FOMA'S dual relation toward Mayakin grew stronger and stronger as time went on; listening to his words attentively and with eager curiosity, he felt that each meeting with his godfather was strengthening in him the feeling of hostility toward the old man.

Sometimes Yakov Tarasovich roused in his godson a feeling akin to fear, sometimes even physical aversion.

The latter usually came to Foma whenever the old man was pleased with something and laughed.

From laughter the old man's wrinkles would tremble, thus changing the expression of his face every now and then; his dry, thin lips would stretch out and move nervously, displaying black broken teeth, and his red little beard was as though aflame.

His laughter sounded like the squeaking of rusty hinges, and altogether the old man looked like a lizard at play.