Six weeks ago he had remembered the address; he had two articles that could be pawned: his father's old silver watch and a little gold ring with three red stones, a present from his sister at parting.

He decided to take the ring.

When he found the old woman he had felt an insurmountable repulsion for her at the first glance, though he knew nothing special about her.

He got two roubles from her and went into a miserable little tavern on his way home.

He asked for tea, sat down and sank into deep thought.