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There they fight for the purse, and in the purse is the soul."
"I don't like this," announced Foma.
"Neither do I like everything--there's too much fraud.
But to be fair in business matters is utterly impossible; you must be
shrewd! In business, dear, on approaching a man you must hold honey
in your left hand, and clutch a knife in your right. Everybody would
like to buy five copecks' worth for a half a copeck."
"Well, this isn't too good," said Foma, thoughtfully. "But it will be
good later. When you have taken the upper hand, then it will be good.
Life, dear Foma, is very simple: either bite everybody, or lie in the
gutter.
The old man smiled, and the broken teeth in his mouth roused in
Foma the keen thought:
"You have bitten many, it seems."
"There's but one word--battle!" repeated the old man.
"Is this the real one?" asked Foma, looking at Mayakin searchingly.
"That is, what do you mean--the real?"
"Is there nothing better than this? Does this contain everything?"
"Where else should it be? Everybody lives for himself.


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