The White Guard
From the album “Illustrations by Victor Prokofiev and Co”
In the librarian's apartment, at night, in the Podil district, in front of the mirror, holding a lit candle in his hand, the owner of the goat fur stood naked to the waist. Fear jumped in his eyes like a devil, his hands were trembling, and the syphilitic spoke, and his lips twitched like a child's. His thin body, naked to the waist, was reflected in the dusty mirror, the candle burned down in his high-held hand, and a tender and delicate stellar rash was visible on his chest. Tears streamed uncontrollably down the patient's cheeks, and his body shook and swayed.