the forged coupon()-第13节
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nobody…would ever discover it； and he would not therefore be prevented
from murdering other people in the same way。 Sitting in the public…house
and having his tea； he looked at the people around him with the same
thought how he should murder them。 In the evening he called at a carter's；
a man from his village； to spend the night at his house。 The carter was
not in。 He said he would wait for him； and in the meanwhile began talking
to the carter's wife。 But when she moved to the stove； with her back
turned to him； the idea entered his mind to kill her。 He marvelled at
himself at first； and shook his head； but the next moment he seized the
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knife he had hidden in his boot； knocked the woman down on the floor；
and cut her throat。 When the children began to scream； he killed them also
and went away。 He did not look out for another place to spend the night；
but at once left the town。 In a village some distance away he went to the
inn and slept there。 The next day he returned to the district town； and
there he overheard in the street Maria Semenovna's talk with the
schoolmaster。 Her look frightened him； but yet he made up his mind to
creep into her house； and rob her of the money she had received。 When the
night came he broke the lock and entered the house。 The first person who
heard his steps was the younger daughter； the married one。 She screamed。
Stepan stabbed her immediately with his knife。 Her husband woke up
and fell upon Stepan； seized him by his throat； and struggled with him
desperately。 But Stepan was the stronger man and overpowered him。 After
murdering him； Stepan； excited by the long fight； stepped into the next
room behind a partition。 That was Maria Semenovna's bedroom。 She
rose in her bed； looked at Stepan with her mild frightened eyes； and
crossed herself。
Once more her look scared Stepan。 He dropped his eyes。
〃Where is your money？〃 he asked； without raising his face。
She did not answer。
〃Where is the money？〃 asked Stepan again； showing her his knife。
〃How can you 。 。 。〃 she said。
〃You will see how。〃
Stepan came close to her； in order to seize her hands and prevent her
struggling with him； but she did not even try to lift her arms or offer any
resistance； she pressed her hands to her chest； and sighed heavily。
〃Oh； what a great sin！〃 she cried。 〃How can you！ Have mercy on
yourself。 To destroy somebody's soul 。 。 。 and worse； your own！ 。 。 。〃
Stepan could not stand her voice any longer； and drew his knife
sharply across her throat。 〃Stop that talk！〃 he said。 She fell back with a
hoarse cry； and the pillow was stained with blood。 He turned away； and
went round the rooms in order to collect all he thought worth taking。
Having made a bundle of the most valuable things； he lighted a cigarette；
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sat down for a while； brushed his clothes； and left the house。 He thought
this murder would not matter to him more than those he had committed
before； but before he got a night's lodging； he felt suddenly so exhausted
that he could not walk any farther。 He stepped down into the gutter and
remained lying there the rest of the night； and the next day and the next
night。
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PART SECOND
I
THE whole time he was lying in the gutter Stepan saw continually
before his eyes the thin； kindly； and frightened face of Maria Semenovna；
and seemed to hear her voice。 〃How can you？〃 she went on saying in his
imagination； with her peculiar lisping voice。 Stepan saw over again and
over again before him all he had done to her。 In horror he shut his eyes；
and shook his hairy head； to drive away these thoughts and recollections。
For a moment he would get rid of them； but in their place horrid black
faces with red eyes appeared and frightened him continuously。 They
grinned at him； and kept repeating； 〃Now you have done away with her
you must do away with yourself； or we will not leave you alone。〃 He
opened his eyes； and again he saw HER and heard her voice； and felt an
immense pity for her and a deep horror and disgust with himself。 Once
more he shut his eyes； and the black faces reappeared。 Towards the
evening of the next day he rose and went； with hardly any strength left； to
a public…house。 There he ordered a drink； and repeated his demands over
and over again； but no quantity of liquor could make him intoxicated。 He
was sitting at a table； and swallowed silently one glass after another。
A police officer came in。 〃Who are you？〃 he asked Stepan。
〃I am the man who murdered all the Dobrotvorov people last night；〃
he answered。
He was arrested； bound with ropes； and brought to the nearest police…
station； the next day he was transferred to the prison in the town。 The
inspector of the prison recognised him as an old inmate； and a very
turbulent one； and； hearing that he had now become a real criminal；
accosted him very harshly。
〃You had better be quiet here；〃 he said in a hoarse voice； frowning；
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and protruding his lower jaw。 〃The moment you don't behave； I'll flog
you to death！ Don't try to escape I will see to that！〃
〃I have no desire to escape；〃 said Stepan； dropping his eyes。 〃I
surrendered of my own free will。〃
〃Shut up！ You must look straight into your superior's eyes when you
talk to him；〃 cried the inspector； and struck Stepan with his fist under the
jaw。
At that moment Stepan again saw the murdered woman before him；
and heard her voice； he did not pay attention； therefore； to the inspector's
words。
〃What？〃 he asked； coming to his senses when he felt the blow on his
face。
〃Be off！ Don't pretend you don't hear。〃
The inspector expected Stepan to be violent； to talk to the other
prisoners； to make attempts to escape from prison。 But nothing of the kind
ever happened。 Whenever the guard or the inspector himself looked into
his cell through the hole in the door； they saw Stepan sitting on a bag filled
with straw； holding his head with his hands and whispering to himself。 On
being brought before the examining magistrate charged with the inquiry
into his case； he did not behave like an ordinary convict。 He was very
absent…minded； hardly listening to the questions； but when he heard what
was asked； he answered truthfully； causing the utmost perplexity to the
magistrate； who； accustomed as he was to the necessity of being very
clever and very cunning with convicts； felt a strange sensation just as if he
were lifting up his foot to ascend a step and found none。 Stepan told him
the story of all his murders； and did it frowning； with a set look； in a quiet；
businesslike voice； trying to recollect all the circumstances of his crimes。
〃He stepped out of the house；〃 said Stepan； telling the tale of his first
murder； 〃and stood barefooted at the door； I hit him； and he just groaned； I
went to his wife； 。 。 。〃 And so on。
One day the magistrate； visiting the prison cells； asked Stepan whether
there was anything he had to complain of； or whether he had any wishes
that might be granted him。 Stepan said he had no wishes whatever； and
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had nothing to complain of the way he was treated in prison
