ce to the continuation of
their acquaintance, which again began with drinking and went so far
that the client would spend his last farthing. Then the Captain would
stand him treat, and they would drink all they had.

A repetition of similar doings did not affect in the least the good
relations of the parties.

The teacher mentioned by the Captain was another of those customers who
were thus reformed only in order that they should sin again. Thanks to
his intellect, he was the nearest in rank to the Captain, and this was
probably the cause of his falling so low as dosshouse life, and of his
inability to rise again. It was only with him that Aristid Kuvalda
could philosophise with the certainty of being understood. He valued
this, and when the reformed teacher prepared to leave the dosshouse in
order to get a corner in town for himself, then Aristid Kuvalda
accompanied him so sorrowfully and sadly that it ended, as a rule, in
their both getting drunk and spending all their money. Probably
Kuvalda arranged the matter intentionally so that the teacher could not
leave the dosshouse, though he desired to do so with all his heart.
Was it possible for Aristid Kuvalda, a nobleman (as was evident from
his speeches), one who was accustomed to think, though the turn of fate
may have changed his position, was it possible for him not to desire to
have close to him a man like himself? We can pity our own faults in
others.

This teacher had once taught at an institution in one of the towns on
the Volga, but in consequence of some story was dismissed. After this
he was a clerk in a tannery, but again had to leave. Then he became a
librarian in some private library, subsequently following other
professions. Finally, after passing examinations in law he became a
lawyer, but drink reduced him to the Captain's dosshouse. He was tall,
round-shouldered, with a long sharp nose and bald head. In his bony
and yellow face, on which grew a wedge-shaped beard, shone large,
restless eyes, deeply sunk in their sockets, and the corners of his
mouth drooped sadly down. He earned his bread, or rather his drink, by
reporting for the local papers. He sometimes earned as much as fifteen
roubles. These he gave to the Captain and said:

"It is enough. I am going back into the bosom of culture. Another
week's hard work and I shall dress respectably, and then Addio, mio
caro!"

"Very exemplary! As I heartily sympathise with your decision,