Part IV

           Winterhadsetin—araw,wetwinter,almostwithoutsnow.Afoggy,dark,andeverlastingnight,withoutasingleblastoffreshwindthewholeweekthrough.Thegaswaslightedalmostallthedayinthestreets,andyetpeoplejostledoneanotherinthefog.Everysound,theclangofthechurchbells,thejinglingoftheharnessofthedroskehorses,thepeople’svoices,thebeatofthehoofs,everything,soundedchokedandjanglingthroughthecloseair,thatpenetratedandmuffledeverything.

           Weekfollowedweek,andtheweatherwas,andremained,stillthesame.

           AndIstayedsteadilydowninVaterland.Igrewmoreandmorecloselyboundtothisinn,thislodging-housefortravellers,whereIhadfoundshelter,inspiteofmystarvingcondition.Mymoneywasexhaustedlongsince;andyetIcontinuedtocomeandgointhisplaceasifIhadarighttoit,andwasathomethere.Thelandladyhad,asyet,saidnothing;butitworriedmeallthesamethatIcouldnotpayher.Inthiswaythreeweekswentby.Ihadalready,manydaysago,takentowritingagain;butIcouldnotsucceedinputtinganythingtogetherthatsatisfiedme.Ihadnotlongeranyluck,althoughIwasverypainstaking,andstroveearlyandlate;nomatterwhatIattempted,itwasuseless.Goodfortunehadflown;andIexertedmyselfinvain.

           Itwasinaroomonthesecondfloor,thebestguest-room,thatIsatandmadetheseattempts.