my beloved makar alexievitch—i return you your book. in my opinion it is a worthless one, and i would rather not have it in my possession. why do you save up your money to buy such trash? except in jest, do such books really please you? however, you have now promised to send me something else to read. i will share the cost of it. now, farewell until we meet again. i have nothing more to say.

b. d.