resurrection(复活)-第7章

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locked　the　portmanteau；　could　testify　to　the　truth　of　the
statement。

She　gave　this　further　evidencethat　when　she　came　to　the
lodging…house　for　the　second　time　she　did；　at　the　instigation　of
Simeon　Kartinkin；　give　Smelkoff　sonic　kind　of　powder；　which　she
thought　was　a　narcotic；　in　a　glass　of　brandy；　hoping　he　would
fall　asleep　and　that　she　would　be　able　to　get　away　from　him；　and
that　Smelkoff；　having　beaten　her；　himself　gave　her　the　ring　when
she　cried　and　threatened　to　go　away。

The　accused；　Euphemia　Botchkova；　stated　that　she　knew　nothing
about　the　missing　money；　that　she　had　not　even　gone　into
Smelkoff's　room；　but　that　Lubka　had　been　busy　there　all　by
herself；　that　if　anything　had　been　stolen；　it　must　have　been　done
by　Lubka　when　she　came　with　the　merchant's　key　to　get　his　money。

At　this　point　Maslova　gave　a　start；　opened　her　mouth；　and　looked
at　Botchkova。　〃When；〃　continued　the　secretary；〃　the　receipt　for
1；800　roubles　from　the　bank　was　shown　to　Botchkova；　and　she　was
asked　where　she　had　obtained　the　money；　she　said　that　it　was　her
own　earnings　for　12　years；　and　those　of　Simeon；　whom　she　was
going　to　marry。　The　accused　Simeon　Kartinkin；　when　first
examined；　confessed　that　he　and　Botchkova；　at　the　instigation　of
Maslova；　who　had　come　with　the　key　from　the　brothel；　had　stolen
the　money　and　divided　it　equally　among　themselves　and　Maslova。
Here　Maslova　again　started；　half…rose　from　her　seat；　and；
blushing　scarlet；　began　to　say　something；　but　was　stopped　by　the
usher。　〃At　last；〃　the　secretary　continued；　reading；　〃Kartinkin
confessed　also　that　he　had　supplied　the　powders　in　order　to　get
Smelkoff　to　sleep。　When　examined　the　second　time　he　denied　having
had　anything　to　do　with　the　stealing　of　the　money　or　giving
Maslova　the　powders；　accusing　her　of　having　done　it　alone。〃
Concerning　the　money　placed　in　the　bank　by　Botchkova；　he　said　the
same　as　she；　that　is；　that　the　money　was　given　to　them　both　by
the　lodgers　in　tips　during　12　years'　service。

The　indictment　concluded　as　follows：

In　consequence　of　the　foregoing；　the　peasant　of　the　village
Borki；　Simeon　Kartinkin；　33　years　of　age；　the　meschanka　Euphemia
Botchkova；　43　years　of　age；　and　the　meschanka　Katerina　Maslova；
27　years　of　age；　are　accused　of　having　on　the　17th　day　of
January；　188；　jointly　stolen　from　the　said　merchant；　Smelkoff；
a　ring　and　money；　to　the　value　of　2；500　roubles；　and　of　having
given　the　said　merchant；　Smelkoff；　poison　to　drink；　with　intent
of　depriving　him　of　life；　and　thereby　causing　his　death。　This
crime　is　provided　for　in　clause　1；455　of　the　Penal　Code；
paragraphs　4　and　5。


CHAPTER　XI。

THE　TRIALMASLOVA　CROSS…EXAMINED。

When　the　reading　of　the　indictment　was　over；　the　president；　after
having　consulted　the　members；　turned　to　Kartinkin；　with　an
expression　that　plainly　said：　Now　we　shall　find　out　the　whole
truth　down　to　the　minutest　detail。

〃Peasant　Simeon　Kartinkin；〃　he　said；　stooping　to　the　left。

Simeon　Kartinkin　got　up；　stretched　his　arms　down　his　sides；　and
leaning　forward　with　his　whole　body；　continued　moving　his　cheeks
inaudibly。

〃You　are　accused　of　having　on　the　17th　January；　188；　together
with　Euphemia　Botchkova　and　Katerina　Maslova；　stolen　money　from　a
portmanteau　belonging　to　the　merchant　Smelkoff；　and　then；　having
procured　some　arsenic；　persuaded　Katerina　Maslova　to　give　it　to
the　merchant　Smelkoff　in　a　glass　of　brandy；　which　was　the　cause
of　Smelkoff's　death。　Do　you　plead　guilty？〃　said　the　president；
stooping　to　the　right。

〃Not　nohow；　because　our　business　is　to　attend　on　the　lodgers；
and〃

〃You'll　tell　us　that　afterwards。　Do　you　plead　guilty？〃

〃Oh；　no；　sir。　I　only；〃

〃You'll　tell　us　that　afterwards。　Do　you　plead　guilty？〃　quietly
and　firmly　asked　the　president。

〃Can't　do　such　a　thing；　because　that〃

The　usher　again　rushed　up　to　Simeon　Kartinkin；　and　stopped　him
in　a　tragic　whisper。

The　president　moved　the　hand　with　which　he　held　the　paper　and
placed　the　elbow　in　a　different　position　with　an　air　that　said：
〃This　is　finished；〃　and　turned　to　Euphemia　Botchkova。

〃Euphemia　Botchkova；　you　are　accused　of　having；　on　the　17th　of
January；　188…；　in　the　lodging…house　Mauritania；　together　with
Simeon　Kartinkin　and　Katerina　Maslova；　stolen　some　money　and　a
ring　out　of　the　merchant　Smelkoff's　portmanteau；　and　having
shared　the　money　among　yourselves；　given　poison　to　the　merchant
Smelkoff；　thereby　causing　his　death。　Do　you　plead　guilty？〃

〃I　am　not　guilty　of　anything；〃　boldly　and　firmly　replied　the
prisoner。　〃I　never　went　near　the　room；　but　when　this　baggage　went
in　she　did　the　whole　business。〃

〃You　will　say　all　this　afterwards；〃　the　president　again　said；
quietly　and　firmly。　〃So　you　do　not　plead　guilty？〃

〃I　did　not　take　the　money　nor　give　the　drink；　nor　go　into　the
room。　Had　I　gone　in　I　should　have　kicked　her　out。〃

〃So　you　do　not　plead　guilty？〃

〃Never。〃

〃Very　well。〃

〃Katerina　Maslova；〃　the　president　began；　turning　to　the　third
prisoner；　〃you　are　accused　of　having　come　from　the　brothel　with
the　key　of　the　merchant　Smelkoff's　portmanteau；　money；　and　a
ring。〃　He　said　all　this　like　a　lesson　learned　by　heart；　leaning
towards　the　member　on　his　left；　who　was　whispering　into　his　car
that　a　bottle　mentioned　in　the　list　of　the　material　evidence　was
missing。　〃Of　having　stolen　out　of　the　portmanteau　money　and　a
ring；〃　he　repeated；　〃and　shared　it。　Then；　returning　to　the
lodging　house　Mauritania　with　Smelkoff；　of　giving　him　poison　in
his　drink；　and　thereby　causing　his　death。　Do　you　plead　guilty？〃

〃I　am　not　guilty　of　anything；〃　she　began　rapidly。　〃As　I　said
before　I　say　again；　I　did　not　take　itI　did　not　take　it；　I　did
not　take　anything；　and　the　ring　he　gave　me　himself。〃

〃You　do　not　plead　guilty　of　having　stolen　2；500　roubles？〃　asked
the　president。

〃I've　said　I　took　nothing　but　the　40　roubles。〃

〃Well；　and　do　you　plead　guilty　of　having　given　the　merchant
Smelkoff　a　powder　in　his　drink？〃

〃Yes；　that　I　did。　Only　I　believed　what　they　told　me；　that　they
were　sleeping　powders；　and　that　no　harm　could　come　of　them。　I
never　thought；　and　never　wished。　。　。　God　is　my　witness；　I　say；　I
never　meant　this；〃　she　said。

〃So　you　do　not　plead　guilty　of　having　stolen　the　money　and　the
ring　from　the　merchant　Smelkoff；　but　confess　that　you　gave　him
the　powder？〃　said　the　president。

〃Well；　yes；　I　do　confess　this；　but　I　thought　they　were　sleeping
powders。　I　only　gave　them　to　make　him　sleep；　I　never　meant　and
never　thought　of　worse。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　the　president；　evidently　satisfied　with　the
results　gained。　〃Now　tell　us　how　it　all　happened；〃　and　he　leaned
back　in　his　chair　and　put　his　folded　hands　on　the　table。　〃Tell　us
all　about　it。　A　free　and　full　confession　will　be　to　your
advantage。〃

Maslova　continued　to　look　at　the　president　in　silence；　and
blushing。

〃Tell　us　how　it　happened。〃

〃How　it　happened？〃　Maslova　suddenly　began；　speaking　quickly。　〃I
came　to　the　lodging…house；　and　was　shown　into　the　room。　He　was
there；　already　very　drunk。〃　She　pronounced　the　word　HE　with　a
look　of　horror　in　her　wide…open　eyes。　〃I　wished　to　go　away；　but
he　would　not　let　me。〃　She　stopped；　as　if　having　lost　the　thread；
or　remembered　some　thing　else。

〃Well；　and　then？〃

〃Well；　what　then？　I　remained　a　bit；　and　went　home　again。〃

At　this　moment　the　public　prosecutor　raised　himself　a　little；
leaning　on　one　elbow　in　an　awkward　manner。

〃You　would　like　to　put　a　question？〃　said　the　president；　and
having　received　an　answer　in　the　affirmative；　he　made　a　gesture
inviting　the　public　prosecutor　to　speak。

〃I　want　to　ask；　was　the　prisoner　previously　acquainted　with
Simeon　Kartinkin？〃　said　the　public　prosecutor；　without　looking　at
Maslova；　and；　having　put　the　question；　he　compressed　his　lips　and
frowned。

The　president　repeated　the　question。　Maslova　stared　at　the　public
prosecutor；　with　a　frightened　look。

〃With　Simeon？　Yes；〃　she　said。

〃I　should　like　to　know　what　the　prisoner's　acquaintance　with
Kartinkin　consisted　in。　Did　they　meet　often？〃

〃Consisted　in？　。　。　。

〃He　invited　me　for　the　lodgers；　it　was　not　an　acquaintance　at
all；〃　answered　Maslova；　anxiously　moving　her　eyes　from　the
president　to　the　public　prosecutor　and　back　to　the　president。

〃I　should　like　to　know　why　Kartinkin　invited　only　Maslova；　and
none　of　the　other　girls；　for　the　lodgers？〃　said　the　public
prosecutor；　with　half…closed　eyes　and　a　cunning；　Mephistophelian
smile。

〃I　don't　know。　How　should　I　know？〃　said　Maslova；　casting　a
frightened　look　round；　and　fixing　her　eyes　for　a　moment　on
Nekhludoff。　〃He　asked　whom　he　liked。〃

〃Is　it　possible　that　she　has　recognised　me？〃　thought　Nekhludoff；
and　the　blood　rushed　to　his　face。　But　Maslova　turned　away　without
distinguishing　him　from　the　others；　and　again　fixed　her　eyes
anxiously　on　the　public　prosecutor。

〃So　the　prisoner　denies　having　had　any　intimate　relations　with
Kartinkin？　Very　well；　I　have　no　more　questions　to　ask。〃

And　the　public　prosecutor　took　his　elbow　off　the　desk；　and　began
writing　something。　He　was　not　really　noting　anything　down；　but
only　going　over　the　letters　of　his　notes　with　a　pen；　having　seen
the　procureur　and　leading　advocates；　after　putting　a　clever
question；　make　a　note；　with　which；　later　on；　to　annihilate　their
adversaries。

The　president　did　not　continue　at　once；　because　he　was　consulting
the　member　with　the　spectacles；　whether　he　was　agreed　that　the
questions　（which　had　all　been　prepared　be　forehand　and　written
out）　should　be　put。

〃Well！　What　happened　next？〃　he　then　went　on。

〃I　came　home；〃　looking　a　little　more　boldly　only　at　the
president；　〃and　went　to　bed。　Hardly　had　I　fallen　asleep　when　one
of　our　girls；　Bertha；　woke　me。　'Go；　your　merchant　has　come
again！'　He〃she　again　uttered　the　word　HE　with　evident　horror
〃he　kept　treating　our　girls；　and　then　wanted　to　send　for　more
wine；　but　his　money　was　all　gone；　and　he　sent　me　to　his　lodgings
and　told　me　where　the　money　was；　and　how　much　to　take。　So　I
went。〃

The　president　was　whispering　to　the　member　on　his　left；　but；　in
order　to　appear　as　if　he　had　heard；　he　repeated　her　last　words。

〃So　you　went。　Well；　what　next？〃

〃I　went；　and　did　all　he　told　me；　went　into　his　room。　I　did　not　go
alone；　but　called　Simeon　Kartinkin　and　her；〃　she　said；　pointing
to　Botchkova。

〃That's　a　lie；　I　never　went　in；〃　Botchkova　began；　but　was
stopped。

〃In　their　presence　I　took　out　four　notes；〃　continued　Maslova；
frowning；　without　looking　at　Botchkova。

〃Yes；　but　did　the　prisoner　notice；〃　again　asked　the　prosecutor；
〃how　much　money　there　was　when　she　was　getting　out　the　40
roubles？〃

Maslova　shuddered　when　the　prosecutor　addressed　her；　she　did　not
know　why　it　was；　but　she　felt　that　he　wished　her　evil。

〃I　did　not　count　it；　but　only　saw　some　100…rouble　notes。〃

〃Ah！　The　prisoner　saw　100…rouble　notes。　That's　all？〃

〃Well；　so　you　brought　back　the　money；〃　continued　the　president；
looking　at　the　clock。

〃I　did。〃

〃Well；　and　then？〃

〃Then　he　took　me　back　with　him；〃　said　Maslova。

〃Well；　and　how　did　you　give　him　the　powder？；　In　his　drink？〃

〃How　did　I　give　it？　I　put　them　in　and　gave　it　him。〃

Why　did　you　give　it　him？〃

She　did　not　answer；　but　sighed　deeply　and　heavily。

〃He　would　not　let　me　go；〃　she　said；　after　a　m