"And who is Pavm Beruind?" I added, but Mitropolski replied shortly:
"That is none of your business."
When I reached home I wrote in my note-book, "I must read the works of Pavm Beruind." I felt, somehow, that I should find therein the answers to many questions which perplexed me.
The singer was very fond of using names which were unknown to me, and curiously coined words. This irritated me greatly.
"Life is not aniso," he said.
"What is aniso?" I asked.
"Something advantageous to you," he answered, and my perplexity amused him.
These little sayings, and the fact that he had studied in the academy, led me to think that he knew a great deal, and I was offended with him for not speaking of his knowledge, or if he did allude to it, being so unintelligible. Or was it that I had no right to ask him? However, he left an impression on my mind. I liked the drunken boldness of his denunciations, which were modelled on those of the prophet Isaias.
"Oh, unclean and vile ones of earth!" he roared, "the worst among you are famous, and the best are persecuted. The day of judgment draws nigh. You will repent then, but it will be too late, too late!"
As I listened to his roar, I remembered "Good Business," the laundress Natalia, ruined so hideously and easily, Queen Margot, wrapped in a cloud of dirty scandal. I already had some memories!