They entered the hut and went into a boarded compartment, where stood Mark’s bed with a thin old mattress, a thin wadded bed-cover and a tiny pillow. Scattered on a shelf on the wall, and on the table lay books, two guns hung on the wall, linen and clothes were tumbled untidily on the only chair.
“This is my salon, sit down on the bed, and I will sit on the chair. Let us take off our coats, for it is infernally hot. No ceremony, as there are no ladies. That’s right. Do you want anything? There is nothing but milk and eggs. If you don’t want any, give me a cigar.”
“Many thanks. I have already breakfasted, and it will presently be dinner time.”
“Yes! You live with your Aunt. Weren’t you expelled after having harboured me in the night?”
“On the contrary, she reproached me with having allowed you to go to bed without any dessert, and for not having demanded pillows.”
“And didn’t she rail against me?”
“As usual, but....”
“I know it is habit and does not come from her heart. She has the best heart one can wish for, better than any here. She is bold, full of character, and with a solid understanding; now indeed her brain is weakening....”
“That is your opinion? You have found someone for whom you have sympathy?”
“Yes, especially in one respect. She cannot endure the Governor any more than I can. I don’t know what her reasons are; his position is enough for me. We neither of us like the police; we are oppressed by them. The old lady is compelled by them to carry out all sorts of repairs; to me they pay far too much attention, find out where I live, whether I go far from the town, and whom I visit.”