The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-11-19
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

saturated the air, ana mace lts way through Inc
crevices of the windows. Low-spirited, uncomfort-
able and cheerless as drenched cock, he sat down
on his dlapdated sofa, and began to recall his dream
of the previous night. So vivid was the impression
il had made that he could hardly persuade himself 1t
had been a mere dream. Removing the sheet, he
infinitely examined the portrait by the light of day.
He was still struck with the extraordinary power and
expression of the eyes, but he found in them nothing
peculiarly terrific. Still an unpleasant impression
remained upon his mind He could not divest him
self of the conviction that fragment Of horrible
ality had mingled with his dream. In defiance Of
reason, he imagined something peculiarly significant
in the expression of the old mans face; something
of the cautious stealfhy look it had worn when he
crept round the screen, and counted his gold under
the very nose Of the needy painter. And Tchartkof
still felt the print Of the rouleau upon his PALM as
though il had but that instant left his grasp. Had
he held il but little tighter, he thought it must have
remained in his hand even after his awakening.
Heavens" he exclaimed, heaving sorrowful
sigh, "had but the moiety of that wealth. And
again in his minds eye he saw the rouleaus stream
ing from the sack Again he read the attractive in
scnpton-l 900 puoArs; again they were unrolled,
he heard the chink of metal il shine, burned 10
clutch it. But once more the blue paper was rolled
around III and there he motioness and entranced
stranng his eyes upon vacancy, powerless to divert
their gaze from the imaginary treasure--like child
gazing with watering mouth at dish of unattaina-
BILE sweetmeats.
knock at the door at last reused him from his
reverie. 1t was promptly followed by the entrance
OF his landlord, accompanied by the Nadziratel, or
police-inspector of the quarter-a gentleman whose
appearance is, If possible more disagreeable to the
poor than the face of petitioner is to the rich The
10 d,fth IN, he ynH
lodged was no bad type of the class Of house-own-
in such quarters the fifteenth line Of the Vasi
ievskii Ostrov. In his YOUTH he had been captain
in the army where he was noted a noisy, quarrel
some fellows transferred thence to the civil service,
he proved himself thorough master Of the art OF
petty tyranny, bnstling coxcomb and blockhead.
Age had done little 10 improve his character He
had been some time widower had long retired
from the service was less given to quarrels and cox
combry, but more trivial and teasing His chief
happiness consisted in drinking tea, propagafng
scandal and in sauntering about his apartment with
hands behind his back. These intellectual occupa-
tons were varied by occasional inspection of the
roof Of his house. by ferreting his dpornk or porter
fifty times day out Of the kennel in which he often
er slept than watched and by monthly attack upon
his dodgers for their rent.
Do me the favor TO see about IL yourself, Varukh
Kusmch," said the landlord, to the Kvartalnu: "he
won't pay his rent--he won't pay, SIR.
"How can /, without money! Give Inc time, and
will pay"
Time, my good sir impossiblel can't hear Of
such thing" said the landlord in rage hourishing
the key he held in his hand Perhaps you don't
know that Colonel Potogonkin lodges in my house
"a colonel sir. and has lived here these seven years
and Anna Petrovna Buchmsterof-- lady of fortune,
Sir, who rents coach-house, and two-stal stable,
sir and keeps three outdoor servants these are the
sort OF dodgers have. My house. tell You plainly,
Is not one OF those establishments where people live
who don't pay their rent. So will thank You to
pay yours directly, and be off bag and baggage"
You had better pay" said the Kvartalnu Nadzi-
rate with slight but significant shake of the head
stcking his forefnger through but,on-hole of his
uniform.
ITS very easy TO say pay, but where is the mo
ney? have not sou"
"In that case, you can satisfy Ivan Ivanovitcf
with goods, with the produce of your profession
said the Kvarialnu; she win probably agree to take
pictures"
mot !, indeed no pictures for me! II would be
all very well TO take pictures with respectable SUBJ
Jects, such gentleman could hang on his wall
general with star the likeness Of Prince Kutuz
Off but here see nothing but paintings of mujiks
cuitt-oiceNtS, SeTNuHlS, anu SUCH ike
a mere waste Of time and colors. He has taken the
likeness of that BLACKBOARD of his, whose bones i
shall assuredly break, Tor the thief has pulled the
nails out Of all my locks and window hasps- scoun-
drel, just look; there's subject for you'll picture
Of the room 1t would have been all very well If he
had drawn it clean, neat, and orderly but there he
has got il full of filth and rubbish just as 1t is. Only
see how he has bedevilled and dirtied my room ;
pretty work, indeed when l have had colonies for
dodgers seven years together and Anna Petrovna
Buchmisteroffl Truly there are no worse dodgers
than artists; they turn drawing room into pig
stye."
To all this, and much more, the poor painter was
forced to listen patiently Meanwhile the Kyartalnu
Nadzrael amused himself by looking at the pictures
and sketches, occasionally uttering comment or
question.
mot bad p said he pausng before female figure:
pretty woman, really But what's the meaning OF
that black there, under his nose Z Is il snuff. or
WHAT"
That's the shadow" replied Tchartkoff, surlly,
and without turning towards him.
"You would have done better to have nut II some.
where else tits too remarkable Just under the nose
said the critical Argus "But whose portrait is thisl,
continued he, approaching the picture that had oc
casioned Tchartkof so restless night "What an
ugly Old heather! And what eyes They might be.
long to Bezebub himself. I must have a look nj
this"
And without asking permission, or thinking il ne.
cessary to use such ceremony with poor devil of
painter who could pay his rent the agen, Of the
law lifted the portrait from the nails on which 4
hung TO carry it 10 the window and examine il at his
leisure But his hands were stiff and clumsy, and
he had miscalculated the weight of the picture Ii
slipped through his fingers and fell to the ground
with heavy thump and slight crashing noise, up.
setting some lumber that stood against the wall, and
raislnga cloud Of dust which caused the man Of ma
nacle to step back and rub his eyes With mutter.
ed curse on the meddlesome official Tchartkof
sprang forward TO raise the picture As he did so
small board forming one of the sides of the frame
and which had been cracked by rhe fall, gave way
altogether under the pressure Of his hand and par, Of
II fell out The fragment was followed by rouleau
Of dark blue paper, which emitted dull chink as il
struk the ground. Tchartkoffrs eyes glanced unor
an inscription; il was-l0OO pucArs. To snatch mr.
the packet and thrust 1t into his pocket was the wor
Of an instant.
"Sureiy, heard the sound of coin" said the Kvar
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