Prototchny Alley, and passing by the whole length of the house and
the gate, he disappeared through the door of the tavern.

Two gates and several doors open on Prototchny Alley: those
belonging to a tavern, a dram-shop, and several eating and other
shops. This is the Rzhanoff fortress itself. Every thing here is
gray, dirty, and malodorous--both buildings and locality, and court-
yards and people. The majority of the people whom I met here were
ragged and half-clad. Some were passing through, others were running
from door to door. Two were haggling over some rags. I made the
circuit of the entire building from Prototchny Alley and Beregovoy
Passage, and returning I halted at the gate of one of these houses.
I wished to enter, and see what was going on inside, but I felt that
it would be awkward. What should I say when I was asked what I
wanted there? I hesitated, but went in nevertheless. As soon as I
entered the court-yard, I became conscious of a disgusting odor. The
yard was frightfully dirty. I turned a corner, and at the same
instant I heard to my left and overhead, on the wooden balcony, the
tramp of footsteps of people running, at first along the planks of
the balcony, and then on the steps of the staircase. There emerged,
first a gaunt woman, with her sleeves rolled up, in a faded pink
gown, and little boots on her stockingless feet. After her came a
tattered man in a red shirt and very full trousers, like a petticoat,
and with overshoes. The man caught the woman at the bottom of the
steps.

"You shall not escape," he said laughing.

"See here, you cock-eyed devil," began the woman, evidently flattered
by this pursuit; but catching sight of me, she shrieked viciously,