see Ivan
Fedotitch, and commission him to distribute the money which I had left.
The tavern was full; gayly-dressed, intoxicated girls were flitting in
and out; all the tables were occupied; there were already a great many
drunken people, and in the small room the harmonium was being played, and
two persons were dancing. Out of respect to me, Ivan Fedotitch ordered
that the dance should be stopped, and seated himself with me at a vacant
table. I said to him, that, as he knew his tenants, would not he point
out to me the most needy among them; that I had been entrusted with the
distribution of a little money, and, therefore, would he indicate the
proper persons? Good-natured Ivan Fedotitch (he died a year later),
although he was pressed with business, broke away from it for a time, in
order to serve me. He meditated, and was evidently undecided. An
elderly waiter heard us, and joined the conference.

They began to discuss the claims of persons, some of whom I knew, but
still they could not come to any agreement. "The Paramonovna," suggested
the waiter. "Yes, that would do. Sometimes she has nothing to eat. Yes,
but then she tipples."--"Well, what of that? That makes no
difference."--"Well, Sidoron Ivanovitch has children. He would do." But
Ivan Fedotitch had his doubts about Sidoron Ivanovitch also. "Akulina
shall have some. There, now, give something to the blind." To this I
responded. I saw him at once. He was a blind old man of eighty years,
without kith or kin. It seemed as though no condition could be more
painful, and I went immediately to see him. He was lying on a feather-
bed, on a high bedstead, drunk; and, as he did not see me, he was
scolding his comparatively youthful female companion in a frightful bass
voice, and in the very worst kind of language. They also summoned an
armless boy and his mother. I saw that Ivan Fedotitch was in great
straits, on account of his conscientiousness, for me knew that whatever
was given would immediately pass to his tavern. But I had to get rid of
my thirty-two rubles, so I insisted; and in one way and another, and half
wrongfully to boot, we assigned and distributed them. Those who received
them were mostly well dressed, and we had not far to go to find them, as
they were there in the tavern. The armless boy appeared in wrinkled
boots, and a red shirt and vest. With this my charitable career came to
an end, and I went off to the country; irritated at o