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gaze at Krassovchik； Kuzma； and the drozhki。 Then I returned and
once more began my tour of the rooms； where I looked at myself in
all the mirrors as before； and counted my money over in my
pocketmy face smiling happily the while。 Yet not an hour had
elapsed before I began to feel slightly ennuyeto feel a shade
of regret that no one was present to see me in my splendid
position。 I began to long for life and movement； and so sent out
orders for the drozhki to be got ready； since I had made up my
mind to drive to the Kuznetski Bridge and make some purchases。
In this connection I recalled how； after matriculating； Woloda
had gone and bought himself a lithograph of horses by Victor Adam
and some pipes and tobacco： wherefore I felt that I too must do
the same。 Amid glances showered upon me from every side； and with
the sunlight reflected from my buttons； cap…badge； and sword； I
drove to the Kuznetski Bridge； where； halting at a Picture shop；
I entered it with my eyes looking to every side。 It was not
precisely horses by Adam which I meant to buy； since I did not
wish to be accused of too closely imitating Woloda； wherefore；
out of shame for causing the obsequious shopmen such agitation as
I appeared to do； I made a hasty selection； and pitched upon a
water…colour of a woman's head which I saw displayed in the
windowprice twenty roubles。 Yet no sooner had I paid the twenty
roubles over the counter than my heart smote me for having put
two such beautifully dressed shop…assistants to so much trouble
for such a trifle。 Moreover； I fancied that they were regarding
me with some disdain。 Accordingly； in my desire to show them what
manner of man I was； I turned my attention to a silver trifle
which I saw displayed in a show…case； and； recognising that it
was a porte…crayon （price eighteen roubles）； requested that it
should forthwith be wrapped in paper for me。 Next； the money
paid； and the information acquired that splendid pipes and
tobacco were to be obtained in an adjacent emporium； I bowed to
the two shopmen politely； and issued into the street with the
picture under my arm。 At the shop next door （which had painted on
its sign…board a negro smoking a cigar） I bought （likewise out of
a desire to imitate no one） some Turkish tobacco； a Stamboul
hookah； and two pipes。 On coming out of the shop； I had just
entered the drozhki when I caught sight of Semenoff； who was
walking hurriedly along the pavement with his head bent down。
Vexed that he should not have recognised me； I called out to him
pretty loudly； 〃Hold on a minute！〃 and； whipping up the drozhki；
soon overtook him。
〃How do you do？〃 I said。
〃My respects to you；〃 he replied； but without stopping。
〃Why are you not in your University uniform？〃 I next inquired。
At this he stopped short with a frown； and parted his white teeth
as though the sun were hurting his eyes。 The next moment；
however； he threw a glance of studied indifference at my drozhki
and uniform； and continued on his way。
From the Kuznetski Bridge； I drove to a confectioner's in
Tverskaia Street； and； much as I should have liked it to be
supposed that it was the newspapers which most interested me； I
had no choice but to begin falling upon tartlet after tartlet。 In
fact； for all my bashfulness before a gentleman who kept
regarding me with some curiosity from behind a newspaper； I ate
with great swiftness a tartlet of each of the eight different
sorts which the confectioner kept。
On reaching home； I experienced a slight touch of stomach…ache；
but paid no attention to it； and set to work to inspect my
purchases。 Of these； the picture so much displeased me that；
instead of having it framed and hung in my room； as Woloda had
done with his； I took pains to hide it behind a chest of drawers；
where no one could see it。 Likewise； though I also found the
porte…crayon distasteful； I was able； as I laid it on my table；
to comfort myself with the thought that it was at least a SILVER
articleso much capital； as it wereand likely to be very
useful to a student。 As for the smoking things； I decided to put
them into use at once； and try their capabilities。
Unsealing the four packages； and carefully filling the Stamboul
pipe with some fine…cut； reddish…yellow Turkish tobacco； I
applied a hot cinder to it； and； taking the mouthpiece between my
first and second fingers （a position of the hand which greatly
caught my fancy）； started to inhale the smoke。
The smell of the tobacco seemed delightful； yet something burnt
my mouth and caught me by the breath。 Nevertheless； I hardened my
heart； and continued to draw abundant fumes into my interior。
Then I tried blowing rings and retaining the smoke。 Soon the room
became filled with blue vapours； while the pipe started to
crackle and the tobacco to fly out in sparks。 Presently； also； I
began to feel a smarting in my mouth and a giddiness in my head。
Accordingly； I was on the point of stopping and going to look at
myself and my pipe in the mirror； when； to my surprise； I found
myself staggering about。 The room was whirling round and round；
and as I peered into the mirror （which I reached only with some
difficulty） I perceived that my face was as white as a sheet。
Hardly had I thrown myself down upon a sofa when such nausea and
faintness swept over me that； making up my mind that the pipe had
proved my death； I expected every moment to expire。 Terribly
frightened； I tried to call out for some one to come and help me；
and to send for the doctor。
However； this panic of mine did not last long； for I soon
understood what the matter with me was； and remained lying on the
sofa with a racking headache and my limbs relaxed as I stared
dully at the stamp on the package of tobacco； the Pipe…tube
coiled on the floor； and the odds and ends of tobacco and
confectioner's tartlets which were littered about。 〃Truly；〃 I
thought to myself in my dejection and disillusionment； 〃I cannot
be quite grown…up if I cannot smoke as other fellows do； and
should be fated never to hold a chibouk between my first and
second fingers； or to inhale and puff smoke through a flaxen
moustache！〃
When Dimitri called for me at five o'clock； he found me in this
unpleasant predicament。 After drinking a glass of water； however；
I felt nearly recovered； and ready to go with him。
〃So much for your trying to smoke！〃 said he as he gazed at the
remnants of my debauch。 〃It is a silly thing to do； and waste of
money as well。 I long ago promised myself never to smoke。 But
come along； we have to call for Dubkoff。〃
XIV
HOW WOLODA AND DUBKOFF AMUSED THEMSELVES
THE moment that Dimitri entered my room I perceived from his
face； manner of walking； and the signs which； in him； denoted
ill…humoura blinking of the eyes and a grim holding of his head
to one side； as though to straighten his collarthat he was in
the coldly…correct frame of mind which was his when he felt