"However," said Viekov cautiously, "a janitor can be bribed."
"And you, too. Every man can be bribed—a mere matter of price."
"Did you hear, boys, Siekachev won seven hundred rubles in cards yesterday."
"How he smuggles the cards!"
"Yes, yes. He's no sharper, but a young wizard."
Viekov looked around, smiled in embarrassment, then silently and carefully smoothed his clothes.
"A new proclamation has appeared," he announced another time.
"There are lots of proclamations. The devil knows which of them is new."
"There's a great deal of evil in them."
"Did you read it?"