y pantaloons. His face was swarthy, as though smoked, his
eyes were large, immobile and angry, his thick upper lip was covered
with a bristle-like, soldier moustache. He was sitting on the lounge,
with his feet clasped in his huge arms and his chin resting on his
knees. Yozhov sat sideways in a chair, with his legs thrown across the
arm of the chair. Among books and newspapers on the table stood a bottle
of vodka and there was an odour of something salty in the room.

"Why are you tramping about?" Yozhov asked Foma, and, nodding at him,
said to the man on the lounge: "Gordyeeff!"

The man glanced at the newcomer and said in a harsh, shrill voice:
"Krasnoshchokov."

Foma seated himself on a corner of the lounge and said to Yozhov:

"I have come to stay here over night."

"Well? Go on, Vasily."

The latter glanced at Foma askance and went on in a creaking voice:

"In my opinion, you are attacking the stupid people in vain. Masaniello
was a fool, but what had to be performed was done in the best way
possible. And that Winkelried was certainly a fool also, and yet had he
not thrust the imperial spears into himself the Swiss would have been
thrashed. Have there not been many fools like that? Yet they are the
heroes. And the clever people are the cowards. Where they ought to deal
the obstacle a blow with all their might they stop to reflect: 'What
will come of it? Perhaps we may perish in vain?' And they stand there
like posts--until they breathe their last. And the fool is brave! He
rushes headforemost against the wall--bang! If his skull breaks--what of
it? Calves' heads are not dear. And if he makes a crack in the wall
the clever people will pick it open into gates, will pass and credit
themselves with the honour. No, Nikolay Matveyich, bravery is a good
thing even though it be without reason."

"Vasily, you are talking nonsense!" said Yozhov, stretching his hand
toward him.

"Ah, of course!" assented Vasily. "How am I to sip cabbage soup with a
bast shoe? And yet I am not blind. I can see. There is plenty of brains,
but no good comes of it. During the time the clever people think and
reflect as to how to act in the wisest way, the fools will down them.
That's all."

"Wait a little!" said Yozhov.

"I can't! I am on duty today. I am rather late as it is. I'll drop in
tomorrow--may I?"

"Come! I'll give a roasting!"

"That's exactly your business."

Vasily adjusted himself slowly, rose from the lounge, took