"There are three families on the floor below, and then there are a few mechanics on this. But they are all decent people," earnestly. "Sometimes they take a little too much, but not often. You will find that they are quiet enough." Then after a look at his new tenant, "You will move in at once?"
"To-morrow. And now, if you don't mind, I should like to be left alone."
"Of course," said the little harness-maker. "Of course."
And so he went out and down the stairs to his shop. If he had been a curious man and had loitered on the landing and put his eye to the keyhole, he would have witnessed an unusual sight. For the door had no sooner closed behind him than the cadaverous-looking man altered in appearance like an enchanted prince in a fairy-tale. The bent shoulders disappeared, the tread as he moved swiftly about the room was firm and noiseless, the face became keen and resolute, the eyes alert and eager. He drew off the long black coat and with sleeves tucked up began a searching examination of the room. The closet, the bureau, the wash-stand came first; then the edges of the floor. The contents of a small sheet-iron stove were dragged out; amid the coal ash was much burnt paper, but apparently nothing that brought the searcher any reward. After about an hour, he stood in the center of the room, defeated.
"Friend Karkowsky is a careful man," he muttered. "There is not a scrap of anything."
He put on his coat and hat and left the room. Once outside the door, the shuffle reappeared in his gait, the cadaverous look returned, and the shoulders bent wearily. In the shop, the harness-maker was once more engaged with the Polish newspaper; he looked up as his new tenant came in.
"Your last lodger was not careful," complained the latter in his shaky voice. "The room is in quite a state."
"But I will fix it," announced the Pole accommodatingly. "I always treat my lodgers right; never has one complained. But I often had to complain. Now, that same man—the one that had your room last—gave me much trouble. Would you believe it, the police came at last!"
"Ah, yes. He was a disturber."