Pagina 234 van 1294

The staircase was steep, narrow and all sloppy with dirty water.

The kitchens of the flats opened on to the stairs and stood open

almost the whole day. So there was a fearful smell and heat. The

staircase was crowded with porters going up and down with their

books under their arms, policemen, and persons of all sorts and

both sexes. The door of the office, too, stood wide open.

Peasants stood waiting within. There, too, the heat was stifling

and there was a sickening smell of fresh paint and stale oil from

the newly decorated rooms.

After waiting a little, he decided to move forward into the next

room. All the rooms were small and low-pitched. A fearful

impatience drew him on and on. No one paid attention to him. In

the second room some clerks sat writing, dressed hardly better

than he was, and rather a queer-looking set. He went up to one of

them.

"What is it?"

He showed the notice he had received.

"You are a student?" the man asked, glancing at the notice.

"Yes, formerly a student."