At first it was difficult for him, but in a few minutes he was already immersed in that familiar state of thoughtlessness and emptiness which took such powerful hold of him when, after beatings and insults, he sat himself down alone in some corner. His eye caught the date and the name of the month, his hand mechanically arranged the books in a row, while he sat on the floor swinging his body regularly. He became more and more deeply plunged in the tranquil state of half-conscious negation of reality. As always at such times the dim hope glowed in him of something different, unlike what he saw around him. Sometimes the all-comprehending, capacious phrase uttered by Yashka dimly glimmered in his memory: "It will pass away." The thought pressed his heart warmly and softly with a promise of something unusual. The boy's hands involuntarily began to move more quickly, and he ceased to notice the lapse of time. "You see, you knew how to do it," said the master. Yevsey, who had not heard the old man approach him, started from his reverie. Glancing at his work, he asked: "Is it all right?" "Absolutely. Do you want tea?" "No." "You ought to say, 'No, thank you.' Well, keep on with your work." He walked away. Yevsey looking after him saw a man carrying a cane enter the door. He had neither a beard nor mustache, and wore a round hat shoved back on the nape of his neck. He seated himself at the table, at the same time putting upon it some small black and white objects. When Yevsey again started to work, he every once in a while heard abrupt sounds from his master and the newcomer. "Castle." "King." "Soon." The confused noise of the street penetrated the shop wearily, with strange words quacking in it, like frogs in a marsh. "What are they doing?" thought the boy, and sighed. He experienced a soft sensation, that from all directions something unusual was coming upon him, but not what he timidly awaited. The dust settled upon his face, tickled his nose and eyes, and set his teeth on edge. He recalled his uncle's words: "You will live with him as behind a bush." It grew dark. "King and checkmate!" cried the guest in a thick voice. The master clucking his tongue called out: "Boy, close up the shop!" The old man lived in two small rooms in the fourth story of the same house. In the first room, which had one window, stood a large chest and a wardrobe. "This is where you will sleep." The two windows in the second room gave upon the street, with a view over an endless vista of uneven roofs and rosy sky. In the corner, in front of the ikons, flickered a little light in a blue glass lamp. In another corner stood a bed covered with a red blanket. On the walls hung gaudy portraits of the Czar and various generals. The room was close and smelt like a church, but it was clean. Yevsey remained at the door looking at his elderly master, who said: "Mark the arrangement of everything here. I want it always to be the same as it is now."