State-Councillor Usielkov, architect, arrived in his native town, where he had been summoned to restore the cemetery church. He was born in the town, he had grown up and been married there, and yet when he got out of the train he hardly recognised it. Everything was changed. For instance, eighteen years ago, when he left the town to settle in Petersburg, where the railway station is now boys used to hunt for marmots: now as you come into the High Street there is a four storied “Hotel Vienna,” with apartments, where there was of old an ugly grey fence. But not the fence or the houses, or anything had changed so much as the people. Questioning the hall-porter, Usielkov discovered that more than half of the people he remembered were dead or paupers or forgotten. “Do you remember Usielkov?” he asked the porter. “Usielkov, the architect, who divorced his wife.... He had a house in Sviribev Street.... Surely you remember.” “No, I don’t remember anyone of the name.” “Why, it’s impossible not to remember. It was an exciting case. All the cabmen knew, even. Try to remember. His divorce was managed by the attorney, Shapkin, the swindler ... the notorious sharper, the man who was thrashed at the club....” “You mean Ivan Nicolaich?” “Yes.... Is he alive? dead?” “Thank heaven, his honour’s alive. His honour’s a notary now, with an office. Well-to-do. Two houses in Kirpichny Street. Just lately married his daughter off.” Usielkov strode from one corner of the room to another. An idea flashed into his mind. From boredom, he decided to see Shapkin. It was afternoon when he left the hotel and quietly walked to Kirpichny Street. He found Shapkin in his office and hardly recognised him. From the well-built, alert attorney with a quick, impudent, perpetually tipsy expression, Shapkin had become a modest, grey-haired, shrunken old man. “You don’t recognise me.... You have forgotten ....” Usielkov began. “I’m your old client, Usielkov.” “Usielkov? Which Usielkov? Ah!” Remembrance came to Shapkin: he recognised him and was confused. Began exclamations, questions, recollections. “Never expected ... never thought....” chuckled Shapkin. “What will you have? Would you like champagne? Perhaps you’d like oysters. My dear man, what a lot of money I got out of you in the old days--so much that I can’t think what I ought to stand you.” “Please don’t trouble,” said Usielkov. “I haven’t time. I must go to the cemetery and examine the church. I have a commission.” “Splendid. We’ll have something to eat and a drink and go together. I’ve got some splendid horses! I’ll take you there and introduce you to the churchwarden.... I’ll fix up everything.... But what’s the matter, my dearest man? You’re not avoiding me, not afraid? Please sit nearer. There’s nothing to be afraid of now.... Long ago, I really was pretty sharp, a bit of a rogue ... but now I’m quieter than water, humbler than grass. I’ve grown old; got a family. There are children.... Time to die!”