dazzled with the tokens of shame. So I took my fill of love, as does
every woman. And once a woman has become a light-o'-love she may as
well doff her shift altogether, and use the body which God has given
her. And, after all, an independent life is the best life; so I hawk
myself about like a pot of beer, and say, 'Drink of this, anyone who
likes, while it still contains liquor.'"

"It makes one feel ashamed to hear such talk," said Vologonov with a
sigh. In response she burst out laughing.

"What a virtuous man!" was her comment upon his remark.

Until now Antipa had spoken cautiously, and in an undertone, whereas
the woman had replied in loud accents of challenge.

"Will you come in and have some tea?" he said next as he leant out of
the window.

"No, I thank you. In passing, what a thing I have heard about you!"

"Do not shout so loud. Of what are you speaking?"

"Oh, of SUCH a thing!"

"Of NOTHING, I imagine."

"Yes, of EVERYTHING."

"God, who created all things, alone knows everything."

Whereafter the pair whispered together awhile. Then Felitzata
disappeared as suddenly as she had come, leaving the old man sitting
motionless. At length he heaved a profound sigh, and muttered to
himself.

"Into that Eve's ears be there poured the poison of the asp!... Yet
pardon me, Oh God! Yea, pardon me!"

The words contained not a particle of genuine contrition. Rather, I
believe, he uttered them because he had a weakness not for words which
signified anything, but for words which, being out of the way, were not
used by the common folk of the suburb.

* * * * *

Sometimes Vologonov knocks at the partition-wall with a superannuated
arshin measure which has only fifteen vershoki of its length remaining.
He knocks, and shouts:

"Lodger, would you care to join me in a pot of tea?"

During the early days of our acquaintanceship he regarded me with
marked and constant suspicion. Clearly he deemed me to be a police
detective. But subsequently he took to scanning my face with critical
curiosity, until at length he said with an air of imparting instruction:

"Have you ever read Paradise Lost and Destroyed?"

"No," I replied. "Only Paradise Regained."

This led him to wag his parti-coloured beard in token that 'he
disagreed with my choice', and to observe:

"The reason why Adam lost Paradise is that he allowed Eve to corrupt
him. And never did the Lord permit him to regain it. For wh