the forged coupon()-第35节
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it fast。
〃For shame！ To strike your father！〃
〃I don't care； I'll kill him！ Let them send me to Siberia； I don't care！〃
The women were screaming。 Drunken officials rushed into the
cottage and separated father and son。 The father had an arm broken and
the son's beard was torn out。 In the doorway a drunken girl was making
violent love to an old besotted peasant。
〃They are beasts！〃 said the young Tsar。 Another touch of his guide's
hand and the young Tsar awoke in a new place。 It was the office of the
justice of the peace。 A fat； bald…headed man； with a double chin and a
chain round his neck； had just risen from his seat； and was reading the
sentence in a loud voice； while a crowd of peasants stood behind the
grating。 There was a woman in rags in the crowd who did not rise。 The
guard gave her a push。
〃Asleep！ I tell you to stand up！〃 The woman rose。
〃According to the decree of his Imperial Majesty〃 the judge began
reading the sentence。 The case concerned that very woman。 She had
taken away half a bundle of oats as she was passing the thrashing…floor of
a landowner。 The justice of the peace sentenced her to two months'
imprisonment。 The landowner whose oats had been stolen was among the
audience。 When the judge adjourned the court the landowner approached；
and shook hands； and the judge entered into conversation with him。 The
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next case was about a stolen samovar。 Then there was a trial about some
timber which had been cut； to the detriment of the landowner。 Some
peasants were being tried for having assaulted the constable of the district。
When the young Tsar again lost consciousness； he awoke to find
himself in the middle of a village； where he saw hungry； half…frozen
children and the wife of the man who had assaulted the constable broken
down from overwork。
Then came a new scene。 In Siberia； a tramp is being flogged with the
lash； the direct result of an order issued by the Minister of justice。 Again
oblivion； and another scene。 The family of a Jewish watchmaker is evicted
for being too poor。 The children are crying； and the Jew； Isaaks； is greatly
distressed。 At last they come to an arrangement； and he is allowed to stay
on in the lodgings。
The chief of police takes a bribe。 The governor of the province also
secretly accepts a bribe。 Taxes are being collected。 In the village； while a
cow is sold for payment； the police inspector is bribed by a factory owner；
who thus escapes taxes altogether。 And again a village court scene； and a
sentence carried into executionthe lash！
〃Ilia Vasilievich； could you not spare me that？〃
〃No。〃
The peasant burst into tears。 〃Well； of course； Christ suffered； and
He bids us suffer too。〃
Then other scenes。 The Stundistsa sectbeing broken up and
dispersed； the clergy refusing first to marry； then to bury a Protestant。
Orders given concerning the passage of the Imperial railway train。
Soldiers kept sitting in the mudcold； hungry； and cursing。 Decrees issued
relating to the educational institutions of the Empress Mary Department。
Corruption rampant in the foundling homes。 An undeserved monument。
Thieving among the clergy。 The reinforcement of the political police。 A
woman being searched。 A prison for convicts who are sentenced to be
deported。 A man being hanged for murdering a shop assistant。
Then the result of military discipline： soldiers wearing uniform and
scoffing at it。 A gipsy encampment。 The son of a millionaire exempted
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from military duty； while the only support of a large family is forced to
serve。 The university： a teacher relieved of military service； while the
most gifted musicians are compelled to perform it。 Soldiers and their
debaucheryand the spreading of disease。
Then a soldier who has made an attempt to desert。 He is being tried。
Another is on trial for striking an officer who has insulted his mother。 He
is put to death。 Others； again； are tried for having refused to shoot。 The
runaway soldier sent to a disciplinary battalion and flogged to death。
Another； who is guiltless； flogged； and his wounds sprinkled with salt till
he dies。 One of the superior officers stealing money belonging to the
soldiers。 Nothing but drunkenness； debauchery； gambling； and arrogance
on the part of the authorities。
What is the general condition of the people： the children are half…
starving and degenerate； the houses are full of vermin； an everlasting dull
round of labour； of submission； and of sadness。 On the other hand：
ministers； governors of provinces； covetous； ambitious； full of vanity； and
anxious to inspire fear。
〃But where are men with human feelings？〃
〃I will show you where they are。〃
Here is the cell of a woman in solitary confinement at Schlusselburg。
She is going mad。 Here is another womana girlindisposed； violated
by soldiers。 A man in exile； alone； embittered； half…dead。 A prison for
convicts condemned to hard labour； and women flogged。 They are many。
Tens of thousands of the best people。 Some shut up in prisons； others
ruined by false education； by the vain desire to bring them up as we wish。
But not succeeding in this； whatever might have been is ruined as well； for
it is made impossible。 It is as if we were trying to make buckwheat out
of corn sprouts by splitting the ears。 One may spoil the corn； but one could
never change it to buckwheat。 Thus all the youth of the world； the entire
younger generation； is being ruined。
But woe to those who destroy one of these little ones； woe to you if
you destroy even one of them。 On your soul； however； are hosts of them；
who have been ruined in your name； all of those over whom your power
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extends。
〃But what can I do？〃 exclaimed the Tsar in despair。 〃I do not wish to
torture； to flog； to corrupt； to kill any one！ I only want the welfare of all。
Just as I yearn for happiness myself； so I want the world to be happy as
well。 Am I actually responsible for everything that is done in my name？
What can I do？ What am I to do to rid myself of such a responsibility？
What can I do？ I do not admit that the responsibility for all this is mine。 If
I felt myself responsible for one…hundredth part of it； I would shoot myself
on the spot。 It would not be possible to live if that were true。 But how
can I put an end； to all this evil？ It is bound up with the very existence of
the State。 I am the head of the State！ What am I to do？ Kill myself？ Or
abdicate？ But that would mean renouncing my duty。 O God； O God； God；
help me！〃 He burst into tears and awoke。
〃How glad I am that it was only a dream；〃 was his first thought。 But
when he began to recollect what he had seen in his dream； and to compare
it with actuality； he realised that the problem propounded to him in dream
remained just as important and as insoluble now that he was awake。 For
the first time the young Tsar became aware of the heavy responsibility
weighing on him； and was aghast。 His thoughts no longer turned to the
young Queen and to the happiness he had anticipated for that evening； but
became centred on the unanswerable question which hung over him：
〃What was to be done？〃
In a state of great agitation he arose and went into the next room。 An
old courtier； a co…worker and friend of his father's； was standing there in
the middle of the room in conversation with the young Queen； who was on
her way to join her husband。 The young Tsar approached them； and
addressing his conversation principally to the old courtier； told him what
he had seen in his dream and what doubts the dream had left in his mind。
〃That is a noble i
