of the failure of his attack on them。 But as soon as he began to speak of each one separately； there was a swift and striking change in the relation of his hearers toward him。
When Kononov sank heavily in the chair； as though he were unable to withstand the weight of Foma's harsh words； Foma noticed that bitter and malicious smiles crossed the faces of some of the merchants。 He heard some one's whisper of astonishment and approval：
〃That's well aimed！〃
This whisper gave strength to Foma； and he confidently and passionately began to hurl reproaches； jeers and abuses at those who met his eyes。 He growled joyously； seeing that his words were taking effect。 He was listened to silently； attentively； several men moved closer toward him。
Exclamations of protest were heard； but these were brief； not loud； and each time Foma shouted some one's name； all became silent； listening； casting furtive； malicious glances in the direction of their accused comrade。
Bobrov laughed perplexedly； but his small eyes bored into Foma as gimlets。 And Lup Reznikov； waving his hands； hopped about awkwardly and； short of breath； said：
〃Be my witnesses。 What's this！ No…o！ I will not forgive this！ I'll go to court。 What's that？〃 and suddenly he screamed in a shrill voice； out…stretching his hand toward Foma：
〃Bind him！〃
Foma was laughing。
〃You cannot bind the truth； you can't do it！ Even bound； truth will not grow dumb！〃
〃Go…o…od！〃 drawled out Kononov in a dull； broken voice。
〃See here； gentlemen of the merchant class！〃 rang out Mayakin's voice。 〃I ask！ you to admire him； that's the kind of a fellow he is！〃
One after another the merchants moved toward Foma； and on their faces he saw wrath； curiosity； a malicious feeling of satisfaction； fear。 Some one of those modest people among whom Foma was sitting； whispered to him：
〃Give it to them。 God bless you。 Go ahead！ That will be to your credit。〃
〃Robustov！〃 cried Foma。 〃What are you laughing at？ What makes you glad？ You will also go to the galleys。〃
〃Put him ashore！〃 suddenly roared Robustov； springing to his feet。
And Kononov shouted to the captain：
〃Back！ To the town！ To the Governor。〃
And someone insinuatingly； in a voice trembling with feeling：
〃That's a collusive agreement。 That was done on purpose。 He was instigated； and made drunk to give him courage。〃
〃No； it's a revolt！〃
〃Bind him！ Just bind him！〃
Foma grasped a champagne bottle and swung it in the air。
〃Come on now！ No； it seems that you will have to listen to me。〃
With renewed fury； frantic with joy at seeing these people shrinking and quailing under the blows of his words； Foma again started to shout names and vulgar oaths； and the exasperated tumult was hushed once more。 The men； whom Foma did not know； gazed at him with eager curiosity； with approval； while some looked at him even with joyous surprise。 One of them； a gray… haired little old man with rosy cheeks and small mouse eyes； suddenly turned toward the merchants； who had been abused by Foma； and said in a sweet voice：
〃These are words from the conscience！ That's nothing！ You must endure it。 That's a prophetic accusation。 We are sinful。 To tell the truth we are very〃
He was hissed； and Zubov even jostled him on the shoulder。 He made a low bow and disappeared in the crowd。
〃Zubov！〃 cried Foma。 〃How many people have you fleeced and turned to beggars？ Do you ever dream of Ivan Petrov Myakinnikov； who strangled himself because of you？ Is it true that you steal at every mass ten roubles out of the church box？〃
Zubov had not expected the attack； and he remained as petrified； with his hand uplifted。 But he immediately began to scream in a shrill voice； as he jumped up quickly：
〃Ah！ You turn against me also？ Against me； too？
And suddenly he puffed up his cheeks and furiously began to shake his fist at Foma； as he screamed in a shrill voice：
〃The fool says in his heart there is no God！ I'll go to the bishop！ Infidel！ You'll get the galleys！〃
The tumult on the steamer grew； and at the sight of these enraged； perplexed and insulted people； Foma felt himself a fairy…tale giant； slaying monsters。 They bustled about； waving their arms； talking to one anothersome red with anger； others pale； yet all equally powerless to check the flow of his jeers at them。
〃Send the sailors over here！〃 cried Reznikov； tugging Kononov by the shoulder。 〃What's the matter with you； Ilya？ Ah？ Have you invited us to be ridiculed？〃
〃Against one puppy；〃 screamed Zubov。
A crowd had gathered around Yakov Tarasovitch Mayakin； and listened to his quiet speech with anger； and nodded their heads affirmatively。
〃Act； Yakov！〃 said Robustov； loudly。 〃We are all witnesses。 Go ahead！〃
And above the general tumult of voices rang out Foma's loud； accusing voice：
〃It was not life that you have builtyou have made a cesspool！ You have bred filth and putrefaction by your deeds！ Have you a conscience？ Do you remember God？ Moneythat's your God！ And your conscience you have driven away。 Whither have you driven it away？ Blood…suckers！ You live on the strength of others。 You work with other people's hands！ You shall pay for all this！ When you perish； you will be called to account for everything！ For everything； even to a teardrop。 How many people have wept blood at those great deeds of yours？ And according to your deserts； even hell is too good a place for you； rascals。 Not in fire； but in boiling mud you shall be scorched。 Your sufferings shall last for centuries。 The devils will hurl you into a boiler and will pour into itha； ha； ha！ they'll pour into itha； ha； ha！ Honourable merchant class！ Builders of Life。 Oh； you devils！〃
Foma burst into ringing laughter； and； holding his sides； staggered； tossing his head up high。
At that moment several men quickly exchanged glances； simultaneously rushed on Foma and downed him with their weight。 A racket ensued。
〃Now you're caught！〃 ejaculated some one in a suffocating voice。
〃Ah！ Is that the way you're doing it？〃 cried Foma； hoarsely。
For about a half a minute a whole heap of black bodies bustled about on one spot； heavily stamping their feet； and dull exclamations were heard：
〃Throw him to the ground！〃
〃Hold his hand； his hand！ Oh！〃
〃By the beard？〃
〃Get napkins； bind him with napkins。〃
〃You'll bite； will you？〃
〃So！ Well； how's it？ Aha！〃
〃Don't strike！ Don't dare to strike。〃
〃Ready！〃
〃How strong he is！〃
〃Let's carry him over there toward the side。〃
〃Out in the fresh air； ha； ha！〃
They dragged Foma away to one side； and having placed him against the wall of the captain's cabin； walked away from him； adjusting their costumes； and mopping their sweat…covered brows。 Fatigued by the struggle； and exhausted by the disgrace of his defeat； Foma lay there in silence； tattered； soiled with something； firmly bound； hand and foot； with napkins and towels。 With round； blood…shot eyes he gazed at the sky； they were dull and lustreless； as those of an idiot； and his chest heaved unevenly and with difficulty。
Now came their turn to mock him。 Zubov began。 He walked up to him； kicked him in the side and asked in a soft voice； all trembling with the pleasure of revenge：
〃Well； thunder…like prophet； how is it？ Now you can taste the sweetness of Babylonian captivity； he； he； he！〃
〃Wait；〃 said Foma； hoarsely； without looking at him。 〃Wait until I'm rested。 You have not tied up my tongue。〃
But saying this； Foma understood that he could no longer do anything； nor say anything。 And that not because they had bound him； but because something had burned out within him； and his soul had become dark and empty。
Zubov was soon joined by Reznikov。 Then one after another the others began to draw near。 Bobrov； Kononov and several others preceded by Yakov Mayakin went to the cabin； anxiously discussing something in low tones。
The steamer was sailing toward the town at full speed。 The bottles on the tables trembled and rattled from the vibration of the steamer； and Foma heard this jarring； plaintive sound above everything else。 Near him stood a throng of people； saying malicious； offensive things。
But Foma saw them as though through a fog； and their words did not touch him to the quick。 A vast； bitter feeling was now springing up within him； from the depth of his soul； he followed its growth and though he did not yet understand it； he already experienced something melancholy and degrading。
〃Just think； you charlatan！ What have you done to yourself？〃 said Reznikov。 〃What sort of a life is now possible to you？ Do you know that now no one of us would care even as much as to spit on you？〃
〃What have I done？〃 Foma tried to understand。 The merchants stood around him in a dense； dark mass。
〃Well；〃 said Yashchurov； 〃now； Fomka； your work is done。〃
〃Wait； we'll see；〃 bellowed Zubov in a low voice。
〃Let me free！〃 said Foma。
〃Well； no！ we thank you humbly！〃
〃Untie me。〃
〃It's all right！ You can lie that way as well。〃
〃Call up my godfather。〃
But Yakov Tarasovich came up at this moment。 He came up； stopped near Foma； sternly surveyed with his eyes the outstretched figure of his godson； and heaved a deep sigh。
〃Well； Foma；〃 he began。
〃Order them to unbin