第283页 / 共1294页

He opened his hand, stared at the coin, and with a sweep of his

arm flung it into the water; then he turned and went home. It

seemed to him, he had cut himself off from everyone and from

everything at that moment.

Evening was coming on when he reached home, so that he must have

been walking about six hours. How and where he came back he did

not remember. Undressing, and quivering like an overdriven horse,

he lay down on the sofa, drew his greatcoat over him, and at once

sank into oblivion....

It was dusk when he was waked up by a fearful scream. Good God,

what a scream! Such unnatural sounds, such howling, wailing,

grinding, tears, blows and curses he had never heard.