Poyarkov

“At first it seemed to me that I was looking at either a seasoned swindler or, at the very least, a crafty man—most likely someone who enjoys a drink. They say: a thief easily sheds tears, while a rogue prays diligently. But the more carefully I listened to his words and studied Poyarkov’s face, the more my amazement grew… There was no sign of familiarity with a bottle: no bluish nose, no red patches on the cheeks, no clouded gaze, no puffiness. On the contrary, intelligence and kindness could be read in his eyes, while his features revealed firmness and strength of character…”