XXIV + 

“Is she in love?” quoth one. “With whom? + 

Bouyànoff courted. She refused. + 

Pétòushkoff met the selfsame doom. + 

The hussar Pykhtin was accused. + 

How the young imp on Tania doted! + 

To captivate her how devoted! + 

I mused: perhaps the matter’s squared⁠— + 

O yes! my hopes soon disappeared.” + 

“But, mátushka, to Moscow you + 

Should go, the market for a maid, + 

With many a vacancy, ’tis said.”⁠— + 

“Alas! my friend, no revenue!” + 

“Enough to see one winter’s end; + 

If not, the money I will lend.” + 