All his savings went to the menagerie. This most eccentric individual had succeeded in reducing his temporal needs to a minimum. He wore a cap and uniform that dated from prehistoric times, he slept and dwelt God knows how, he shared the soldiers' fare, and he ate in the 15th Company's kitchen, towards the staff of which he displayed a certain liberality. To his comrades--particularly the younger of them--he seldom refused a small loan if he was in funds, but to remain in debt to "Colonel Brehm" was not regarded as _comme il faut_, and he who did so was inevitably exposed to his comrades' ridicule and contempt. Frivolous and impudent individuals as, e.g. Lbov, were occasionally not averse from extracting a few silver roubles from Rafalski, and they always introduced the business by a request to be allowed to see the menagerie. This was generally an infallible way to the old hermit's heart and cash-box. "Good morning, Ivan Antonovich, have you got any fresh animals? Oh, how interesting! Come and show us them," etc., in the same style. After this the loan was a simple matter. Romashov had many times visited Rafalski, but never up to then with an ulterior motive. He too was particularly fond of animals, and when he was a cadet at Moscow, nay, even when he was a lad, he much preferred a circus to a theatre, and the zoological gardens or some menagerie to either. In his dreams as a child there always hovered a St. Bernard. Now his secret dream was to be appointed Adjutant to a battalion--so that he might become the possessor of a horse. But neither of his dreams was fulfilled. The poverty of his parents proved an insuperable obstacle to the realization of the former, and, as far as his adjutancy was concerned, his prospects were exceedingly small, as Romashov lacked the most important qualifications for it, viz. a fine figure and carriage. Romashov went into the street. A warm spring breeze caressed his cheeks, and the ground that had just dried after the rain gave to his steps, through its elasticity, a pleasant feeling of buoyancy and power. Hagberry and lilac pointed and nodded at him with their rich-scented bunches of blossom over the street fences. A suddenly awakened joy of life expanded his chest, and he felt as if he was about to fly. After he had looked round the street and convinced himself that he was alone, he took Shurochka's letter out of his pocket, read it through once more, and then pressed her signature passionately to his lips. "Oh, lovely sky! Beautiful trees!" he whispered with moist eyes. "Colonel Brehm" lived at the far end of a great enclosure hedged round by a green lattice-like hedge. Over the gate might be read: "Ring the bell. Beware of the dogs!" Romashov pulled the bell. The servant's sallow, sleepy face appeared at the wicket. "Is the Colonel at home?" "Yes. Please step in, your Honour." "No. Go and take in my name first."