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〃Ask him 。 。 。 I think his evil life hastened his end。〃
〃What？〃 asked the Coroner。
〃I say that he died of a disease to which he had not been
accustomed。 。 。 。〃
97 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
〃H'm； yes。 Had he been ill long？〃
〃Bring him over here； I cannot see him properly；〃 said the
Doctor； in a melancholy tone。 〃Probably there are signs
of 。 。 。〃
〃Now； then； ask someone here to carry him out！〃 the Police
Inspector ordered Kuvalda。
〃Go and ask them yourself！ He is not in my way here 。 。 。〃
the Captain replied； indifferently。
〃Well！〃 。 。 。 shouted the Inspector； making a ferocious face。
〃Phew！〃 answered Kuvalda； without moving from his place and
gnashing his teeth restlessly。
〃The Devil take it！〃 shouted the Inspector； so madly that the
blood rushed to his face。 〃I'll make you pay for this！
I'll〃
〃Good…morning； gentlemen！〃 said the merchant Petunikoff； with
a sweet smile； making his appearance in the doorway。
He looked round； trembled； took off his cap and crossed himself。
Then a pompous； wicked smile crossed his face； and； looking at
the Captain； he inquired respectfully：
〃What has happened？ Has there been a murder here？〃
〃Yes； something of that sort；〃 replied the Coroner。
Petunikoff sighed deeply； crossed himself again； and spoke in
an angry tone。
〃By Cod！ It is just as I feared。 It always ends in your
having to come here 。 。 。 Ay； ay； ay！ God save everyone。
Times without number have I refused to lease this house to
this man； and he has always won me over； and I was afraid。
You know 。 。 。 They are such awful people 。 。 。 better give
it them； I thought； or else。 。 。 。〃
98 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
He covered his face with his hands； tugged at his beard； and
sighed again。
〃They are very dangerous men； and this man here is their leader
。 。 。 the ataman of the robbers。〃
〃But we will make him smart！〃 promised the Inspector； looking
at the Captain with revengeful eyes。
〃Yes； brother； we are old friends of yours 。 。 。〃 said Kuvalda
in a familiar tone。 〃How many times have I paid you to be
quiet？〃
〃Gentlemen！〃 shouted the Inspector； 〃did you hear him？ I want
you to bear witness to this。 Aha； I shall make short work of
you； my friend； remember！〃
〃Don't count your chickens before they are hatched 。 。 。 my
friend；〃 said Aristid Fomich。
The Doctor； a young man with eye…glasses； looked at him
curiously； the Coroner with an attention that boded him no
good； Petunikoff with triumph； while the Inspector could hardly
restrain himself from throwing himself upon him。
The dark figure of Martyanoff appeared at the door of the
dosshouse。 He entered quietly； and stood behind Petunikoff；
so that his chin was on a level with the merchant's head。
Behind him stood the Deacon； opening his small； swollen；
red eyes。
〃Let us be doing something； gentlemen；〃 suggested the Doctor。
Martyanoff made an awful grimace； and suddenly suddenly sneezed
on Petunikoff's head。 The latter gave a yell； sat down
hurriedly； and then jumped aside； almost knocking down the
Inspector； into whose open arms he fell。
99 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
〃Do you see；〃 said the frightened merchant； pointing to
Martyanoff； 〃do you see what kind of men they are。〃
Kuvalda burst out laughing。 The Doctor and the Coroner smiled
too； and at the door of the dosshouse the group of figures was
increasing 。 。 。 sleepy figures； with swollen faces； red；
inflamed eyes； and dishevelled hair； staring rudely at the
Doctor； the Coroner； and the Inspector。
〃Where are you going？〃 said the policeman on guard at the door；
catching hold of their tatters and pushing them aside。 But he
was one against many； and； without taking any notice； they all
entered and stood there； reeking of vodki； silent and
evil…looking。
Kuvalda glanced at them； then at the authorities； who were
angry at the intrusion of these ragamuffins； and said；
smilingly； 〃Gentlemen； perhaps you would like to make the
acquaintance of my lodgers and friends？ Would you？ But；
whether you wish it or not； you will have to make their
acquaintance sooner or later in the course of your duties。〃
The Doctor smiled in an embarrassed way。 The Coroner pressed
his lips together； and the Inspector saw that it was time to
go。 Therefore； he shouted：
〃Sideroff！ Whistle！ Tell them to bring a cart here。〃
〃I will go；〃 said Petunikoff； coming forward from a corner。
〃You had better take it away to…day； sir； I want to pull down
this hole。 Go away！ or else I shall apply to the police！〃
100 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
The policeman's whistle echoed through the courtyard。 At the
door of the dosshouse its inhabitants stood in a group；
yawning； and scratching themselves。
〃And so you do not wish to be introduced？ That is rude of
you！〃 laughed Aristid Fomich。
Petunikoff took his purse from his pocket； took out two
five…kopeck pieces； put them at the feet of the dead man； and
crossed himself。
〃God have mercy 。 。 。 on the burial of the sinful。 。 。 。〃
〃What！〃 yelled the Captain； 〃you give for the burial？
Take them away； I say； you scoundrel！ How dare you give your
stolen kopecks for the burial of an honest man？ I will tear
you limb from limb！〃
〃Your Honor！〃 cried the terrified merchant to the Inspector；
seizing him by the elbow。
The Doctor and the Coroner jumped aside。 The Inspector shouted：
〃Sideroff； come here！〃
〃The creatures that once were men〃 stood along the wall； looking
and listening with an interest； which put new life into their
broken…down bodies。
Kuvalda； shaking his fist at Petunikoff's head； roared and
rolled his eyes like a wild beast。
〃Scoundrel and thief！ Take back your money！ Dirty worm！ Take
it back； I say 。 。 。 or else I shall cram it down your throat。
。 。 。 Take your five…kopeck pieces！〃
Petunikoff put out his trembling hand toward his mite； and
protecting his head from Kuvalda's fist with the other hand；
said：
101 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
〃You are my witnesses； Sir Inspector； and you good people！〃
〃We are not good people； merchant！〃 said the voice of Abyedok；
trembling with anger。
The Inspector whistled impatiently； with his other hand
protecting Petunikoff； who was stooping in front of him as if
trying to enter his belly。
〃You dirty toad！ I shall compel you to kiss the feet of the
dead man。 How would you like that？〃 And catching Petunikoff
by the neck； Kuvalda hurled him against the door； as if he
bad been a cat。
The 〃creatures that once were men〃 sprang aside quickly to let
the merchant fall。 And down he fell at their feet； crying
wildly：
〃Murder！ Help！ Murder！〃
Martyanoff slowly raised