restlessly against the dead barges.  Very strong in the air was the smell of the sea; the heavy clouds that moved in a strange kind of ordered procession overhead seemed to carry that scent with them, and in the dim pale shadows of the evening glow one seemed to see at the end of every street mysterious clusters of masts, and to hear the clank of chains and the creak of restless boards.  There were few people about and a great silence everywhere.  The air was damp and thick, and smelt of rotten soil, as though dank grass was everywhere pushing its way up through the cobbles and paving-stones.

As we walked Markovitch talked incessantly.  It was only a very little the talk of a drunken man, scarcely disconnected at all, but every now and again running into sudden little wildnesses and extravagances.  I cannot remember nearly all that he said.  He came suddenly, as I expected him to do, to the subject of Semyonov.

“You know of course that Alexei Petrovitch is living with us now?”

“Yes.  I know that.”

“You can understand, Ivan Andreievitch, that when he came first and proposed it to me I was startled.  I had other things—­very serious things to think of just then.  We weren’t—­we aren’t—­very happy at home just now... you know that...  I didn’t think he’d be very gay with us.  I told him that.  He said he didn’t expect to be gay anywhere at this time, but that he was lonely in his flat all by himself, and he thought for a week or two he’d like company.  He didn’t expect it would be for very long.  No....  He said he was expecting ‘something to happen.’  Something to himself, he said, that would alter his affairs.  So, as it was only for a little time, well, it didn’t seem to matter.  Besides, he’s a powerful man.  He’s difficult to resist—­very difficult to resist....”

“Why have you given up your inventions, Nicolai Leontievitch?” I said to him, suddenly turning round upon him.

“My inventions?” he repeated, seeming very startled at that.

“Yes, your inventions.”

“No, no....  Understand, I have no more use for them.  There are other things now to think about—­more important things.”

“But you were getting on with them so well?”

“No—­not really.  I was deceiving myself as I have often deceived myself before.  Alexei showed me that.  He told me that they were no good—­”

“But I thought that he encouraged you?”

“Yes—­at first—­only at first.  Afterwards he saw into them more clearly; he changed his mind.  I think he was only intending to be kind.  A strange man... a strange man....”

“A very strange man.  Don’t you let him influence you, Nicholas Markovitch.”

“Influence me?  Do you think he does that?” He suddenly came close to me, catching my arm.

“I don’t know.  I haven’t seen you often together.”