the stub of his cigar over board, he got up quickly to intercept Balunsky, who was passing by, and familiarly put his arm through that of the other. They conversed for not more than two minutes, and, when they had finished, Balunsky doffed his hat with an air of obsequity and mistrust. + 