r is impudent and insolent, and is
echoed by Simtsoff, the Deacon and Paltara Taras. The naive eyes of
young Meteor light up, and his cheeks flush crimson.

Kanets speaks, and it seems as if he were hammering their heads.

"All these are foolish illusions ... fiddle-sticks!"

It was strange to see them reasoning in this manner, these outcasts
from life, tattered, drunken with vodki and wickedness, filthy and
forlorn. Such conversations rejoiced the Captain's heart. They gave
him an opportunity of speaking more, and therefore he thought himself
better than the rest. However low he may fall, a man can never deny
himself the delight of feeling cleverer, more powerful, or even better
fed than his companions. Aristid Kuvalda abused this pleasure, and
never could have enough of it, much to the disgust of Abyedok, Kubar,
and others of these creatures that once were men, who were less
interested in such things.

Politics, however, were more to the popular taste. The discussions as
to the necessity of taking India or of subduing England were lengthy
and protracted. Nor did they speak with less enthusiasm of the radical
measure of clearing Jews off the face of the earth. On this subject
Abyedok was always the first to propose dreadful plans to effect the
desired end, but the Captain, always first in every other argument, did
not join in this one. They also spoke much and impudently about women,
but the teacher always defended them, and sometimes was very angry when
they went so far as to pass the limits of decency. They all, as a
rule, gave in to him, because they did not look upon him as a common
person, and also because they wished to borrow from him on Saturdays
the money which he had earned during the week. He had many privileges.
They never beat him, for instance, on these occasions when the
conversation ended in a free fight. He had the right to bring women
into the dosshouse; a privilege accorded to no one else, as the Captain
had previously warned them.

"No bringing of women to my house," he had said. "Women, merchants and
philosophers, these are the three causes of my ruin. I will horsewhip
anyone bringing in women. I will horsewhip the woman also.... And as
to the philosopher I'll knock his head off for him." And
notwithstanding his age he could have knocked anyone's head off, for he
possessed wonderful strength. Besides that, whenever he fought or
quarrelled, he was assisted by Martyanoff, who was