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14 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
They cling to the ground beneath the high mountain； exposed
to the sun； surrounded by decaying refuse； and their sodden
appearance impresses one with the same feeling as would the
half…rotten trunk of an old tree。
At the end of the main street； as if thrown out of the town；
stood a two…storied house； which had been rented from
Petunikoff； a merchant and resident of the town。 It was in
comparatively good order； being farther from the mountain；
while near it were the open fields； and about half…a…mile
away the river ran its winding course。
This large old house had the most dismal aspect amid its
surroundings。 The walls bent outward； and there was hardly
a pane of glass in any of the windows； except some of the
fragments； which looked like the water of the marshesdull
green。 The spaces of wall between the windows were covered
with spots； as if time were trying to write there in
hieroglyphics the history of the old house； and the tottering
roof added still more to its pitiable condition。 It seemed as
if the whole building bent toward the ground； to await the
last stroke of that fate which should transform it into a
chaos of rotting remains； and finally into dust。
The gates were open； one…half of them displaced and lying on
the ground at the entrance； while between its bars had grown
the grass； which also covered the large and empty court…yard。
In the depths of this yard stood a low； iron…roofed；
smoke…begrimed building。 The house itself was of course
unoccupied； but this shed； formerly a blacksmith's forge；
was now turned into a 〃dosshouse；〃 kept by a retired captain
named Aristid Fomich Kuvalda。
15 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
In the interior of the dosshouse was a long； wide and grimy
board； measuring some 28 by 70 feet。 The room was lighted
on one side by four small square windows； and on the other
by a wide door。 The unpainted brick walls were black with
smoke； and the ceiling； which was built of timber； was almost
black。 In the middle stood a large stove； the furnace of which
served as its foundation； and around this stove and along the
walls were also long； wide boards； which served as beds for
the lodgers。 The walls smelt of smoke； the earthen floor of
dampness； and the long； wide board of rotting rags。
The place of the proprietor was on the top of the stove；
while the boards surrounding it were intended for those who
were on good terms with the owner； and who were honored by
his friendship。 During the day the captain passed most of his
time sitting on a kind of bench； made by himself by placing
bricks against the wall of the court…yard； or else in the
eating…house of Egor Yavilovitch； which was opposite the
house； where he took all his meals and where he also drank
vodki。
Before renting this house； Aristid Kuvalda had kept a registry
office for servants in the town。 If we look further back into
his former life； we shall find that he once owned printing
works； and previous to this； in his own words； he 〃just lived！
And lived well too； Devil take it； and like one who knew how！〃
He was a tall； broad…shouldered man of fifty； with a
raw…looking face； swollen with drunkenness； and with a
dirty yellowish beard。
16 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
His eyes were large and gray； with an insolent expression of
happiness。 He spoke in a bass voice and with a sort of
grumbling sound in his throat； and he almost always held
between his teeth a German china pipe with a long bowl。 When
he was angry the nostrils of his big； crooked red nose swelled；
and his lips trembled； exposing to view two rows of large and
wolf…like yellow teeth。 He had long arms； was lame； and always
dressed in an old officer's uniform； with a dirty； greasy cap
with a red band； a hat without a brim； and ragged felt boots
which reached almost to his knees。 In the morning； as a rule；
he had a heavy drunken headache； and in the evening he caroused。
However much he drank； he was never drunk； and so was always
merry。
In the evenings he received lodgers； sitting on his brick…made
bench with his pipe in his mouth。
〃Whom have we here？〃 he would ask the ragged and tattered object
approaching him； who had probably been chucked out of the town
for drunkenness； or perhaps for some other reason not quite so
simple。 And after the man had answered him； he would say； 〃Let
me see legal papers in confirmation of your lies。〃 And if there
were such papers they were shown。 The captain would then put
them in his bosom； seldom taking any interest in them； and would
say： 〃Everything is in order。 Two kopecks for the night； ten
kopecks for the week； and thirty kopecks for the month。 Go and
get a place for yourself； and see that it is not other people's；
or else they will blow you up。 The people that live here are
particular。〃
17 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
〃Don't you sell tea； bread； or anything to eat？〃
〃I trade only in walls and roofs； for which I pay to the
swindling proprietor of this holeJudas Petunikoff； merchant
of the second guildfive roubles a month；〃 explained Kuvalda
in a business…like tone。 〃Only those come to me who are not
accustomed to comfort and luxuries。 。 。but if you are
accustomed to eat every day； then there is the eating…house
opposite。 But it would be better for you if you left off that
habit。 You see you are not a gentleman。 What do you eat？ You
eat yourself！〃
For such speeches； delivered in a strictly business…like manner；
and always with smiling eyes； and also for the attention he paid
to his lodgers； the captain was very popular among the poor of
the town。 It very often happened that a former client of his
would appear； not in rags； but in something more respectable and
with a slightly happier face。
〃Good…day； your honor； and how do you do？〃
〃Alive； in good health！ Go on。〃
〃Don't you know me？〃
〃I did not know you。〃
〃Do you remember that I lived with you last winter for nearly a
month 。 。 。 when the fight with the police took place； and
three were taken away？〃
〃My brother； that is so。 The police do come even under my
hospitable roof！〃
〃My God！ You gave a piece of your mind to the police inspector
of this district！〃
〃Wouldn't you accept some small hospitality from me？ When I
lived with you； you were。 。 。 。〃
18 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
〃Gratitude must be encouraged because it is seldom met with。
You seem to be a good man； and； though I don't remember you；
still I will go with you into the public…house and drink to
your success and future prospects with the greatest pleasure。〃
〃You seem always the same 。 。 。 Are you always joking？〃
〃What else can one do； living among you unfortunate men？〃
They went。 Sometim