Thefirstoutlinevisibleinthedarknesswasabluecircle——
thelittleroundwindow；thenlittlebylittleGusevcoulddistinguishhisneighbourinthenexthammock，PavelIvanitch。
Themansleptsittingup，ashecouldnotbreathelyingdown。Hisfacewasgrey，hisnosewaslongandsharp，hiseyeslookedhugefromtheterriblethinnessofhisface，histemplesweresunken，hisbeardwasskimpy，hishairwaslong。Lookingathimyoucouldnotmakeoutofwhatclasshewas，whetherhewereagentleman，amerchant，orapeasant。Judgingfromhisexpressionandhislonghairhemighthavebeenahermitoralaybrotherinamonastery——butifonelistenedtowhathesaiditseemedthathecouldnotbeamonk。Hewaswornoutbyhiscoughandhisillnessandbythestiflingheat，andbreathedwithdifficulty，movinghisparchedlips。NoticingthatGusevwaslookingathimheturnedhisfacetowardshimandsaid:
“Ibegintoguess。Yes。Iunderstanditallperfectlynow。“
“Whatdoyouunderstand，PavelIvanitch？“