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the secret connection between the visions of his fancy and the
occurrences of his life； but without the slightest success。 The sick
man understood nothing； felt nothing； save his own tortures； and gave
utterance only to frightful yells and unintelligible gibberish。 At
last his life ended in a final attack of unutterable suffering。
Nothing could be found of all his great wealth； but when they beheld
the mutilated fragments of grand works of art； the value of which
exceeded a million； they understood the terrible use which had been
made of it。
PART II
A THRONG of carriages and other vehicles stood at the entrance of a
house in which an auction was going on of the effects of one of those
wealthy art…lovers who have innocently passed for Maecenases； and in a
simple…minded fashion expended； to that end； the millions amassed by
their thrifty fathers； and frequently even by their own early labours。
The long saloon was filled with the most motley throng of visitors；
collected like birds of prey swooping down upon an unburied corpse。
There was a whole squadron of Russian shop…keepers from the Gostinnui
Dvor； and from the old…clothes mart； in blue coats of foreign make。
Their faces and expressions were a little more natural here； and did
not display that fictitious desire to be subservient which is so
marked in the Russian shop…keeper when he stands before a customer in
his shop。 Here they stood upon no ceremony； although the saloons were
full of those very aristocrats before whom； in any other place； they
would have been ready to sweep； with reverence； the dust brought in by
their feet。 They were quite at their ease； handling pictures and books
without ceremony； when desirous of ascertaining the value of the
goods； and boldly upsetting bargains mentally secured in advance by
noble connoisseurs。 There were many of those infallible attendants of
auctions who make it a point to go to one every day as regularly as to
take their breakfast； aristocratic connoisseurs who look upon it as
their duty not to miss any opportunity of adding to their collections；
and who have no other occupation between twelve o'clock and one； and
noble gentlemen； with garments very threadbare； who make their daily
appearance without any selfish object in view； but merely to see how
it all goes off。
A quantity of pictures were lying about in disorder： with them were
mingled furniture； and books with the cipher of the former owner； who
never was moved by any laudable desire to glance into them。 Chinese
vases； marble slabs for tables； old and new furniture with curving
lines； with griffins； sphinxes； and lions' paws； gilded and ungilded；
chandeliers； sconces； all were heaped together in a perfect chaos of
art。
The auction appeared to be at its height。
The surging throng was competing for a portrait which could not but
arrest the attention of all who possessed any knowledge of art。 The
skilled hand of an artist was plainly visible in it。 The portrait；
which had apparently been several times restored and renovated；
represented the dark features of an Asiatic in flowing garments； and
with a strange and remarkable expression of countenance； but what
struck the buyers more than anything else was the peculiar liveliness
of the eyes。 The more they were looked at； the more did they seem to
penetrate into the gazer's heart。 This peculiarity； this strange
illusion achieved by the artist； attracted the attention of nearly
all。 Many who had been bidding gradually withdrew； for the price
offered had risen to an incredible sum。 There remained only two
well…known aristocrats； amateurs of painting； who were unwilling to
forego such an acquisition。 They grew warm； and would probably have
run the bidding up to an impossible sum； had not one of the onlookers
suddenly exclaimed； 〃Permit me to interrupt your competition for a
while： I； perhaps； more than any other； have a right to this
portrait。〃
These words at once drew the attention of all to him。 He was a tall
man of thirty…five； with long black curls。 His pleasant face； full of
a certain bright nonchalance； indicated a mind free from all
wearisome； worldly excitement； his garments had no pretence to
fashion： all about him indicated the artist。 He was； in fact； B。 the
painter； a man personally well known to many of those present。
〃However strange my words may seem to you；〃 he continued； perceiving
that the general attention was directed to him； 〃if you will listen to
a short story； you may possibly see that I was right in uttering them。
Everything assures me that this is the portrait which I am looking
for。〃
A natural curiosity illuminated the faces of nearly all present； and
even the auctioneer paused as he was opening his mouth； and with
hammer uplifted in the air； prepared to listen。 At the beginning of
the story； many glanced involuntarily towards the portrait； but later
on； all bent their attention solely on the narrator； as his tale grew
gradually more absorbing。
〃You know that portion of the city which is called Kolomna；〃 he began。
〃There everything is unlike anything else in St。 Petersburg。 Retired
officials remove thither to live； widows； people not very well off；
who have acquaintances in the senate； and therefore condemn themselves
to this for nearly the whole of their lives； and； in short； that whole
list of people who can be described by the words ash…colouredpeople
whose garments； faces； hair； eyes； have a sort of ashy surface； like a
day when there is in the sky neither cloud nor sun。 Among them may be
retired actors； retired titular councillors； retired sons of Mars；
with ruined eyes and swollen lips。
〃Life in Kolomna is terribly dull： rarely does a carriage appear；
except； perhaps； one containing an actor； which disturbs the universal
stillness by its rumble； noise； and jingling。 You can get lodgings for
five rubles a month； coffee in the morning included。 Widows with
pensions are the most aristocratic families there； they conduct
themselves well； sweep their rooms often； chatter with their friends
about the dearness of beef and cabbage； and frequently have a young
daughter； a taciturn； quiet； sometimes pretty creature； an ugly dog；
and wall…clocks which strike in a melancholy fashion。 Then come the
actors whose salaries do not permit them to desert Kolomna； an
independent folk； living； like all artists； for pleasure。 They sit in
their dressing…gowns； cleaning their pistols； gluing together all
sorts of things out of cardboard； playing draughts and cards with any
friend who chances to drop in； and so pass away the morning； doing
pretty nearly the same in the evening； with the addition of punch now
and then。 After these great people and aristocracy of Kolomna； come
the rank and file。 It is as difficult to put a name to them as to
remember the multitude of insects which breed in stale vinegar。 There
are old women who get drunk； who make a living by incomprehensible
means； like ants； dragging old clothes and rags from the Kalinkin
Bridge to the old clothes…mart； in order to sell them for fifteen
kopeksin short； the very dregs of mankind； whose conditions no
beneficent； political economist has devised any means of ameliorating。
〃I have mentioned them in order to point out how often such people
find themselves under the necessity of seeking immediate temporary
assistance and having recourse to borrowing。 Hence there settles among
them a peculiar race of money…lenders who lend small sums on security
at an enormous percentage。 Among these usurers was a certain 。 。 。 but
I must not omit to mention that the occurrence which I have undertaken
to relate occurred the last century； in the reign of our late Empress
Catherine the Second。 So； among the usurers； at that epoch； was a
certain personan extraordinary being in every respect； who had
settled in that quarter of the city long before。 He went about in
flowing Asiatic garb； his dark complexion indicated a Southern origin；
but to what particular nation he belonged； India； Greece； or Persia；
no one could say with certainty。 Of tall； almost colossal stature；
with dark； thin； ardent face； heavy overhanging brows； and an
indescribably strange colour in his large eyes of unwonted fire； he
differed sharply and strongly from all the ash…coloured denizens of
the capital。
〃His very dwelling was unlike the other little wooden houses。 It was
of stone； in the style of those formerly much affected by Genoese
merchants； with irregular windows of various sizes； secured with iron
shutters and bars。 This usurer differed from other usurers also in
that he could furnish any required sum； from that desired by the poor
old beggar…woman to that demanded by the extravagant grandee of the
court。 The most gorgeous equipages often halted in front of his house；
and from their windows sometimes peeped forth the head of an elegant
high…born lady。 Rumour； as us