crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第54节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
crowd； 〃is it a spectacle for you to gape at？ With cigarettes！ （Cough；
cough； cough！） You might as well keep your hats on。。。。 And there is
one in his hat！。。。 Get away！ You should respect the dead； at least！〃
Her cough choked her… but her reproaches were not without result。
They evidently stood in some awe of Katerina Ivanovna。 The lodgers；
one after another； squeezed back into the doorway with that strange
inner feeling of satisfaction which may be observed in the presence of
a sudden accident； even in those nearest and dearest to the victim；
from which no living man is exempt； even in spite of the sincerest
sympathy and compassion。
Voices outside were heard； however； speaking of the hospital and
saying that they'd no business to make a disturbance here。
〃No business to die！〃 cried Katerina Ivanovna； and she was rushing
to the door to vent her wrath upon them； but in the doorway came
face to face with Madame Lippevechsel who had only just heard of the
accident and ran in to restore order。 She was a particularly
quarrelsome and irresponsible German。
〃Ah； my God！〃 she cried； clasping her hands； 〃your husband drunken
horses have trampled！ To the hospital with him！ I am the landlady！〃
〃Amalia Ludwigovna； I beg you to recollect what you are saying；〃
Katerina Ivanovna began haughtily （she always took a haughty tone with
the landlady that she might 〃remember her place〃 and even now could
not deny herself this satisfaction）。 〃Amalia Ludwigovna。。。〃
〃I have you once before told that you to call me Amalia Ludwigovna
may not dare； I am Amalia Ivanovna。〃
〃You are not Amalia Ivanovna； but Amalia Ludwigovna； and as I am not
one of your despicable flatterers like Mr。 Lebeziatnikov； who's
laughing behind the door at this moment （a laugh and a cry of 'they
are at it again' was in fact audible at the door） so I shall always
call you Amalia Ludwigovna； though I fail to understand why you
dislike that name。 You can see for yourself what has happened to
Semyon Zaharovitch； he is dying。 I beg you to close that door at
once and to admit no one。 Let him at least die in peace！ Or I warn you
the Governor…General； himself； shall be informed of your conduct
to…morrow。 The prince knew me as a girl； he remembers Semyon
Zaharovitch well and has often been a benefactor to him。 Every one
knows that Semyon Zaharovitch had many friends and protectors； whom he
abandoned himself from an honourable pride； knowing his unhappy
weakness； but now （she pointed to Raskolnikov） a generous young man
has come to our assistance； who has wealth and connections and whom
Semyon Zaharovitch has known from a child。 You may rest assured；
Amalia Ludwigovna。。。〃
All this was uttered with extreme rapidity； getting quicker and
quicker； but a cough suddenly cut short Katerina Ivanovna's eloquence。
At that instant the dying man recovered consciousness and uttered a
groan； she ran to him。 The injured man opened his eyes and without
recognition or understanding gazed at Raskolnikov who was bending over
him。 He drew deep； slow； painful breaths； blood oozed at the corners
of his mouth and drops of perspiration came out on his forehead。 Not
recognising Raskolnikov； he began looking round uneasily。 Katerina
Ivanovna looked at him with a sad but stern face； and tears trickled
from her eyes。
〃My God！ His whole chest is crushed！ How he is bleeding；〃 she said
in despair。 〃We must take off his clothes。 Turn a little； Semyon
Zaharovitch； if you can；〃 she cried to him。
Marmeladov recognised her。
〃A priest；〃 he articulated huskily。
Katerina Ivanovna walked to the window； laid her head against the
window frame and exclaimed in despair：
〃Oh； cursed life！〃
〃A priest；〃 the dying man said again after a moment's silence。
〃They've gone for him；〃 Katerina Ivanovna shouted to him； he
obeyed her shout and was silent。 With sad and timid eyes he looked for
her； she returned and stood by his pillow。 He seemed a little easier
but not for long。
Soon his eyes rested on little Lida； his favourite； who was
shaking in the corner； as though she were in a fit； and staring at him
with her wondering childish eyes。
〃A…ah；〃 he signed towards her uneasily。 He wanted to say something。
〃What now？〃 cried Katerina Ivanovna。
〃Barefoot； barefoot！〃 he muttered； indicating with frenzied eyes the
child's bare feet。
〃Be silent；〃 Katerina Ivanovna cried irritably； 〃you know why she is
barefooted。〃
〃Thank God； the doctor；〃 exclaimed Raskolnikov； relieved。
The doctor came in； a precise little old man； a German； looking
about him mistrustfully； he went up to the sick man； took his pulse；
carefully felt his head and with the help of Katerina Ivanovna he
unbuttoned the blood…stained shirt； and bared the injured man's chest。
It was gashed； crushed and fractured； several ribs on the right side
were broken。 On the left side； just over the heart； was a large；
sinister…looking yellowish…black bruise… a cruel kick from the horse's
hoof。 The doctor frowned。 The policeman told him that he was caught in
the wheel and turned round with it for thirty yards on the road。
〃It's wonderful that he has recovered consciousness；〃 the doctor
whispered softly to Raskolnikov。
〃What do you think of him？〃 he asked。
〃He will die immediately。〃
〃Is there really no hope？〃
〃Not the faintest！ He is at the last gasp。。。。 His head is badly
injured； too。。。 Him。。。 I could bleed him if you like； but。。。 it
would be useless。 He is bound to die within the next five or ten
minutes。〃
〃Better bleed him then。〃
〃If you like。。。。 But I warn you it will be perfectly useless。〃
At that moment other steps were heard； the crowd in the passage
parted； and the priest； a little； grey old man； appeared in the
doorway bearing the sacrament。 A policeman had gone for him at the
time of the accident。 The doctor changed places with him； exchanging
glances with him。 Raskolnikov begged the doctor to remain a little
while。 He shrugged his shoulders and remained。
All stepped back。 The confession was soon over。 The dying man
probably understood little； he could only utter indistinct broken
sounds。 Katerina Ivanovna took little Lida； lifted the boy from the
chair； knelt down in the corner by the stove and made the children
kneel in front of her。 The little girl was still trembling； but the
boy； kneeling on his little bare knees； lifted his hand
rhythmically； crossing himself with precision and bowed down； touching
the floor with his forehead； which seemed to afford him especial
satisfaction。 Katerina Ivanovna bit her lips and held back her
tears； she prayed； too； now and then pulling straight the boy's shirt；
and managed to cover the girl's bare shoulders with a kerchief；
which she took from the chest without rising from her knees or ceasing
to pray。 Meanwhile the door from the inner rooms was opened
inquisitively again。 In the passage the crowd of spectators from all
the flats on the staircase grew denser and denser； but they did not
venture beyond the threshold。 A single candle…end lighted up the
scene。
At that moment Polenka forced her way through the crowd at the door。
She came in panting from running s
