The housekeeper went after the ticket, while Lichonin took to pacing the cabinet back and forth.  He had already looked over all the pictures on the walls:  Leda with the swan, and the bathing on the shore of the sea, and the odalisque in a harem, and the satyr, bearing a naked nymph in his arms; but suddenly a small printed placard, framed and behind glass, half covered by a portiere, attracted his attention.  It was the first time that it had come across Lichonin’s eyes, and the student with amazement and aversion read these lines, expressed in the dead, official language of police stations.  There with shameful, businesslike coldness, were mentioned all possible measures and precautions against infections; the intimacies of feminine toilet; the weekly medical inspections and all the adaptations for them.  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.