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When I got home I obeyed Mastridia and ordered some tea; I felt tired even weak. 'Well? Ardalion questioned me, 'have you been? did you see something? 'He did, certainly, show me something ... which, I'll own, I had not anticipated, I replied.
Come here! A boy of six came up, grimed all over with soot like a kitten, with a shaved head, perfectly bald in places, in a torn, striped smock, and huge goloshes on his bare feet. 'You take the gentleman, you know where, said Ardalion, addressing the 'apprentice, and pointing to me. 'And you, sir, when you arrive, ask for Mastridia Karpovna. The boy uttered a hoarse grunt, and we set off.
At dinner I followed the old dame's behest and drank a bottle of Lafitte, of the first quality, so Ardalion averred, though it had a very strong flavour of burnt cork, and a thick sediment at the bottom of each glass. Exactly at half-past seven I stood in front of the house where I had conversed with the worthy Mastridia Karpovna. All the shutters of the windows were closed, but the door was open.
'Mastridia Karpovna? I inquired. 'The same, at your service, the old woman replied in a piping voice. 'Please walk in. Won't you take a chair? The room into which the old woman conducted me was so littered up with every sort of rubbish, rags, pillows, feather-beds, sacks, that one could hardly turn round in it.
It's not the work of his hands. It's from on high, my dear; so it is. 'So you agree? I asked: 'when can I see your son? The old woman blinked again and shifted her rolled up handkerchief from one sleeve to the other. 'Oh, well, sir well, sir, I can't say. 'Allow me, Mastridia Karpovna, to hand you this, I interrupted, and I gave her a ten-rouble note.
Sit you down on that chair and wait; and whatever you see, don't utter a word and don't do anything; and please don't speak to my son either; for he's but young yet, and he suffers from fits. He's very easily scared; he'll tremble and shake like any chicken ... a sad thing it is! I looked at Mastridia. 'You say he's young, but since he's your son ... 'In the spirit, sir, in the spirit.
He moved staggering to the wall, leaned his head and both arms against it, and heaving like an over-loaded horse, in a husky voice said, 'Tea! Mastridia Karpovna how she came there I can't say flew to him and saying: 'Vassinka! Vassinka! began anxiously wiping away the sweat, which simply trickled from his face and hair.
You've only to keep your friend thoroughly in mind; and at your dinner drink a drop of wine just two or three glasses; wine never comes amiss. The old woman laughed, licked her lips, passed her hand over her mouth, and sighed. 'So at half-past seven? I queried, getting up from my chair. 'At half-past seven, your honour, at half-past seven, Mastridia Karpovna replied reassuringly.
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