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During the day the captain passed most of his time sitting on a kind of bench, made by himself by placing bricks against the wall of the courtyard, or else in the eating house of Egor Vavilovitch, which was opposite the house, where he took all his meals and where he also drank vodki. Before renting this house, Aristid Kuvalda had kept a registry office for servants in the town.
"'The taxation of immovable property," reads the teacher, "It was introduced some fifteen years ago, and up to the present it has served as the basis for collecting these taxes in aid of the city revenue. . . ." "That is simple," comments Captain Kuvalda. "It continues to serve. That is ridiculous.
All things are relative in this world, and a man cannot sink into any condition so bad that it could not be worse. One day, towards the end of September, Captain Aristid Kuvalda was sitting, as was his custom, on the bench near the door of the dosshouse, looking at the stone building built by the merchant Petunikoff close to Vaviloff's eatinghouse, and thinking deeply.
For a moment the body hung as if it would fall to the ground, and hide itself beneath the earth, away from these foolish and wicked disturbers of its peace. "Take him away!" ordered the Inspector, pointing to the Captain. Kuvalda silently moved forward without protestation, passing the cart on which was the teacher's body. He bowed his head before it without looking.
"I feel inclined to commit a murder," declared Martyanoff, laughing his dull laugh. "Upon whom?" asked Abyedok, edging away from him. "It's all the same to me . . . Petunikoff . . . Egorka or even you!" "And why?" inquired Kuvalda. "I want to go to Siberia . . . I have had enough of this vile life . . . one learns how to live there!"
Vaviloff always feared him because he was not only a retired military man, but a man who had nothing to lose. But now Kuvalda appeared before him in a new role. He did not speak much, and jocosely as usual, but spoke in the tone of a commander, who was convinced of the other's guilt. And Vaviloff felt that the Captain could and would ruin him with the greatest pleasure.
This youngster had long hair and a weak face, with prominent cheek-bones and a turned-up nose. He was dressed in a blue blouse without a waistband, and on his head he wore the remains of a straw hat, while his feet were bare. "You are a fool!" decided Aristid Kuvalda. "What are you knocking about here for?
Kuvalda, shaking his fist at Petunikoff's head, roared and rolled his eyes like a wild beast. "Scoundrel and thief! Take back your money! Dirty worm! Take it back, I say ... or else I shall cram it down your throat.... Take your five-kopeck pieces!"
He was of middle height, and had a bald head, grey hair, and straight moustaches like tooth-brushes. Upright and neat in his clean jacket, he showed by every movement that he was an old soldier. "Egorka, show me the lease and plan of your house," demanded Kuvalda, impatiently. "I have shown it you before." Vaviloff looked up suspiciously and closely scanned the Captain's face.
We have nothing more to wait for ... except the reward that I shall get out out of Egorka,..." said the Captain, looking angrily at the eating-house. "So our peaceful life under the roof of Judas has come to an end. Judas will now turn us out.... So do not say that I have not warned you." Kanets smiled sadly. "What are you laughing at, jailer?" Kuvalda asked. "Where shall I go then?"
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