What a sagacious fellow, indeed! But he who has committed many sins is always wise.

Sin is a teacher.

That's why Yashka Mayakin is extraordinarily clever." Listening to the old man's hoarse and confident voice, Foma thought: "He is scenting death, it seems." The waiter, a small man, with a face which was pale and characterless, brought in the samovar and quickly hastened out of the room, with short steps.

The old man was undoing some bundles on the window-sill and said, without looking at Foma: "You are bold, and the look of your eyes is dark.

Before, there used to be more light-eyed people, because then the souls used to be brighter.
Before, everything was simpler--both the people and the sins, and now everything has become complicated.