[Footnote: All
provincial towns.--Trans.] What a Zhadov and Belugin I was! How I
played Max! What a figure I created of Veltishchev--that was my
crowning ro-ole ... Nadin-Perekopski was beginning with me at
Sumbekov's! With Nikiphorov-Pavlenko did I serve. Who made the
name for Legunov-Pochainin? I! But no-ow ..."
He sniveled, and sought to kiss the sub-professor.
"Yes! Despise me, brand me, ye honest folk. I play the tom-fool.
I drink ... I have sold and spilt the sacred ointment! I sit in a
dive with vendable merchandise. While my wife ... she is a saint,
and pure, my little dove! ... Oh, if she knew, if she only knew!
she works hard, she runs a modiste's shop; her fingers--the
fingers of an angel--are pricked with the needle, but I! Oh,
sainted woman! And I--the scoundrel!--whom do I exchange thee for!
Oh, horror!" The actor seized his hair. "Professor, let me, I'll
kiss your scholarly hand. You alone understand me. Let us go, I'll
introduce you, you'll see what an angel this is! ... She awaits
me, she does not sleep nights, she folds the tiny hands of my
little ones and together with them whispers: 'Lord, save and
preserve papa.
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