She knew what odour this fame would give off if
she were to return to her native haunts. It were better to hang
one's self than to endure this.
She was as uneconomical and impractical in money matters as a
five-year-old child, and in a short while was left without a
kopeck; while to go back to the brothel was fearful and shameful.
But the temptations of street prostitution turned up of
themselves, and at every step begged to be seized. In the
evenings, on the main street, old hardened street prostitutes at
once unerringly guessed her former profession. Ever and anon one
of them, having come alongside of her, would begin in a sweet,
ingratiating voice:
"How is it, young lady, that you're walking alone? Let's be mates.
Let's walk together. That's always more convenient. Whenever men
want to pass the time pleasantly with girls, they always love to
start a party of four."
And right here the experienced, tried recruiting agent, at first
casually, but after that warmly, with all her heart, would begin
to praise up all the conveniences of living at your own
landlady's--the tasty food, full freedom of going out, the
possibility of always concealing from the landlady of your rooms
the surplus over the agreed pay.
Pages:
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454