“...The former Ryazan chief of police winced and pulled out a small box of medicine from the inside pocket of his coat. He opened it, pulled out a blood-red pill and, placing it on his tongue, swallowed it. Drugs, of course, are not the best thing a person can afford, but at least they dull the pain. I had to get back to the compartment. There was no need to tire the injured leg unnecessarily. Orestes turned awkwardly and transferred the cane to his other hand to open the door. But at that moment something happened that made him forget about everything. About intentions, landscapes, technological progress and even - O Almighty! - about her pain. A girl stood in the corridor. Orestes felt as if he had suddenly developed Lhermitte's symptom: a sensation of electric shock spreading from top to bottom along the spine. She was beautiful...”