Голод
Part II
WhenIhadfinished,heglancedsidewaysatme,shookhishandsomehead,andsaid,"No";simply"no"—noexplanation—notanotherword.
Mykneestrembledfearfully,andIsupportedmyselfagainstthelittlepolishedbarrier.Imusttryoncemore.WhyshouldjusthisnamehaveoccurredtomeasIstoodfarawayfromthereinVaterland?Somethinginmyleftsidejerkedacoupleoftimes,andIbrokeoutintoasweat.IsaidIwasreallyawfullyrundown,andratherill,worseluck.ItwouldcertainlybenolongerthanafewdayswhenIcouldrepayit.Ifhewouldbesokind?
"Mydearfellow,whydoyoucometome?"hequeried;"youareaperfectstrangeroffthestreettome;gotothepaperwhereyouareknown."
"Butonlyforthisevening,"saidI;"theofficeisalreadyshutup,andIamveryhungry."
Heshookhisheadpersistently;keptonshakingitafterIhadseizedthehandleofthedoor."Good-evening,"Isaid.Itwasnotanyhintfromonhigh,thoughtI,andIsmiledbitterly.Ifitcametothat,Icouldgiveasgoodahintasthatmyself.Idraggedononeblockaftertheother;nowandthenIrestedonastep.IfonlyIcouldescapebeinglockedup.Theterrorofthatcellpursuedmeallthetime;leftmenopeace.WheneverIcaughtsightofapolicemaninmypathIstaggeredintoasidestreettoavoidmeetinghim.Now,then,wewillcountahundredsteps,andtryourluckagain!Theremustbearemedysometime....
