Lichonin also read that no establishment was to be situated nearer than a hundred steps from churches, places of learning, and court buildings; that only persons of the female sex may maintain houses of prostitution; that only her relatives, and even then of the female sex exclusively, and none older than seven years, may live with the proprietress; and that the proprietors and the owners of the house, as well as the girls, must in their relations among themselves and the guests as well, observe politeness, quiet, civility and decency, by no means allowing themselves drunkenness, swearing and brawls.
And also that the prostitute must not allow herself the caresses of love when in an intoxicated condition or with an intoxicated man; and in addition to that, during the time of certain functions.
Here also the prostitutes were most strictly forbidden to commit abortions.
“What a serious and moral view of things!” reflected Lichonin with a malicious sneer.
Finally the business with Emma Edwarodvna was concluded.
Having taken the money and written out a receipt, she stretched it out to Lichonin together with the blank, while he stretched out the money to her; at which, during the time of the operation, they both looked at each other’s eyes and hands intently and warily.
It was apparent that they both felt no especially great mutual trust.
Lichonin put the documents away in his wallet and was preparing to depart.
The housekeeper escorted him to the very stoop, and when the student was already standing in the street, she, remaining on the steps, leaned out and called after him:
“Student!
Hey!
Student!”
He stopped and turned around.
“What now?”
“And here’s another thing.
Now I must tell you, that your Liubka is trash, a thief, and sick with syphilis!
None of our good guests wanted to take her; and anyway, if you had not taken her, then we would have thrown her out to-morrow!
I will also tell you, that she had to do with the porter, with policemen, with janitors, and with petty thieves.
Congratulations on your lawful marriage!”
“Oo-ooh!
Vermin!” Lichonin roared back at her.
“You green blockhead!” called out the housekeeper and banged the door.
Lichonin went to the station house in a cab.
On the way he recalled that he had not had time to look at the blank properly, at this renowned “yellow ticket,” of which he had heard so much.
This was an ordinary small white sheet, no larger than a postal envelope.
On one side, in the proper column, were written out the name, father’s name, and family name of Liubka, and her profession— “Prostitute”; and on the other side, concise extracts from the paragraphs of that placard which he had just read through— infamous, hypocritical rules about behaviour and external and internal cleanliness.
“Every visitor.” he read, “has the right to demand from the prostitute the written certificate of the doctor who has inspected her the last time.”
And again sentimental pity overcame the heart of Lichonin.
“Poor women!” he reflected with grief. “What only don’t they do with you, how don’t they abuse you, until you grow accustomed to everything, just like blind horses on a treadmill!”
In the station house he was received by the district inspector, Kerbesh.
He had spent the night on duty, had not slept his fill, and was angry.
His luxurious, fan-shaped red beard was crumpled.
The right half of the ruddy face was still crimsonly glowing from lying long on the uncomfortable oilcloth pillow.
But the amazing, vividly blue eyes, cold and luminous, looked clear and hard, like blue porcelain.
Having ended interrogating, recording, and cursing out with obscenities the throng of ragamuffins, taken in during the night for sobering up and now being sent out over their own districts, he threw himself against the back of the divan, put his hands behind his neck, and stretched with all his enormous, heroic body so hard that all his ligaments and joints cracked.
He looked at Lichonin just as at a thing, and asked:
“And what will you have, Mr. Student?”
Lichonin stated his business briefly.
“And so I want,” he concluded, to take her to me … how is this supposed to be done with you? … in the capacity of a servant, or, if you want, a relative, in a word … how is it done? … ”
“Well, in the capacity of a kept mistress or a wife, let’s say,” indifferently retorted Kerbesh and twirled in his hands a silver cigar case with monograms and little figures. “I can do absolutely nothing for you … at least right now.
If you desire to marry her, present a suitable permit from your university authorities.
But if you’re taking her on maintenance— then just think, where’s the logic in that?
You’re taking a girl out of a house of depravity, in order to live with her in depraved cohabitation.”
“A servant, finally,” Lichonin put in.
“And even a servant.
I’d trouble you to present an affidavit from your landlord— for, I hope, you’re not a houseowner?
Very well, then, an affidavit from your landlord, as to your being in a position to keep a servant; and besides that, all the documents, testifying that you’re that very person you give yourself out to be; an affidavit, for instance, from your district and from the university, and all that sort of thing.
For you, I hope, are registered?
Or, perhaps, you are now, eh? … Of the illegal ones?
“No, I am registered!” retorted Lichonin, beginning to lose patience.