resurrection(复活)-第66章
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boy any explanation of what they had seen； so that the children
had themselves to find out the meaning of this curious sight。 The
girl； taking the expression of her father's and mother's faces
into consideration； solved the problem by assuming that these
people were quite another kind of men and women than her father
and mother and their acquaintances； that they were bad people；
and that they had therefore to be treated in the manner they were
being treated。
Therefore the girl felt nothing but fear； and was glad when she
could no longer see those people。
But the boy with the long； thin neck； who looked at the
procession of prisoners without taking his eyes off them； solved
the question differently。
He still knew； firmly and without any doubt； for he had it from
God； that these people were just the same kind of people as he
was； and like all other people； and therefore some one had done
these people some wrong； something that ought not to have been
done； and he was sorry for them； and felt no horror either of
those who were shaved and chained or of those who had shaved and
chained them。 And so the boy's lips pouted more and more； and he
made greater and greater efforts not to cry； thinking it a shame
to cry in such a case。
CHAPTER XXXVI。
THE TENDER MERCIES OF THE LORD。
Nekhludoff kept up with the quick pace of the convicts。 Though
lightly clothed he felt dreadfully hot； and it was hard to
breathe in the stifling； motionless； burning air filled with
dust。
When he had walked about a quarter of a mile he again got into
the trap； but it felt still hotter in the middle of the street。
He tried to recall last night's conversation with his
brother…in…law； but the recollections no longer excited him as
they had done in the morning。 They were dulled by the impressions
made by the starting and procession of the gang； and chiefly by
the intolerable heat。
On the pavement； in the shade of some trees overhanging a fence；
he saw two schoolboys standing over a kneeling man who sold ices。
One of the boys was already sucking a pink spoon and enjoying his
ices； the other was waiting for a glass that was being filled
with something yellowish。
〃Where could I get a drink？〃 Nekhludoff asked his isvostchik；
feeling an insurmountable desire for some refreshment。
〃There is a good eating…house close by；〃 the isvostchik answered；
and turning a corner； drove up to a door with a large signboard。
The plump clerk in a Russian shirt； who stood behind the counter；
and the waiters in their once white clothing who sat at the
tables （there being hardly any customers） looked with curiosity
at the unusual visitor and offered him their services。 Nekhludoff
asked for a bottle of seltzer water and sat down some way from
the window at a small table covered with a dirty cloth。 Two men
sat at another table with tea…things and a white bottle in front
of them； mopping their foreheads； and calculating something in a
friendly manner。 One of them was dark and bald； and had just such
a border of hair at the back as Rogozhinsky。 This sight again
reminded Nekhludoff of yesterday's talk with his brother…in…law
and his wish to see him and Nathalie。
〃I shall hardly be able to do it before the train starts；〃 he
thought； 〃I'd better write。〃 He asked for paper； an envelope； and
a stamp； and as he was sipping the cool； effervescent water he
considered what he should say。 But his thoughts wandered； and he
could not manage to compose a letter。
My dear Nathalie；I cannot go away with the heavy impression
that yesterday's talk with your husband has left；〃 he began。
〃What next？ Shall I ask him to forgive me what I said yesterday？
But I only said what I felt； and he will think that I am taking
it back。 Besides； this interference of his in my private matters。
。 。 No； I cannot；〃 and again he felt hatred rising in his heart
towards that man so foreign to him。 He folded the unfinished
letter and put it in his pocket； paid； went out； and again got
into the trap to catch up the gang。 It had grown still hotter。
The stones and the walls seemed to be breathing out hot air。 The
pavement seemed to scorch the feet； and Nekhludoff felt a burning
sensation in his hand when he touched the lacquered splashguard
of his trap。
The horse was jogging along at a weary trot； beating the uneven；
dusty road monotonously with its hoofs； the isvostchik kept
falling into a doze； Nekhludoff sat without thinking of anything。
At the bottom of a street； in front of a large house； a group of
people had collected； and a convoy soldier stood by。
〃What has happened？〃 Nekhludoff asked of a porter。
〃Something the matter with a convict。〃
Nekhludoff got down and came up to the group。 On the rough
stones； where the pavement slanted down to the gutter； lay a
broadly…built； red…bearded； elderly convict； with his head lower
than his feet； and very red in the face。 He had a grey cloak and
grey trousers on； and lay on his back with the palms of his
freckled hands downwards； and at long intervals his broad； high
chest heaved； and he groaned； while his bloodshot eyes were fixed
on the sky。 By him stood a cross…looking policeman； a pedlar； a
postman； a clerk； an old woman with a parasol； and a short…haired
boy with an empty basket。
〃They are weak。 Having been locked up in prison they've got weak；
and then they lead them through the most broiling heat；〃 said the
clerk； addressing Nekhludoff； who had just come up。
〃He'll die； most likely；〃 said the woman with the parasol； in a
doleful tone。
〃His shirt should be untied；〃 said the postman。
The policeman began； with his thick； trembling fingers； clumsily
to untie the tapes that fastened the shirt round the red； sinewy
neck。 He was evidently excited and confused； but still thought it
necessary to address the crowd。
〃What have you collected here for？ It is hot enough without your
keeping the wind off。〃
〃They should have been examined by a doctor； and the weak ones
left behind；〃 said the clerk； showing off his knowledge of the
law。
The policeman； having undone the tapes of the shirt； rose and
looked round。
〃Move on； I tell you。 It is not your business； is it？ What's
there to stare at？〃 he said； and turned to Nekhludoff for
sympathy； but not finding any in his face he turned to the convoy
soldier。
But the soldier stood aside； examining the trodden…down heel of
his boot； and was quite indifferent to the policeman's
perplexity。
〃Those whose business it is don't care。 Is it right to do men to
death like this？ A convict is a convict； but still he is a man；〃
different voices were heard saying in the crowd。
〃Put his head up higher； and give him some water；〃 said
Nekhludoff。
〃Water has been sent for；〃 said the policeman； and taking the
prisoner under the arms he with difficulty pulled his body a
little higher up。
〃What's this gathering here？〃 said a decided； authoritative
voice； and a police officer； with a wonderfully clean； shiny
blouse； and still more shiny top…boots； came up to the assembled
crowd。
〃Move on。 No standing about here；〃 he shouted to the crowd；
before he knew what had attracted it。
When he came near and saw the dying convict； he made a sign of
approval with his head； just as if he had quite expected it； and；
turning to the policeman； said； 〃How is this？〃
The policeman said that； as a gang of prisoners was passing； one
of the convicts had fallen down； and the convoy officer had
ordered him to be left behind。
〃Well； that's all right。 He must be taken to the police station。
Call an isvostchik。〃
〃A porter has gone for one；〃 said the policeman； with his fingers
raised to his cap。
The shopman began something about the heat。
〃Is it your business； eh？ Move on；〃 said the police officer； and
looked so severely at him that the clerk was silenced。
〃He ought to have a little water；〃 said Nekhludoff。 The police
officer looked severely at Nekhludoff also； but said nothing。
When the porter brought a mug full of water； he told the
policeman to offer some to the convict。 The policeman raised the
drooping head； and tried to pour a little water down the mouth；
but the prisoner could not swallow it； and it ran down his beard；
wetting his jacket and his coarse； dirty linen shirt。
〃Pour it on his head；〃 ordered the officer； and the policeman
took off the pancake…shaped cap and poured the water over the red
curls and bald part of the prisoner's head。 His eyes opened wide
as if in fear； but his position remained unchanged。
Streams of dirt trickled down his dusty face； but the mouth
continued to gasp in the same regular way； and his whole body
shook。
〃And what's this？ Take this one；〃 said the police officer；
pointing to Nekhludoff's isvostchik。 〃You； there； drive up。
〃I am engaged；〃 said the isvostchik； dismally； and without
looking up。
〃It is my isvostchik； but take him。 I will pay you；〃 said
Nekhludoff； turning to the isvostchik。
〃Well； what are you waiting for？〃 shouted the officer。 〃Catch
hold。〃
The policeman； the porter； and the convoy soldier lifted the
dying man and carried him to the trap； and put him on the seat。
But he could not sit up； his head fell back； and the whole of his
body glided off the seat。
〃Make him lie down；〃 ordered the officer。
〃It's all right； your honour； I'll manage him like this；〃 said
the policeman； sitting down by the dying man； and clasping his
strong； right arm round the body under the arms。 The convoy
soldier lifted the stockingless feet； in prison shoes； and put
them into the trap。
The police officer looked around； and noticing the pancake…shaped
hat of the convict lifted it up and put it on the wet； drooping
head。
〃Go on；〃 he ordered。
The isvostchik looked angrily round； shook his head； and；
accompanied by the convoy soldier； drove back to the police
station。 The policeman； sitting beside the convict； kept dragging
up the body that was continually sliding down from the seat；
while the head swung from side to side。
The convoy soldier； who was walking by the side of the trap； kept
putting the legs in their place。 Nekhludoff followed the trap。
CHAPTER XXXVII。
SPILLED LIKE WATER ON THE GROUND。
The trap passed the fireman who stood sentinel at the entrance；
＇the headquarters of the fire brigade and the police stations are
generally together in Moscow＇ drove into the yard of the police
station； and stopped at one of the doors。 In the yard several
firemen with their sleeves tucked up were washing some kind of
cart and talking loudly。 When the trap stopped； several policemen
surrounded it； and taking the lifeless body of the convict under
the arms； took him out of the trap； which creaked under him。 The
policeman who had brought the body got down； shook his numbed
arm； took off his cap； and crossed himself。 The body was carried
through the door and up the stairs。 Nekhludoff followed。 In the
small； dirty room where the body was taken there stood four beds。
On two of them sat a couple of sick men in dressing…gowns； one
with a crooked mouth； whose neck was bandaged； the other one in
consumption。 Two of the beds were empty； the convict was laid on
one of them。 A little man； wish glistening eyes and contin
