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him he would long ago have evicted him from the dosshouse。
57 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
But then he would think twice before turning him out； because of
the five roubles a month。 And the Captain gazed with pleasure
at Petunikoff's back as he slowly retreated from the court…yard。
Following him with his eyes； he noticed how the merchant passed
the factory and disappeared into the wood； and he wished very
much that he might fall and break all his bones。 He sat
imagining many horrible forms of disaster while watching
Petunikoff； who was descending the hill into the wood like a
spider going into its web。 Last night he even imagined that the
wood gave way before the merchant and he fell 。 。 。 but
afterward he found that he had only been dreaming。
And to…day； as always； the red building stands out before the
eyes of Aristid Kuvalda； so plain； so massive； and clinging so
strongly to the earth； that it seems to be sucking away all its
life。 It appears to be laughing coldly at the Captain with its
gaping walls。 The sun pours its rays on them as generously as
it does on the miserable hovels of the main street。
〃Devil take the thing！〃 exclaimed the Captain； thoughtfully
measuring the walls of the factory with his eyes。 〃If only
。 。 。 。〃 Trembling with excitement at the thought that had just
entered his mind Aristid Kuvalda jumped up and ran to Vaviloff's
eating…house muttering to himself all the time。
Vaviloff met him at the bar and gave him a friendly welcome。
〃I wish your honor good health！〃 He was of middle height and
had a bald head； gray hair； and straight mustaches like
tooth…brushes。 Upright and neat in his clean jacket； he showed
by every movement that he was an old soldier。
58 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
〃Egorka； show me the lease and plan of your house；〃
demanded Kuvalda impatiently。
〃I have shown it you before。〃 Vaviloff looked up suspiciously
and closely scanned the Captain's face。
〃Show it me！〃 shouted the Captain； striking the bar with his
fist and sitting down on a stool close by。
〃But why？〃 asked Vaviloff； knowing that it was better to keep
his wits about him when Kuvalda got excited。
〃You fool！ Bring it at once。〃
Vaviloff rubbed his forehead； and turned his eyes to the
ceiling in a tired way。
〃Where are those papers of yours？〃
There was no answer to this on the ceiling； so the old sergeant
looked down at the floor； and began drumming with his fingers
on the bar in a worried and thoughtful manner。
〃It's no good your making wry faces！〃 shouted the Captain； for
he had no great affection for him； thinking that a former
soldier should rather have become a thief than an eating…house
keeper。
〃Oh！ Yes！ Aristid Fomich； I remember now。 They were left at
the High Court of Justice at the time when I came into
possession。〃
〃Get along； Egorka！ It is to your own interest to show me the
plan； the title…deeds； and everything you have immediately。 You
will probably clear at least a hundred roubles over this； do
you understand？〃
Vaviloff did not understand at all； but the Captain spoke in
such a serious and convincing tone that the sergeant's eyes
burned with curiosity； and； telling him that he would see if
the papers were in his desk； he went through the door behind
the bar。
59 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
Two minutes later he returned with the papers in his hand；
and an expression of extreme astonishment on his face。
〃Here they are； the deeds about the damned houses！〃
〃Ah！ You 。 。 。 vagabond！ And you pretend to have been a
soldier； too！〃 And Kuvalda did not cease to belabor him with
his tongue； as he snatched the blue parchment from his hands。
Then； spreading the papers out in front of him； and excited
all the more by Vaviloff's inquisitiveness； the Captain began
reading and bellowing at the same time。 At last he got up
resolutely； and went to the door； leaving all the papers on
the bar； and saying to Vaviloff：
〃Wait！ Don't lift them！〃
Vaviloff gathered them lip； put them into the cashbox； and
locked it； then felt the lock with his hand； to see if it were
secure。 After that； he scratched his bald head； thoughtfully；
and went up on the roof of the eating…house。 There he saw the
Captain measuring the front of the house； and watched him
anxiously； as he snapped his fingers； and began measuring the
same line over again。 Vaviloff's face lit up suddenly； and he
smiled happily。
〃Aristid； Fomich； is it possible？〃 he shouted； when the Captain
came opposite to him。
〃Of course it is possible。 There is more than one short in the
front alone； and as to the depth I shall see immediately。〃
〃The depth 。 。 。 seventy…three feet。〃
60 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
〃What？ Have you guessed； you shaved； ugly face？〃
〃Of course； Aristid Fomich！ If you have eyes you can see a
thing or two；〃 shouted Vaviloff joyfully。
A few minutes afterward they sat side by side in Vaviloff's
parlor； and the Captain was engaged in drinking large
quantities of beer。
〃And so all the walls of the factory stand on your ground；〃
said he to the eating…house keeper。 〃Now； mind you show no
mercy！ The teacher will be here presently； and we will get
him to draw up a petition to the court。 As to the amount of
the damages you will name a very moderate sum in order not to
waste money in deed stamps； but we will ask to have the factory
knocked down。 This； you see； donkey； is the result of
trespassing on other people's property。 It is a splendid
piece of luck for you。 We will force him to have the place
smashed； and I can tell you it will be an expensive job for
him。 Off with you to the court。 Bring pressure to bear on
Judas。 We will calculate how much it will take to break the
factory down to its very foundations。 We will make an estimate
of it all； counting the time it will take too； and we will make
honest Judas pay two thousand roubles besides。〃
〃He will never give it！〃 cried Vaviloff； but his eyes shone
with a greedy light。
〃You lie！ He will give it 。 。 。 Use your brains 。 。 。 What else
can he do？ But look here； Egorka； mind you； don't go in for
doing it on the cheap。 They are sure to fry to buy you off。
Don't sell yourself cheap。 They will probably use threats； but
rely upon us。 。 。 。〃
61 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
The Captain's eyes were alight with happiness； and his face
with excitement。 He worked upon Vaviloff's greed； and urging
upon him the importance of immediate action in the matter；
went away in a very joyful and happy frame of mind。
* * * * * * * * * *
In the evening everyone was told of the Captain's discovery；
and they all began to d