my beloved barbara alexievna,—i hasten to let you know that rataziaev has found me some work to do for a certain writer—the latter having submitted to him a large manuscript. glory be to god, for this means a large amount of work to do. yet, though the copy is wanted in haste, the original is so carelessly written that i hardly know how to set about my task. indeed, certain parts of the manuscript are almost undecipherable. i have agreed to do the work for forty kopecks a sheet. you see therefore (and this is my true reason for writing to you), that we shall soon be receiving money from an extraneous source. goodbye now, as i must begin upon my labours.—your sincere friend,

makar dievushkin.