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waiting was the Lyapinsky free lodging…house for the night。 The
throng of people consisted of night lodgers； who were waiting to be
let in。 At five o'clock in the afternoon； the house is opened； and
the people permitted to enter。 Hither had come nearly all the people
whom I had passed on my way。
I halted where the line of men ended。 Those nearest me began to
stare at me； and attracted my attention to them by their glances。
The fragments of garments which covered these bodies were of the most
varied sorts。 But the expression of all the glances directed towards
me by these people was identical。 In all eyes the question was
expressed： 〃Why have you； a man from another world； halted here
beside us？ Who are you？ Are you a self…satisfied rich man who wants
to enjoy our wretchedness； to get rid of his tedium； and to torment
us still more？ or are you that thing which does not and can not
exist；a man who pities us？〃 This query was on every face。 You
glance about； encounter some one's eye； and turn away。 I wished to
talk with some one of them； but for a long time I could not make up
my mind to it。 But our glances had drawn us together already while
our tongues remained silent。 Greatly as our lives had separated us；
after the interchange of two or three glances we felt that we were
both men； and we ceased to fear each other。 The nearest of all to me
was a peasant with a swollen face and a red beard； in a tattered
caftan； and patched overshoes on his bare feet。 And the weather was
eight degrees below zero。 ｛3｝ For the third or fourth time I
encountered his eyes； and I felt so near to him that I was no longer
ashamed to accost him； but ashamed not to say something to him。 I
inquired where he came from？ he answered readily； and we began to
talk； others approached。 He was from Smolensk； and had come to seek
employment that he might earn his bread and taxes。 〃There is no
work；〃 said he： 〃the soldiers have taken it all away。 So now I am
loafing about； as true as I believe in God； I have had nothing to eat
for two days。〃 He spoke modestly； with an effort at a smile。 A
sbiten｛4｝…seller； an old soldier； stood near by。 I called him up。
He poured out his sbiten。 The peasant took a boiling…hot glassful in
his hands； and as he tried before drinking not to let any of the heat
escape in vain； and warmed his hands over it； he related his
adventures to me。 These adventures； or the histories of them； are
almost always identical： the man has been a laborer； then he has
changed his residence； then his purse containing his money and ticket
has been stolen from him in the night lodging…house； now it is
impossible to get away from Moscow。 He told me that he kept himself
warm by day in the dram…shops； that he nourished himself on the bits
of bread in these drinking places； when they were given to him； and
when he was driven out of them； he came hither to the Lyapinsky house
for a free lodging。 He was only waiting for the police to make their
rounds； when； as he had no passport； he would be taken to jail； and
then despatched by stages to his place of settlement。 〃They say that
the inspection will be made on Friday；〃 said he； 〃then they will
arrest me。 If I can only get along until Friday。〃 （The jail； and
the journey by stages； represent the Promised Land to him。）
As he told his story； three men from among the throng corroborated
his statements； and said that they were in the same predicament。 A
gaunt； pale； long…nosed youth； with merely a shirt on the upper
portion of his body； and that torn on the shoulders； and a cap
without a visor； forced his way sidelong through the crowd。 He
shivered violently and incessantly； but tried to smile disdainfully
at the peasants' remarks； thinking by this means to adopt the proper
tone with me； and he stared at me。 I offered him some sbiten； he
also； on taking the glass； warmed his hands over it； but no sooner
had he begun to speak； than he was thrust aside by a big； black；
hook…nosed individual； in a chintz shirt and waistcoat； without a
hat。 The hook…nosed man asked for some sbiten also。 Then came a
tall old man； with a mass of beard； clad in a great…coat girded with
a rope； and in bast shoes； who was drunk。 Then a small man with a
swollen face and tearful eyes； in a brown nankeen round…jacket； with
his bare knees protruding from the holes in his summer trousers； and
knocking together with cold。 He shivered so that he could not hold
his glass； and spilled it over himself。 The men began to reproach
him。 He only smiled in a woe…begone way； and went on shivering。
Then came a crooked monster in rags； with pattens on his bare feet；
then some sort of an officer； then something in the ecclesiastical
line； then something strange and nose…less；all hungry and cold；
beseeching and submissive； thronged round me； and pressed close to
the sbiten。 They drank up all the sbiten。 One asked for money； and
I gave it。 Then another asked； then a third； and the whole crowd
besieged me。 Confusion and a press resulted。 The porter of the
adjoining house shouted to the crowd to clear the sidewalk in front
of his house； and the crowd submissively obeyed his orders。 Some
managers stepped out of the throng； and took me under their
protection； and wanted to lead me forth out of the press； but the
crowd； which had at first been scattered over the sidewalk； now
became disorderly； and hustled me。 All stared at me and begged； and
each face was more pitiful and suffering and humble than the last。 I
distributed all that I had with me。 I had not much money； something
like twenty rubles； and in company with the crowd； I entered the
Lyapinsky lodging…house。 This house is huge。 It consists of four
sections。 In the upper stories are the men's quarters； in the lower；
the women's。 I first entered the women's place； a vast room all
occupied with bunks； resembling the third…class bunks on the railway。
These bunks were arranged in two rows； one above the other。 The
women； strange； tattered creatures； both old and young； wearing
nothing over their dresses； entered and took their places； some below
and some above。 Some of the old ones crossed themselves； and uttered
a petition for the founder of this refuge； some laughed and scolded。
I went up…stairs。 There the men had installed themselves； among them
I espied one of those to whom I had given money。 ＇On catching sight
of him； I all at once felt terribly abashed； and I made haste to
leave the room。 And it was with a sense of absolute crime that I
quitted that house and returned home。 At home I entered over the
carpeted stairs into the ante…room； whose floor was covered with
cloth； and having removed my fur coat； I sat down to a dinner of five
courses； waited on by two lackeys in dress…coats； white neckties； and
white gloves。
Thirty years ago I witnessed in Paris a man's head cut off by the
guillotine in the presence of thousands of spectators。 I knew that
the man was a horrible criminal。 I was acquainted with all the
arguments which people have been devising for so many centuries； in
order to justify this sort of deed。 I knew that they had done this
expr