Page:Complete Works of Count Tolstoy - 18.djvu/262

. Chef, so to speak. Does he live here?

. No. He is not allowed to stay here. He is in one place in the daytime, and in another in the night. If he has three kopeks, he stays in a night lodging-house; and if he has spent it on drinks, he comes here.

. What is the matter with him?

. He is weak. What a man he used to be! A real gentleman. He used to wear a gold watch, and received as high as forty roubles a month in wages. And now he would have starved long ago, if Lukérya had not helped him out.

(to Lukérya). I see, Pável Petróvich is here again.

. Where shall he go to? Shall he freeze to death?

. See what liquor will do! The liquor, let me say— (Clicks his tongue in compassion.)

. Of course: if a man wants to be firm, he is firmer than rock; if he weakens, he is weaker than water.

(crawls down from the oven, trembling with his legs and arms). Lukérya, I say,—let me have a wine-glass!

. Where are you going? I will let you have such a wine-glass—

. For the love of God! I am dying. Friends, let me have five kopeks!

. I tell you, climb back on the oven!

. Cook! Half a glass! For Christ's sake, I say,—you understand? I beg you, for Christ's sake.

. Go, go! You may have some tea.

. What tea? What is tea? A stupid and