though he had been scorched.

And Foma went toward him, and spoke convincingly, with intense sorrow:

"Speak! speak to me! I shall carry away your words to the proper place.
I understand them. And, ah! how I will scorch the people! Just wait! My
opportunity will come."

"Go away!" screamed Yozhov, hysterically, squeezing his back to the
wall, under Foma's pressure. Perplexed, crushed, and infuriated he stood
and waved off Foma's arms outstretched toward him. And at this time the
door of the room opened, and on the threshold appeared a woman all in
black. Her face was angry-looking and excited, her cheek was tied up
with a kerchief. She tossed her head back, stretched out her hand toward
Yozhov and said, in a hissing and shrill voice:

"Nikolay Matveyich! Excuse me, but this is impossible! Such beast-like
howling and roaring. Guests everyday. The police are coming. No, I can't
bear it any longer! I am nervous. Please vacate the lodgings to-morrow.
You are not living in a desert, there are people about you here. And
an educated man at that! A writer! All people require rest. I have a
toothache. I request you to move tomorrow. I'll paste up a notice, I'll
notify the police."

She spoke rapidly, and the majority of her words were lost in the
hissing and whistling of her voice; only those words were distinct,
which she shrieked out in a shrill, irritated tone. The corners of her
kerchief protruded on her head like small horns, and shook from the
movement of her jaws. At the sight of her agitated and comical figure
Foma gradually retreated toward the lounge, while Yozhov stood, and
wiping his forehead, stared at her fixedly, and listened to her words:

"So know it now!" she screamed, and behind the door, she said once more:

"Tomorrow! What an outrage."

"Devil!" whispered Yozhov, staring dully at the door.

"Yes! what a woman! How strict!" said Foma, looking at him in amazement,
as he seated himself on the lounge.

Yozhov, raising his shoulders, walked up to the table, poured out a half
a tea-glass full of vodka, emptied it and sat down by the table, bowing
his head low. There was silence for about a minute. Then Foma said,
timidly and softly:

"How it all happened! We had no time even to wink an eye, and, suddenly,
such an outcome. Ah!"

"You!" said Yozhov in an undertone, tossing up his head, and staring at
Foma angrily and wildly. "Keep quiet! You, the devil take you. Lie down
and sleep! You monster. Night