05-there are no guilty people-第1章

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THERE　ARE　NO　GUILTY　PEOPLE




I

MINE　is　a　strange　and　wonderful　lot！　The
chances　are　that　there　is　not　a　single　wretched
beggar　suffering　under　the　luxury　and　oppression
of　the　rich　who　feels　anything　like　as　keenly　as　I
do　either　the　injustice；　the　cruelty；　and　the　horror
of　their　oppression　of　and　contempt　for　the　poor；
or　the　grinding　humiliation　and　misery　which
befall　the　great　majority　of　the　workers；　the　real
producers　of　all　that　makes　life　possible。　　I　have
felt　this　for　a　long　time；　and　as　the　years　have
passed　by　the　feeling　has　grown　and　grown；　until
recently　it　reached　its　climax。　　Although　I　feel　all
this　so　vividly；　I　still　live　on　amid　the　depravity
and　sins　of　rich　society；　and　I　cannot　leave　it；
because　I　have　neither　the　knowledge　nor　the
strength　to　do　so。　　I　cannot。　　I　do　not　know
how　to　change　my　life　so　that　my　physical　needs
food；　sleep；　clothing；　my　going　to　and　fro
may　be　satisfied　without　a　sense　of　shame　and
wrongdoing　in　the　position　which　I　fill。

There　was　a　time　when　I　tried　to　change　my
position；　which　was　not　in　harmony　with　my
conscience；　but　the　conditions　created　by　the　past；
by　my　family　and　its　claims　upon　me；　were　so
complicated　that　they　would　not　let　me　out　of
their　grasp；　or　rather；　I　did　not　know　how　to　free
myself。　　I　had　not　the　strength。　　Now　that　I　am
over　eighty　and　have　become　feeble；　I　have　given
up　trying　to　free　myself；　and；　strange　to　say；　as
my　feebleness　increases　I　realise　more　and　more
strongly　the　wrongfulness　of　my　position；　and　it
grows　more　and　more　intolerable　to　me。

It　has　occurred　to　me　that　I　do　not　occupy　this
position　for　nothing：　　that　Providence　intended
that　I　should　lay　bare　the　truth　of　my　feelings；　so
that　I　might　atone　for　all　that　causes　my　suffering；
and　might　perhaps　open　the　eyes　of　thoseor　at
least　of　some　of　thosewho　are　still　blind　to
what　I　see　so　clearly；　and　thus　might　lighten　the
burden　of　that　vast　majority　who；　under　existing
conditions；　are　subjected　to　bodily　and　spiritual
suffering　by　those　who　deceive　them　and　also
deceive　themselves。　　Indeed；　it　may　be　that　the
position　which　I　occupy　gives　me　special　facilities
for　revealing　the　artificial　and　criminal　relations
which　exist　between　menfor　telling　the　whole
truth　in　regard　to　that　position　without　confusing
the　issue　by　attempting　to　vindicate　myself；　and
without　rousing　the　envy　of　the　rich　and　feelings
of　oppression　in　the　hearts　of　the　poor　and　down…
trodden。　　I　am　so　placed　that　I　not　only　have　no
desire　to　vindicate　myself；　but；　on　the　contrary；　I
find　it　necessary　to　make　an　effort　lest　I　should
exaggerate　the　wickedness　of　the　great　among
whom　I　live；　of　whose　society　I　am　ashamed；
whose　attitude　towards　their　fellow…men　I　detest
with　my　whole　soul；　though　I　find　it　impossible　to
separate　my　lot　from　theirs。　　But　I　must　also
avoid　the　error　of　those　democrats　and　others
who；　in　defending　the　oppressed　and　the　enslaved；
do　not　see　their　failings　and　mistakes；　and　who　do
not　make　sufficient　allowance　for　the　difficulties
created；　the　mistakes　inherited　from　the　past；
which　in　a　degree　lessens　the　responsibility　of　the
upper　classes。

Free　from　desire　for　self…vindication；　free　from
fear　of　an　emancipated　people；　free　from　that
envy　and　hatred　which　the　oppressed　feel　for　their
oppressors；　I　am　in　the　best　possible　position　to
see　the　truth　and　to　tell　it。　　Perhaps　that　is　why
Providence　placed　me　in　such　a　position。　　I　will
do　my　best　to　turn　it　to　account。



II


Alexander　Ivanovich　Volgin；　a　bachelor　and　a
clerk　in　a　Moscow　bank　at　a　salary　of　eight
thousand　roubles　a　year；　a　man　much　respected　in
his　own　set；　was　staying　in　a　country…house。　　His
host　was　a　wealthy　landowner；　owning　some
twenty…five　hundred　acres；　and　had　married　his
guest's　cousin。　　Volgin；　tired　after　an　evening
spent　in　playing　vint*　for　small　stakes　with
＇*　A　game　of　cards　similar　to　auction　bridge。＇
members　of　the　family；　went　to　his　room　and　placed
his　watch；　silver　cigarette…case；　pocket…book；
big　leather　purse；　and　pocket…brush　and　comb　on　a
small　table　covered　with　a　white　cloth；　and　then；
taking　off　his　coat；　waistcoat；　shirt；　trousers；　and
underclothes；　his　silk　socks　and　English　boots；　put
on　his　nightshirt　and　dressing…gown。　　His　watch
pointed　to　midnight。　　Volgin　smoked　a　cigarette；
lay　on　his　face　for　about　five　minutes　reviewing
the　day's　impressions；　then；　blowing　out　his
candle；　he　turned　over　on　his　side　and　fell　asleep
about　one　o'clock；　in　spite　of　a　good　deal　of　rest…
lessness。　　Awaking　next　morning　at　eight　he　put
on　his　slippers　and　dressing…gown；　and　rang　the　bell。

The　old　butler；　Stephen；　the　father　of　a





family　and　the　grandfather　of　six　grandchildren；
who　had　served　in　that　house　for　thirty　years；
entered　the　room　hurriedly；　with　bent　legs；　carry…
ing　in　the　newly　blackened　boots　which　Volgin　had
taken　off　the　night　before；　a　well…brushed　suit；　and
a　clean　shirt。　　The　guest　thanked　him；　and　then
asked　what　the　weather　was　like　（the　blinds　were
drawn　so　that　the　sun　should　not　prevent　any　one
from　sleeping　till　eleven　o'clock　if　he　were　so
inclined）；　and　whether　his　hosts　had　slept　well。　
He　glanced　at　his　watchit　was　still　early
and　began　to　wash　and　dress。　　His　water　was
ready；　and　everything　on　the　washing…stand　and
dressing…table　was　ready　for　use　and　properly　laid
outhis　soap；　his　tooth　and　hair　brushes；　his　nail
scissors　and　files。　　He　washed　his　hands　and　face
in　a　leisurely　fashion；　cleaned　and　manicured　his
nails；　pushed　back　the　skin　with　the　towel；　and
sponged　his　stout　white　body　from　head　to　foot。　
Then　he　began　to　brush　his　hair。　　Standing　in
front　of　the　mirror；　he　first　brushed　his　curly
beard；　which　was　beginning　to　turn　grey；　with　two
English　brushes；　parting　it　down　the　middle。　
Then　he　combed　his　hair；　which　was　already　show…
ing　signs　of　getting　thin；　with　a　large　tortoise…
shell　comb。　　Putting　on　his　underlinen；　his　socks；
his　boots；　his　trouserswhich　were　held　up　by
elegant　bracesand　his　waistcoat；　he　sat　down
coatless　in　an　easy　chair　to　rest　after　dressing；
lit　a　cigarette；　and　began　to　think　where　he　should　go
for　a　walk　that　morningto　the　park　or　to　Lit…
tleports　（what　a　funny　name　for　a　wood！）。　　He
thought　he　would　go　to　Littleports。　　Then　he
must　answer　Simon　Nicholaevich's　letter；　but
there　was　time　enough　for　that。　　Getting　up　with
an　air　of　resolution；　he　took　out　his　watch。　　It
was　already　five　minutes　to　nine。　　He　put　his
watch　into　his　waistcoat　pocket；　and　his　purse
with　all　that　was　left　of　the　hundred　and　eighty
roubles　he　had　taken　for　his　journey；　and　for　the
incidental　expenses　of　his　fortnight's　stay　with
his　cousinand　then　he　placed　into　his　trouser
pocket　his　cigarette…case　and　electric　cigarette…
lighter；　and　two　clean　handkerchiefs　into　his　coat
pockets；　and　went　out　of　the　room；　leaving　as
usual　the　mess　and　confusion　which　he　had　made
to　be　cleared　up　by　Stephen；　an　old　man　of　over
fifty。　　Stephen　expected　Volgin　to　〃remunerate〃
him；　as　he　said；　being　so　accustomed　to　the　work
that　he　did　not　feel　the　slightest　repugnance　for　it。　
Glancing　at　a　mirror；　and　feeling　satisfied　with
his　appearance；　Volgin　went　into　the　dining…room。

There；　thanks　to　the　efforts　of　the　housekeeper；
the　footman；　and　under…butlerthe　latter　had
risen　at　dawn　in　order　to　run　home　to　sharpen　his
son's　scythebreakfast　was　ready。　　On　a　spot…
less　white　cloth　stood　a　boiling；　shiny；　silver
samovar　（at　least　it　looked　like　silver）；　a　coffee…
pot；　hot　milk；　cream；　butter；　and　all　sorts　of　fancy
white　bread　and　biscuits。　　The　only　persons　at
table　were　the　second　son　of　the　house；　his　tutor
（a　student）；　and　the　secretary。　　The　host；　who
was　an　active　member　of　the　Zemstvo　and　a　great
farmer；　had　already　left　the　house；　having　gone
at　eight　o'clock　to　attend　to　his　work。　　Volgin；
while　drinking　his　coffee；　talked　to　the　student
and　the　secretary　about　the　weather；　and　yester…
day's　vint；　and　discussed　Theodorite's　peculiar　be…
haviour　the　night　before；　as　he　had　been　very
rude　to　his　father　without　the　slightest　cause。　
Theodorite　was　the　grown…up　son　of　the　house；
and　a　ne'er…do…well。　　His　name　was　Theodore；
but　some　one　had　once　called　him　Theodorite
either　as　a　joke　or　to　tease　him；　and；　as　it　seemed
funny；　the　name　stuck　to　him；　although　his　doings
were　no　longer　in　the　least　amusing。　　So　it　was
now。　　He　had　been　to　the　university；　but　left　it
in　his　second　year；　and　joined　a　regiment　of　horse
guards；　but　he　gave　that　up　also；　and　was　now
living　in　the　country；　doing　nothing；　finding　fault；
and　feeling　discontented　with　everything。　　Theo…
dorite　was　still　in　bed：　　so　were　the　other　members
of　the　householdAnna　Mikhailovna；　its　mis…
tress；　her　sister；　the　widow　of　a　general；　and　a
landscape　painter　who　lived　with　the　family。

Volgin　took　his　panama　hat　from　the　hall　table
（it　had　cost　twenty　roubles）　and　his　cane　with　its
carved　ivory　handle；　and　went　out。　　Crossing　the
veranda；　gay　with　flowers；　he　walked　through　the
flower　garden；　in　the　centre　of　which　was　a　raised
round　bed；　with　rings　of　red；　white；　and　blue
flowers；　and　the　initials　of　the　mistress　of　the
house　done　in　carpet　bedding　in　the　centre。　
Leaving　the　flower　garden　Volgin　entered　the
avenue　of　lime　trees；　hundreds　of　years　old；　which
peasant　girls　were　tidying　and　sweeping　with
spades　and　brooms。　　The　gardener　was　busy
measuring；　and　a　boy　was　bringing　something　in
a　cart。　　Passing　these　Volgin　went　into　the　park
of　at　least　a　hundred　and　twenty…five　acres；
filled　with　fine　old　trees；　and　intersected　by　a
network　of　well…kept　walks。　　Smoking　as　he
strolled　Volgin　took　his　favourite　path　past　the
summer…house　into　the　fields　beyond。　　It　was
pleasant　in　the　park；　but　it　was　still　nicer　in　the
fields。　　On　the　right　some　women　who　were　dig…
ging　potatoes　formed　a　mass　of　bright　red　and
white　colour；　on　the　left　were　wheat　fields；　mead…
ows；　and　grazing　cattle；　and　in　the　foreground；
slightly　to　the　right；　were　the　dark；　dark　oaks　of
Littleports。　　Volgin　took　a　deep　breath；　and　felt
glad　that　he　was　alive；　especially　here　in　his
cousin's　home；　where　he　was　so　thoroughly　en…
joying　the　rest　from　his　work　at　the　bank。

〃Lucky　people　to　live　in　the　country；〃　he
thought。　　〃True；　what　with　his　farming　and　his
Zemstvo；　the　owner　of　the　estate　has　very　little
peace　even　in　the　country；　but　that　is　his　own
lookout　〃　　Volgin　shook　his　head；　lit　another
cigarette；　and；　stepping　out　firmly　with　his　power…
ful　feet　clad　in　his　thick　English　boots；　began　to
think　of　the　heavy　winter's　work　in　the　bank　that
was　in　front　of　him。　　〃I　shall　be　there　every　day
from　ten　to　two；　sometimes　even　till　five。　　And
the　board　meetings　。　。　。　　And　private　inter…
views　with　clients。　。　。　。　　Then　the　Duma。
Whereas　here。　。　。　。　　It　is　delightful。　　It
may　be　a　little　dull；　but　it　is　not　for　long　〃　　He
smiled。　　After　a　stroll　in　Littleports　he　turned
back；　going　straight　across　a　fallow　field　which
was　being　ploughed。　　A　herd　of　cows；　calves；
sheep；　and　pigs；　which　belonged　to　the　village
community；　was　grazing　there。　　The　shortest
way　to　the　park　was　to　pass　through　the　herd。　
He　frightened　th