the forged coupon()-第14节
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THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
had nothing to complain of the way he was treated in prison。 The
magistrate； on leaving him； took a few steps in the foul passage； then
stopped and asked the governor who had accompanied him in his visit
how this prisoner was behaving。
〃I simply wonder at him；〃 said the governor； who was very pleased
with Stepan； and spoke kindly of him。 〃He has now been with us about
two months； and could be held up as a model of good behaviour。 But I am
afraid he is plotting some mischief。 He is a daring man； and
exceptionally strong。〃
II
DURING the first month in prison Stepan suffered from the same
agonising vision。 He saw the grey wall of his cell； he heard the sounds of
the prison； the noise of the cell below him； where a number of convicts
were confined together； the striking of the prison clock； the steps of the
sentry in the passage； but at the same time he saw HER with that kindly
face which conquered his heart the very first time he met her in the street；
with that thin； strongly…marked neck； and he heard her soft； lisping；
pathetic voice： 〃To destroy somebody's soul 。 。 。 and； worst of all； your
own。 。 。 。 How can you？ 。 。 。〃
After a while her voice would die away； and then black faces would
appear。 They would appear whether he had his eyes open or shut。 With
his closed eyes he saw them more distinctly。 When he opened his eyes
they vanished for a moment； melting away into the walls and the door； but
after a while they reappeared and surrounded him from three sides；
grinning at him and saying over and over： 〃Make an end！ Make an end！
Hang yourself！ Set yourself on fire！〃 Stepan shook all over when he
heard that； and tried to say all the prayers he knew： 〃Our Lady〃 or 〃Our
Father。〃 At first this seemed to help。 In saying his prayers he began to
recollect his whole life； his father； his mother； the village； the dog 〃Wolf；〃
the old grandfather lying on the stove； the bench on which the children
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THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
used to play； then the girls in the village with their songs； his horses and
how they had been stolen； and how the thief was caught and how he killed
him with a stone。 He recollected also the first prison he was in and his
leaving it； and the fat innkeeper； the carter's wife and the children。 Then
again SHE came to his mind and again he was terrified。 Throwing his
prison overcoat off his shoulders； he jumped out of bed； and； like a wild
animal in a cage； began pacing up and down his tiny cell； hastily turning
round when he had reached the damp walls。 Once more he tried to pray；
but it was of no use now。
The autumn came with its long nights。 One evening when the wind
whistled and howled in the pipes； Stepan； after he had paced up and down
his cell for a long time； sat down on his bed。 He felt he could not
struggle any more； the black demons had overpowered him； and he had to
submit。 For some time he had been looking at the funnel of the oven。 If he
could fix on the knob of its lid a loop made of thin shreds of narrow linen
straps it would hold。 。 。 。 But he would have to manage it very cleverly。 He
set to work； and spent two days in making straps out of the linen bag on
which he slept。 When the guard came into the cell he covered the bed
with his overcoat。 He tied the straps with big knots and made them double；
in order that they might be strong enough to hold his weight。 During these
preparations he was free from tormenting visions。 When the straps were
ready he made a slip…knot out of them； and put it round his neck； stood up
in his bed； and hanged himself。 But at the very moment that his tongue
began to protrude the straps got loose； and he fell down。 The guard
rushed in at the noise。 The doctor was called in； Stepan was brought to the
infirmary。 The next day he recovered； and was removed from the infirmary；
no more to solitary confinement； but to share the common cell with other
prisoners。
In the common cell he lived in the company of twenty men； but felt as
if he were quite alone。 He did not notice the presence of the rest； did not
speak to anybody； and was tormented by the old agony。 He felt it most of
all when the men were sleeping and he alone could not get one moment of
sleep。 Continually he saw HER before his eyes； heard her voice； and
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THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
then again the black devils with their horrible eyes came and tortured him
in the usual way。
He again tried to say his prayers； but； just as before； it did not help him。
One day when； after his prayers； she was again before his eyes； he began
to implore her dear soul to forgive him his sin； and release him。 Towards
morning； when he fell down quite exhausted on his crushed linen bag； he
fell asleep at once； and in his dream she came to him with her thin；
wrinkled； and severed neck。 〃Will you forgive me？〃 he asked。 She
looked at him with her mild eyes and did not answer。 〃Will you forgive
me？〃 And so he asked her three times。 But she did not say a word； and
he awoke。 From that time onwards he suffered less； and seemed to come
to his senses； looked around him； and began for the first time to talk to the
other men in the cell。
III
STEPAN'S cell was shared among others by the former yard…porter；
Vassily； who had been sentenced to deportation for robbery； and by
Chouev； sentenced also to deportation。 Vassily sang songs the whole day
long with his fine voice； or told his adventures to the other men in the cell。
Chouev was working at something all day； mending his clothes； or reading
the Gospel and the Psalter。
Stepan asked him why he was put into prison； and Chouev answered
that he was being persecuted because of his true Christian faith by the
priests； who were all of them hypocrites and hated those who followed the
law of Christ。 Stepan asked what that true law was； and Chouev made
clear to him that the true law consists in not worshipping gods made with
hands； but worshipping the spirit and the truth。 He told him how he had
learnt the truth from the lame tailor at the time when they were dividing
the land。
〃And what will become of those who have done evil？〃 asked Stepan。
〃 The Scriptures give an answer to that；〃 said Chouev； and read aloud
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to him Matthew xxv。 31：〃When the Son of Man shall come in His
glory； and all the holy angels with Him； then shall He sit upon the throne
of His glory： and before Him shall be gathered all nations： and He
shall separate them one from another； as a shepherd divideth His sheep
from the goats： and He shall set the sheep on His right hand； but the goats
on the left。 Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand； Come；
ye blessed of My Father； inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world： for I was an hungred； and ye gave Me meat： I
was thirsty； and ye gave Me drink： I was a stranger； and ye took Me in：
naked； and ye clothed Me： I was sick； and ye visited Me： I was in prison；
and ye came unto Me。 Then shall the righteous answer Him； saying； Lord；
when saw we Thee an hungred； and fed Thee？ or thirsty； and gave Thee
drink？ When saw we Thee a stranger； and took Thee in？ or naked； and
clothed Thee？ Or when saw we Thee sick； or in prison； and came unto
Thee？ And the King shall answer and say unto them； Verily I say unto
you； inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My
brethren； ye have done it unto Me。 Then shall He say also unto them on
the left hand； Depart from Me； y
