the forged coupon()-第3章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the ikon； wiped his beard which was covered with icicles； turned up the
skirts of his coat； took out of his pocket a leather purse； and out of the
purse eight roubles and fifty kopeks； and handed the change to Eugene
Mihailovich。 Carefully folding the coupon； he put it in the purse。 Then；
according to custom； he thanked the gentleman for his kindness； and；
using the whip…handle instead of the lash； he belaboured the half…frozen
horse that he had doomed to an early death； and betook himself to a
public…house。
Arriving there； Ivan Mironov called for vodka and tea for which he
paid eight kopeks。 Comfortable and warm after the tea； he chatted in the
very best of spirits with a yard…porter who was sitting at his table。 Soon he
grew communicative and told his companion all about the conditions of
his life。 He told him he came from the village Vassilievsky； twelve miles
from town； and also that he had his allotment of land given to him by his
family； as he wanted to live apart from his father and his brothers； that he
had a wife and two children； the elder boy went to school； and did not yet
11
… Page 12…
THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
help him in his work。 He also said he lived in lodgings and intended going
to the horse…fair the next day to look for a good horse； and； may be； to buy
one。 He went on to state that he had now nearly twenty…five roubles only
one rouble shortand that half of it was a coupon。 He took the coupon out
of his purse to show to his new friend。 The yard…porter was an illiterate
man； but he said he had had such coupons given him by lodgers to change；
that they were good； but that one might also chance on forged ones； so he
advised the peasant； for the sake of security； to change it at once at the
counter。 Ivan Mironov gave the coupon to the waiter and asked for change。
The waiter； however； did not bring the change； but came back with the
manager； a bald…headed man with a shining face； who was holding the
coupon in his fat hand。
〃Your money is no good；〃 he said； showing the coupon； but apparently
determined not to give it back。
〃The coupon must be all right。 I got it from a gentleman。〃
〃It is bad； I tell you。 The coupon is forged。〃
〃Forged？ Give it back to me。〃
〃I will not。 You fellows have got to be punished for such tricks。 Of
course； you did it yourselfyou and some of your rascally friends。〃
〃Give me the money。 What right have you〃
〃Sidor！ Call a policeman；〃 said the barman to the waiter。 Ivan
Mironov was rather drunk； and in that condition was hard to manage。 He
seized the manager by the collar and began to shout。
〃Give me back my money； I say。 I will go to the gentleman who gave
it to me。 I know where he lives。〃
The manager had to struggle with all his force to get loose from Ivan
Mironov； and his shirt was torn；〃Oh； that's the way you behave！ Get hold
of him。〃
The waiter took hold of Ivan Mironov； at that moment the policeman
arrived。 Looking very important； he inquired what had happened； and
unhesitatingly gave his orders：
〃Take him to the police…station。〃
As to the coupon； the policeman put it in his pocket； Ivan Mironov；
12
… Page 13…
THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
together with his horse； was brought to the nearest station。
VII
IVAN MIRONOV had to spend the night in the police…station； in the
company of drunkards and thieves。 It was noon of the next day when he
was summoned to the police officer； put through a close examination； and
sent in the care of a policeman to Eugene Mihailovich's shop。 Ivan
Mironov remembered the street and the house。
The policeman asked for the shopkeeper； showed him the coupon and
confronted him with Ivan Mironov； who declared that he had received the
coupon in that very place。 Eugene Mihailovich at once assumed a very
severe and astonished air。
〃You are mad； my good fellow；〃 he said。 〃I have never seen this man
before in my life；〃 he added； addressing the policeman。
〃It is a sin； sir；〃 said Ivan Mironov。〃 Think of the hour when you will
die。〃
〃Why； you must be dreaming I You have sold your firewood to some
one else；〃 said Eugene Mihailovich。 〃But wait a minute。 I will go and
ask my wife whether she bought any firewood yesterday。〃 Eugene
Mihailovich left them and immediately called the yard…porter Vassily； a
strong； handsome； quick； cheerful； well…dressed man。
He told Vassily that if any one should inquire where the last supply of
firewood was bought； he was to say they'd got it from the stores； and not
from a peasant in the street。
〃A peasant has come；〃 he said to Vassily； 〃who has declared to the
police that I gave him a forged coupon。 He is a fool and talks nonsense；
but you； are a clever man。 Mind you say that we always get the firewood
from the stores。 And； by the way； I've been thinking some time of giving
you money to buy a new jacket；〃 added Eugene Mihailovich； and gave the
man five roubles。 Vassily looking with pleasure first at the five rouble
note； then at Eugene Mihailovich's face； shook his head and smiled。
13
… Page 14…
THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
〃I know； those peasant folks have no brains。 Ignorance； of course。
Don't you be uneasy。 I know what I have to say。〃
Ivan Mironov； with tears in his eyes； implored Eugene Mihailovich
over and over again to acknowledge the coupon he had given him； and the
yard…porter to believe what he said； but it proved quite useless； they both
insisted that they had never bought firewood from a peasant in the street。
The policeman brought Ivan Mironov back to the police…station； and he
was charged with forging the coupon。 Only after taking the advice of a
drunken office clerk in the same cell with him； and bribing the police
officer with five roubles； did Ivan Mironov get out of jail； without the
coupon； and with only seven roubles left out of the twenty…five he had the
day before。
Of these seven roubles he spent three in the public…house and came
home to his wife dead drunk； with a bruised and swollen face。
His wife was expecting a child； and felt very ill。 She began to scold
her husband； he pushed her away； and she struck him。 Without answering
a word he lay down on the plank and began to weep bitterly。
Not till the next day did he tell his wife what had actually happened。
She believed him at once； and thoroughly cursed the dastardly rich man
who had cheated Ivan。 He was sobered now； and remembering the
advice a workman had given him； with whom he had many a drink the day
before； decided to go to a lawyer and tell him of the wrong the owner of
the photograph shop had done him。
VIII
THE lawyer consented to take proceedings on behalf of Ivan Mironov；
not so much for the sake of the fee； as because he believed the peasant；
and was revolted by the wrong done to him。
Both parties appeared in the court when the case was tried； and the
yard…porter Vassily was summoned as witness。 They repeated in the
court all they had said before to the police officials。 Ivan Mironov again
14
… Page 15…
THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
called to his aid the name of the Divinity； and reminded the shopkeeper of
the hour of death。 Eugene Mihailovich； although quite aware of his
wickedness； and the risks he was running； despite the rebukes of his
conscience； could not now change his testimony； and went on calmly to
deny all the allegations made against him。
The yard…porter Vassily had received another ten roubles from his
master； and； quite unperturbed； asserted with a smile that he did not know
anything about Ivan Mironov。 And when he was called upon to take the
oath； he overcame his inner qualms； and repeated with assumed ease the
terms of the oath； read to him by the old priest appointed to the court。 By
the holy Cross and the Gospel； he swore that he spoke the whole truth。
The case was decided against Ivan Mironov； who was sentenced to pay
five roubles for expenses。 This sum Eugene Mihailovich generously paid
for him。 Before dismissing Ivan Mironov； the judge severely admonished
him； saying he ought to take care in the future not to accuse respectable
people； and that he also ought to be thankful that he was not forced to pay
the costs； and that he had escaped a prosecution for slander； for which he
would have been condemned to three months' imprisonment。
〃I offer my humble thanks；〃 said Ivan Mironov； and； shaking his head；
left the court with a heavy sigh。
The whole thing seemed to have ended well for Eugene Mihailovich
and the yard…porter Vassily。 But only in appearance。 Something had
happened which was not noticed by any one； but which was much more
important than all that had been exposed to view。
Vassily had left his village and settled in town over two years ago。 As
time went on he sent less and less money to his father； and he did not ask
his wife； who remained at home； to join him。 He was in no need of her； he
could in town have as many wives as he wished； and much better ones too
than that clumsy； village…bred woman。 Vassily； with each recurring year；
became more and more familiar with the ways of the town people；
forgetting the conventions of a country life。 There everything was so
vulgar； so grey； so poor and untidy。 Here； in town； all seemed on the
contrary so refined； nice； clean； and rich； so orderly too。 And he became
