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Go and get a place for yourself, and see that it is not other people's, or else they will blow you up. The people that live here are particular." "Don't you sell tea, bread, or anything to eat?" "I trade only in walls and roofs, for which I pay to the swindling proprietor of this hole Judas Petunikoff, merchant of the second guild five roubles a month," explained Kuvalda in a business-like tone.
"Cursed cross-bred fox and pig!" swore the Captain under his breath, recalling his first meeting with Petunikoff. The merchant came with one of the town councillors to buy the house, and seeing the Captain asked his companion: "Is this your lodger?"
"Not more than one hundred roubles, Egor Terentievitch." Petunikoff shrugged his shoulders as if sorry at being unable to give more, and touched the soldier's hairy hand with his long white fingers. They soon ended the matter, for the soldier gave in quickly and met Petunikoff's wishes.
It is not that . . . I was alluding to the compensation I was to get for my ground." "But then this ground is of no use to you," said Petunikoff calmly. "But it is mine!" exclaimed the soldier. "Of course, and how much do you want for it?" "Well, say the amount stated in the document," said Vaviloff boldly. "Six hundred!" and Petunikoff smiled softly. "You are a funny fellow!"
Sanitary inspectors will be called for ... fines will have to be paid ... or else your lodgers will set fire to the place or rob and kill me ... I am powerless against them. They are not the least afraid of the police, and they like going to prison, because they get their food for nothing there." "But then we will have them turned out if we come to terms with you," promised Petunikoff.
"Of course you already know me, and I presume you guess what I am going to say to you," began Petunikoff. "About the lawsuit? ... I presume?" remarked the ex-sergeant, respectfully. "Exactly! I am glad to see that you are not beating about the bush, but going straight to the point like a business man," said Petunikoff, encouragingly. "I am a soldier," answered Vaviloff, with a modest air.
It seemed as if he were laughing quietly at the prospect of leaving the dosshouse, never, never to return. Petunikoff, who was following him with his eyes, crossed himself, and then began to shake the dust and rubbish off his clothes, and the more he shook himself the more pleased and self satisfied did he feel.
Every one of them felt keen animosity towards all those who were well fed and well dressed, but in some of them this feeling was only beginning to develop. Burning interest was felt by those "creatures that once were men" in the prospective fight between Kuvalda and Petunikoff, which they already saw in imagination.
"If you want horses, get them from the Lord Mayor, and take his three daughters, who seem quite fit for harness. Then destroy the house of Judas Petunikoff and pave the street with its timbers. By the way, Mokei, I know out of what your wife baked to-day's kalaches; out of the frames of the third window and the two steps from the roof of Judas' house."
"You can do nothing to me without witnesses ... Your son cannot give evidence on your side" ... the Captain warned him. "Look out all the same, you old wretch, you may be found guilty too!" And Petunikoff shook his fist at him. His son, deeply engrossed in his calculations, took no notice of the dark group of men, who were taking such a wicked delight in adding to his father's discomfiture.
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