By chance one day Wilhelm read
the page of Berlin correspondence, and found that from first to last
it was full of poisoned abuse, insult, and calumination of Berlin
and its inhabitants. At the next opportunity he put it before
Barinskoi's eyes without a word. He started a little, but said
directly, quite calmly: Yes, he had read the letter too; naturally
it was not by him; the paper had other correspondents, who hated
Germans, he could do no more than put a stop to their lies, and find
out the reality of their misrepresentations.
Early in this short acquaintance it was clear that Barinskoi was in
constant money difficulties. By his own representations the paper
paid him very irregularly, and the most curious accidents constantly
occurred to prevent the arrival of the expected payments. Once the
money was sent by mistake to the Constantinople correspondent, and
it was six weeks before the oversight was cleared up. Another time a
fellow-writer who was traveling to Berlin undertook to bring the
money with him. On the way he lost the money out of his pocket-book,
and Barinskoi had to wait until he went back to St. Petersburg, to
inquire into the case. By such fool's stories was Wilhelm's
friendship put to the proof. Barinskoi did not stop at borrowing
money occasionally, with sighs and groans, but every few days, often
at a few hours' interval, a new and larger loan would frequently
follow.
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