the forged coupon()-第20节
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〃Take plenty of milk； and don't smoke。〃
〃These are days of fasting； and besides we have no cow。〃
Once in spring he could not get any sleep； he was longing to have a
drink。 There was nothing in the house he could lay his hand on to take to
the public…house。 He put on his cap and went out。 He walked along the
street up to the house where the priest and the deacon lived together。 The
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deacon's harrow stood outside leaning against the hedge。 Prokofy
approached； took the harrow upon his shoulder； and walked to an inn kept
by a woman； Petrovna。 She might give him a small bottle of vodka for it。
But he had hardly gone a few steps when the deacon came out of his house。
It was already dawn； and he saw that Prokofy was carrying away his
harrow。
〃Hey； what's that？〃 cried the deacon。
The neighbours rushed out from their houses。 Prokofy was seized；
brought to the police station； and then sentenced to eleven months'
imprisonment。 It was autumn； and Prokofy had to be transferred to the
prison hospital。 He was coughing badly； his chest was heaving from the
exertion； and he could not get warm。 Those who were stronger contrived
not to shiver； Prokofy on the contrary shivered day and night； as the
superintendent would not light the fires in the hospital till November； to
save expense。
Prokofy suffered greatly in body； and still more in soul。 He was
disgusted with his surroundings； and hated every onethe deacon； the
superintendent who would not light the fires； the guard； and the man who
was lying in the bed next to his； and who had a swollen red lip。 He began
also to hate the new convict who was brought into hospital。 This convict
was Stepan。 He was suffering from some disease on his head； and was
transferred to the hospital and put in a bed at Prokofy's side。 After a time
that hatred to Stepan changed； and Prokofy became； on the contrary；
extremely fond of him； he delighted in talking to him。 It was only after a
talk with Stepan that his anguish would cease for a while。 Stepan always
told every one he met about his last murder； and how it had impressed
him。
〃Far from shrieking； or anything of that kind；〃 he said to Prokofy； 〃she
did not move。 'Kill me！ There I am；' she said。 'But it is not my soul you
destroy； it is your own。'〃
〃Well； of course； it is very dreadful to kill。 I had one day to slaughter
a sheep； and even that made me half mad。 I have not destroyed any
living soul； why then do those villains kill me？ I have done no harm to
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anybody 。 。 。〃
〃That will be taken into consideration。〃
〃By whom？〃
〃By God； to be sure。〃
〃I have not seen anything yet showing that God exists； and I don't
believe in Him； brother。 I think when a man dies； grass will grow over
the spot； and that is the end of it。〃
〃You are wrong to think like that。 I have murdered so many people；
whereas she； poor soul； was helping everybody。 And you think she and I
are to have the same lot？ Oh no！ Only wait。〃
〃Then you believe the soul lives on after a man is dead？〃
〃To be sure； it truly lives。〃
Prokofy suffered greatly when death drew near。 He could hardly
breathe。 But in the very last hour he felt suddenly relieved from all pain。
He called Stepan to him。 〃Farewell； brother；〃 he said。 〃Death has come；
I see。 I was so afraid of it before。 And now I don't mind。 I only wish it
to come quicker。〃
XVI
IN the meanwhile； the affairs of Eugene Mihailovich had grown worse
and worse。 Business was very slack。 There was a new shop in the town；
he was losing his customers； and the interest had to be paid。 He
borrowed again on interest。 At last his shop and his goods were to be sold
up。 Eugene Mihailovich and his wife applied to every one they knew； but
they could not raise the four hundred roubles they needed to save the shop
anywhere。
They had some hope of the merchant Krasnopuzov； Eugene
Mihailovich's wife being on good terms with his mistress。 But news
came that Krasnopuzov had been robbed of a huge sum of money。 Some
said of half a million roubles。 〃And do you know who is said to be the
thief？〃 said Eugene Mihailovich to his wife。 〃Vassily； our former yard…
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porter。 They say he is squandering the money； and the police are bribed by
him。〃
〃I knew he was a villain。 You remember how he did not mind
perjuring himself？ But I did not expect it would go so far。〃
〃I hear he has recently been in the courtyard of our house。 Cook says
she is sure it was he。 She told me he helps poor girls to get married。〃
〃They always invent tales。 I don't believe it。〃
At that moment a strange man； shabbily dressed； entered the shop。
〃What is it you want？〃
〃Here is a letter for you。〃
〃From whom？〃
〃You will see yourself。〃
〃Don't you require an answer？ Wait a moment。〃
〃I cannot。〃 The strange man handed the letter and disappeared。
〃How extraordinary！〃 said Eugene Mihailovich； and tore open the
envelope。 To his great amazement several hundred rouble notes fell out。
〃Four hundred roubles！〃 he exclaimed； hardly believing his eyes。 〃What
does it mean？〃
The envelope also contained a badly…spelt letter； addressed to Eugene
Mihailovich。 〃It is said in the Gospels；〃 ran the letter； 〃do good for evil。
You have done me much harm； and in the coupon case you made me
wrong the peasants greatly。 But I have pity for you。 Here are four
hundred notes。 Take them； and remember your porter Vassily。〃
〃Very extraordinary！〃 said Eugene Mihailovich to his wife and to
himself。 And each time he remembered that incident； or spoke about it to
his wife； tears would come to his eyes。
XVII
FOURTEEN priests were kept in the Suzdal friary prison； chiefly for
having been untrue to the orthodox faith。 Isidor had been sent to that place
also。 Father Missael received him according to the instructions he had
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been given； and without talking to him ordered him to be put into a
separate cell as a serious criminal。 After a fortnight Father Missael；
making a round of the prison； entered Isidor's cell； and asked him whether
there was anything he wished for。
〃There is a great deal I wish for；〃 answered Isidor； 〃but I cannot tell
you what it is in the presence of anybody else。 Let me talk to you
privately。〃
They looked at each other； and Missael saw he had nothing to be afraid
of in remaining alone with Isidor。 He ordered Isidor to be brought into
his own room； and when they were alone； he said；〃Well； now you can
speak。〃
Isidor fell on his knees。
〃Brother；〃 said Isidor。 〃What are you doing to yourself！ Have mercy
on your own soul。 You are the worst villain in the world。 You have
offended against all that is sacred 。 。 。〃
A month after Missael sent a report； asking that Isidor should be
released as he had repented； and he also asked for the release of the rest of
the prisoners。 After which he resigned his post。
XVIII TEN years passed。 Mitia Smokovnikov had finished his
studies in the Technical College； he was now an engineer in the gold
mines in Siberia； and was very highly paid。 One day he was about to make
a round in the district。 The governor offered him a convict； Stepan
Pelageushkine； to accompany him on his journey。
