Голод
Part III
Letitonlyhappennow!WereItofindatthismomentaschoolgirl’ssavingsorapoorwidow’sonlypenny,Iwouldsnatchitupandpocketit;stealitdeliberately,andsleepthewholenightthroughlikeatop.Ihadnotsufferedsounspeakablymuchfornothing—mypatiencewasgone—Iwaspreparedtodoanything.
Iwalkedroundthepalacethree,perhapsfour,times,thencametotheconclusionthatIwouldgohome,tookyetonelittleturnintheparkandwentbackdownCarlJohann.Itwasnowabouteleven.Thestreetswerefairlydark,andthepeopleroamedaboutinalldirections,quietpairsandnoisygroupsmixedwithoneanother.Thegreathourhadcommenced,thepairingtimewhenthemystictrafficisinfullswing—andthehourofmerryadventuressetsin.Rustlingpetticoats,oneortwostillshort,sensuallaughter,heavingbosoms,passionate,pantingbreaths,andfardownneartheGrandHotel,avoicecalling"Emma!"Thewholestreetwasaswamp,fromwhichhotvapoursexuded.
Ifeelinvoluntarilyinmypocketsforafewshillings.Thepassionthatthrillsthroughthemovementsofeveryoneofthepassers-by,thedimlightofthegaslamps,thequietpregnantnight,allcommencetoaffectme—thisair,thatisladenwithwhispers,embraces,tremblingadmissions,concessions,half-utteredwordsandsuppressedcries.AnumberofcatsaredeclaringtheirlovewithloudyellsinBlomquist’sdoorway.AndIdidnotpossessevenaflorin!Itwasamisery,awretchednesswithoutparalleltobesoimpoverished.
