Голод
Part IV
Hewasevidentlyasailor,acasualtravellerforthenight;hewouldthereforenotoccupymyroomforanylengthenedperiod.Perhaps,too,Imightbeluckytomorrowwhenthemanhadleft,andhaveoneofmymomentsagain;Ionlyneededaninspirationforfiveminutes,andmyessayontheconflagrationwouldbecompleted.Well,Ishouldhavetosubmittofate.
Ihadnotbeeninsidethefamilyroomsbefore,thisonecommonroominwhichtheyalllived,bothdayandnight—thehusband,wife,wife’sfather,andfourchildren.Theservantlivedinthekitchen,whereshealsosleptatnight.Iapproachedthedoorwithmuchrepugnance,andknocked.Nooneanswered,yetIheardvoicesinside.
ThehusbanddidnotspeakasIsteppedin,didnotacknowledgemynodeven,merelyglancedatmecarelessly,asifIwerenoconcernofhis.Besides,hewassittingplayingcardswithapersonIhadseendownonthequays,withtheby-nameof"Paneo’glass."Aninfantlayandprattledtoitselfoverinthebed,andanoldman,thelandlady’sfather,satdoubledtogetheronasettle-bed,andbenthisheaddownoverhishandsasifhischestorstomachpainedhim.Hishairwasalmostwhite,andhelookedinhiscrouchingpositionlikeapoke-neckedreptilethatsatcockingitsearsatsomething.
"Icome,worseluck,tobegforhouse-roomdownheretonight,"Isaidtotheman.
"Didmywifesayso?"heinquired.
"Yes;anewlodgercametomyroom.
