Vladimir Nabokov. Un hombre ocupado
Vladimir Nabokov. A BUSY MAN
He hoped he could. Zestfully, he decided to take extraordinary measures to protect his life from the claims of fate. He stopped going out. He did not shave. He pretended to be ill; his landlady took care of his meals, and through her Mr. Engel would transmit to him an orange, a magazine, or laxative powder in a dainty little envelope. He smoked less and slept more. He worked out the crosswords in the emigre papers, breathed through his nose, and before going to bed was careful to spread a wet to