Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1922 edition. Excerpt: ...drunkards--a wonderful hospital--built of marble--with marble floors... light--clean--food--and all gratis! And a marble floor--yes! I'll find it--I'll get cured--and then I shall start life anew.... I'm on my way to regeneration, as King Lear said. Natasha, my stage name is... Svertchkoff--Zavoloushski... do you realize how painful it is to lose one's name? Even dogs have their names... Natasha carefully passes the Actor, stops at Anna's bed and looks. To be nameless--is not to exist! Natasha. Look, my dear--why--she's dead.... The Actor (shakes his head) Impossible... Natasha (stepping back So help me God--look... Bubnoff (appearing in doorway What is there to look at? Natasha, Anna--she's dead! Bubnoff. That means--she's stopped coughing! Goes to Anna's bed, looks, and returns to his bunk We must tell Kleshtch--it's his business to know... The Actor. I'll go--I'll say to him--she lost her name--Exit Natasha, in centre of room I, too--some day--I'll be found in the cellar--dead.... Bubnoff spreading out some rags on his btrnk What's that? What are you muttering? Natasha. Nothing much... Bubnoff. Waiting for Vaska, eh? Take care--Vassilisa'll break your head! Natasha. Isn't it the same who breaks it? I'd much rather he'd do it! Bubnoff lying down Well--that's your own affair... Natasha. It's best for her to be dead--yet it's a pity... oh, Lord--why do we live? Bubnoff. It's so with all... we're born, live, and die--and I'll die, too--and so'll you--what's there to be gloomy about? (Enter Luka, the Tartar, Zob, and Kleshtch. The latter comes after the others, slowly, shrunk up. Natasha. Sh-sh! Anna! Zob. We've heard--God rest her soul... The Tartar (to Kleshtch We must take her out of here. Out into the hall! This is no place for corpses--but for...