Let
her croak from hunger under a fence, or go into a half-rouble
establishment for the soldiers!"
"Believe me, she won't return. I ask you merely to give me her
certificate, without delay."
"The certificate? ACH, if you please! Even this very minute. Only
I will first trouble you to pay for everything that she took here
on credit. Have a look, here is her account book. I took it along
with me on purpose. I knew already with what our conversation
would end." She took out of the slit of her PEGNOIR--showing
Lichonin for just a minute her fat, full-fleshed, yellow, enormous
breast--a little book in a black cover, with the heading: ACCOUNT
OF MISS IRENE VOSCHHENKOVA IN THE HOUSE OF ILL-FAME, MAINTAINED BY
ANNA MARKOVNA SHAIBES, ON YAM-SKAYA STREET, NO. SO-AND-SO, and
extended it to him across the table. Lichonin turned over the
first page and read through four or five paragraphs of the printed
rules. There dryly and briefly it was stated that the account book
consists of two copies, of which one is kept by the proprietress
while the other remains with the prostitute; that all income and
expense were entered into both books; that by agreement the
prostitute receives board, quarters, heat, light, bed linen, baths
and so forth, and for this pays out to the proprietress in no case
more than two-thirds of her earnings; while out of the remaining
money she is bound to dress neatly and decently, having no less
than two dresses for going out.
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