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mediators between society and the needy； an awkward silence ensued。
Then two orators made speeches。 These speeches in some measure
corrected the awkwardness of my proposal； sympathy for me was
expressed； but the impracticability of my proposition； which all had
approved； was demonstrated。 Everybody breathed more freely。 But
when； still desirous of gaining my object； I afterwards asked the
superintendents separately： Were they willing； while taking the
census； to inquire into the needs of the poor； and to retain their
posts； in order to serve as go…betweens between the poor and the
rich？ they all grew uneasy again。 They seemed to say to me with
their glances： 〃Why； we have just condoned your folly out of respect
to you； and here you are beginning it again！〃 Such was the
expression of their faces； but they assured me in words that they
agreed； and two of them said in the very same words； as though they
had entered into a compact together： 〃We consider ourselves MORALLY
BOUND to do this。〃 The same impression was produced by my
communication to the student…census…takers； when I said to them； that
while taking our statistics； we should follow up； in addition to the
objects of the census； the object of benevolence。 When we discussed
this； I observed that they were ashamed to look the kind…hearted man；
who was talking nonsense； in the eye。 My article produced the same
impression on the editor of the newspaper； when I handed it to him；
on my son； on my wife； on the most widely different persons。 All
felt awkward； for some reason or other； but all regarded it as
indispensable to applaud the idea itself； and all； immediately after
this expression of approbation； began to express their doubts as to
its success； and began for some reason （and all of them； too； without
exception） to condemn the indifference and coldness of our society
and of every one； apparently； except themselves。
In the depths of my own soul； I still continued to feel that all this
was not at all what was needed； and that nothing would come of it；
but the article was printed； and I prepared to take part in the
census； I had contrived the matter； and now it was already carrying
me a way with it。
CHAPTER IV。
At my request； there had been assigned to me for the census； a
portion of the Khamovnitchesky quarter； at the Smolensk market； along
the Prototchny cross…street； between Beregovoy Passage and Nikolsky
Alley。 In this quarter are situated the houses generally called the
Rzhanoff Houses； or the Rzhanoff fortress。 These houses once
belonged to a merchant named Rzhanoff； but now belong to the Zimins。
I had long before heard of this place as a haunt of the most terrible
poverty and vice； and I had accordingly requested the directors of
the census to assign me to this quarter。 My desire was granted。
On receiving the instructions of the City Council； I went alone； a
few days previous to the beginning of the census； to reconnoitre my
section。 I found the Rzhanoff fortress at once； from the plan with
which I had been furnished。
I approached from Nikolsky Alley。 Nikolsky Alley ends on the left in
a gloomy house； without any gates on that side； I divined from its
appearance that this was the Rzhanoff fortress。
Passing down Nikolsky Street； I overtook some lads of from ten to
fourteen years of age； clad in little caftans and great…coats； who
were sliding down hill； some on their feet； and some on one skate；
along the icy slope beside this house。 The boys were ragged； and；
like all city lads； bold and impudent。 I stopped to watch them。 A
ragged old woman； with yellow； pendent cheeks； came round the corner。
She was going to town； to the Smolensk market； and she groaned
terribly at every step； like a foundered horse。 As she came
alongside me； she halted and drew a hoarse sigh。 In any other
locality； this old woman would have asked money of me； but here she
merely addressed me。
〃Look there；〃 said she； pointing at the boys who were sliding； 〃all
they do is to play their pranks！ They'll turn out just such Rzhanoff
fellows as their fathers。〃
One of the boys clad in a great…coat and a visorless cap； heard her
words and halted： 〃What are you scolding about？〃 he shouted to the
old woman。 〃You're an old Rzhanoff nanny…goat yourself！〃
I asked the boy：
〃And do you live here？〃
〃Yes； and so does she。 She stole boot…legs；〃 shouted the boy； and
raising his foot in front； he slid away。
The old woman burst forth into injurious words； interrupted by a
cough。 At that moment； an old man； all clad in rags； and as white as
snow； came down the hill in the middle of the street； flourishing his
hands ＇in one of them he held a bundle with one little kalatch and
baranki〃 ｛6｝＇。 This old man bore the appearance of a person who had
just strengthened himself with a dram。 He had evidently heard the
old woman's insulting words； and he took her part。
〃I'll give it to you； you imps； that I will！〃 he screamed at the
boys； seeming to direct his course towards them； and taking a circuit
round me； he stepped on to the sidewalk。 This old man creates
surprise on the Arbata by his great age； his weakness； and his
indigence。 Here he was a cheery laboring…man returning from his
daily toil。
I followed the old man。 He turned the corner to the left； into
Prototchny Alley； and passing by the whole length of the house and
the gate； he disappeared through the door of the tavern。
Two gates and several doors open on Prototchny Alley： those
belonging to a tavern； a dram…shop； and several eating and other
shops。 This is the Rzhanoff fortress itself。 Every thing here is
gray； dirty； and malodorousboth buildings and locality； and court…
yards and people。 The majority of the people whom I met here were
ragged and half…clad。 Some were passing through； others were running
from door to door。 Two were haggling over some rags。 I made the
circuit of the entire building from Prototchny Alley and Beregovoy
Passage； and returning I halted at the gate of one of these houses。
I wished to enter； and see what was going on inside； but I felt that
it would be awkward。 What should I say when I was asked what I
wanted there？ I hesitated； but went in nevertheless。 As soon as I
entered the court…yard； I became conscious of a disgusting odor。 The
yard was frightfully dirty。 I turned a corner； and at the same
instant I heard to my left and overhead； on the wooden balcony； the
tramp of footsteps of people running； at first along the planks of
the balcony； and then on the steps of the staircase。 There emerged；
first a gaunt woman； with her sleeves rolled up； in a faded pink
gown； and little boots on her stockingless feet。 After her came a
tattered man in a red shirt and very full trousers； like a petticoat；
and with overshoes。 The man caught the woman at the bottom of the
steps。
〃You shall not escape；〃 he said laughing。
〃See here； you cock…eyed devil；〃 began the woman； evidently flattered
by this pursuit； but catching sight of me； she shrieked viciously；
〃What do you want？〃
As I wanted nothing； I became confused and beat a retreat。 There was
nothing remarkable a