"Why should I be sorry for it? The Volga gave it to me, and the
Volga has taken it back. It did not tear off my hand."

"Nevertheless."

"What--nevertheless? It is good at least that I saw how it was
all done. It's a lesson for the future. But when my 'Volgar' was
burned--I was really sorry--I didn't see it. How beautiful it
must have looked when such a woodpile was blazing on the water
in the dark night! Eh? It was an enormous steamer."

"Weren't you sorry for that either?"

"For the steamer? It is true, I did feel sorry for the steamer.
But then it is mere foolishness to feel sorry! What's the use? I
might have cried; tears cannot extinguish fire. Let the steamers
burn. And even though everything be burned down, I'd spit upon
it! If the soul is but burning to work, everything will be erected
anew. Isn't it so?"

"Yes," said Mayakin, smiling. "These are strong words you say.
And whoever speaks that way, even though he loses all, will
nevertheless be rich."

Regarding losses of thousands of roubles so philosophically,
Ignat knew the value of every kopeika; he gave to the poor very
seldom, and only to those that were altogether unable to work.
When a more or less healthy man asked him for alms, Ignat would
say, sternly: