the forged coupon()-第15章
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On Tuesday the village constable called on Natalia Ivanovna。 He was a
friend； and she offered him vodka and preserved mushrooms of her own
making。 The constable； after eating a little； told her that the execution
was not to take place the next day。
〃Why？〃
〃A very strange thing has happened。 There is no hangman to be
found。 They had one in Moscow； my son told me； but he has been reading
the Gospels a good deal and says： 'I will not commit a murder。' He had
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himself been sentenced to hard labour for having committed a murder； and
now he objects to hang when the law orders him。 He was threatened with
flogging。 'You may flog me；' he said； 'but I won't do it。'〃
Natalia Ivanovna grew red and hot at the thought which suddenly
came into her head。
〃Could not the death sentence be commuted now？〃
〃How so； since the judges have passed it？ The Czar alone has the
right of amnesty。〃
〃But how would he know？〃
〃They have the right of appealing to him。〃
〃But it is on my account they are to die；〃 said that stupid woman；
Natalia Ivanovna。 〃And I forgive them。〃
The constable laughed。 〃Wellsend a petition to the Czar。〃
〃May I do it？〃
〃Of course you may。〃
〃But is it not too late？〃
〃Send it by telegram。〃
〃To the Czar himself？〃
〃To the Czar； if you like。〃
The story of the hangman having refused to do his duty； and preferring
to take the flogging instead； suddenly changed the soul of Natalia
Ivanovna。 The pity and the horror she felt the moment she heard that the
peasants were sentenced to death； could not be stifled now； but filled her
whole soul。
〃Filip Vassilievich； my friend。 Write that telegram for me。 I want to
appeal to the Czar to pardon them。〃
The constable shook his head。 〃I wonder whether that would not
involve us in trouble？〃
〃I do it upon my own responsibility。 I will not mention your name。〃
〃Is not she a kind woman；〃 thought the constable。 〃Very kind…hearted；
to be sure。 If my wife had such a heart； our life would be a paradise；
instead of what it is now。〃 And he wrote the telegram；〃To his Imperial
Majesty； the Emperor。 〃Your Majesty's loyal subject； the widow of Peter
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Nikolaevich Sventizky； murdered by the peasants； throws herself at the
sacred feet （this sentence； when he wrote it down； pleased the constable
himself most of all） of your Imperial Majesty； and implores you to grant
an amnesty to the peasants so and so； from such a province； district； and
village； who have been sentenced to death。〃
The telegram was sent by the constable himself； and Natalia Ivanovna
felt relieved and happy。 She had a feeling that since she； the widow of
the murdered man； had forgiven the murderers； and was applying for an
amnesty； the Czar could not possibly refuse it。
XI
LISA EROPKIN lived in a state of continual excitement。 The longer
she lived a true Christian life as it had been revealed to her； the more
convinced she became that it was the right way； and her heart was full of
joy。
She had two immediate aims before her。 The one was to convert
Mahin； or； as she put it to herself； to arouse his true nature； which was
good and kind。 She loved him； and the light of her love revealed the divine
element in his soul which is at the bottom of all souls。 But； further； she
saw in him an exceptionally kind and tender heart； as well as a noble mind。
Her other aim was to abandon her riches。 She had first thought of giving
away what she possessed in order to test Mahin； but afterwards she wanted
to do so for her own sake； for the sake of her own soul。 She began by
simply giving money to any one who wanted it。 But her father stopped
that； besides which； she felt disgusted at the crowd of supplicants who
personally； and by letters； besieged her with demands for money。 Then she
resolved to apply to an old man； known to be a saint by his life； and to
give him her money to dispose of in the way he thought best。 Her father
got angry with her when he heard about it。 During a violent altercation
he called her mad； a raving lunatic； and said he would take measures to
prevent her from doing injury to herself。
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Her father's irritation proved contagious。 Losing all control over
herself； and sobbing with rage； she behaved with the greatest impertinence
to her father； calling him a tyrant and a miser。
Then she asked his forgiveness。 He said he did not mind what she
said； but she saw plainly that he was offended； and in his heart did not
forgive her。 She did not feel inclined to tell Mahin about her quarrel with
her father； as to her sister； she was very cold to Lisa； being jealous of
Mahin's love for her。
〃I ought to confess to God；〃 she said to herself。 As all this happened
in Lent； she made up her mind to fast in preparation for the communion；
and to reveal all her thoughts to the father confessor； asking his advice as
to what she ought to decide for the future。
At a small distance from her town a monastery was situated； where an
old monk lived who had gained a great reputation by his holy life； by his
sermons and prophecies； as well as by the marvellous cures ascribed to
him。
The monk had received a letter from Lisa's father announcing the visit
of his daughter； and telling him in what a state of excitement the young
girl was。 He also expressed the hope in that letter that the monk would
influence her in the right way； urging her not to depart from the golden
mean； and to live like a good Christian without trying to upset the present
conditions of her life。
The monk received Lisa after he had seen many other people； and
being very tired； began by quietly recommending her to be modest and to
submit to her present conditions of life and to her parents。 Lisa listened
silently； blushing and flushed with excitement。 When he had finished
admonishing her； she began saying with tears in her eyes； timidly at first；
that Christ bade us leave father and mother to follow Him。 Getting more
and more excited； she told him her conception of Christ。 The monk
smiled slightly； and replied as he generally did when admonishing his
penitents； but after a while he remained silent； repeating with heavy sighs；
〃O God！〃 Then he said； 〃Well； come to confession to…morrow；〃 and
blessed her with his wrinkled hands。
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The next day Lisa came to confession； and without renewing their
interrupted conversation； he absolved her and refused to dispose of her
fortune； giving no reasons for doing so。
Lisa's purity； her devotion to God and her ardent soul； impressed the
monk deeply。 He had desired long ago to renounce the world entirely；
but the brotherhood； which drew a large income from his work as a
preacher； insisted on his continuing his activity。 He gave way； although
he had a vague feeling that he was in a false position。 It was rumoured that
he was a miracle…working saint； whereas in reality he was a weak man；
proud of his success in the world。 When the soul of Lisa was revealed to
him； he saw clearly into his own soul。 He discovered how different he
was to what he wanted to be； and realised the desire of his heart。
Soon after Lisa's visit he went to live in a separate cell as a hermit； and
for three weeks did not officiate again in the church of the friary。 After the
celebration of the mass； he preached a sermon denouncing his own sins
and those of the world； and urging all to repent。
From that day he preached every fortnight； and his sermons attracted
increasing audiences。 His fame as a preacher spread abroad。 His sermons
were extraordinarily fearless and sincere； and deeply impressed all who
listened to him。
XII
VASSILY was actually carrying out the object he bad in leaving the
prison。 With the help of a few friends he broke into the house of the rich
merchant Krasnopuzov； whom he knew to be a miser and a debauchee。
Vassily took out of his writing…desk thirty thousand roubles； and began
disposing of them as he thought right。 He even gave up drink； so as not
to spend that money on himself； but to distribute it to the poor； helping
poor girls to get married； paying off people's debts； and doing this all
without ever revealing himself to those he helped； his only desire was to
distribute his money in the right way。 As he also gave bribes to the police；
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he was left in peace for a long time。
His heart was singing for joy。 When at last he was arrested and put to
trial； he confessed with pride that he had robbed the fat merchant。 〃The
money；〃 he said； 〃was lying idle in that fool's desk； and he did not even
know how much he had； whereas I have put it into circulation and helped
a lot of good people。〃
The counsel for the defence spoke with such good humour and
kindness that the jury felt inclined to discharge Vassily； but sentenced him
nevertheless t
