the forged coupon()-第27章
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measures should be taken in regard to the persecution of religious
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dissenters； and also one providing for the continuance of martial law in
those provinces where it had already been established。 With the Minister
of War he arranged for the nomination of a new Corps Commander for the
raising of recruits； and for punishment of breach of discipline。 These
things kept him occupied till dinner…time； and even then his freedom was
not complete。 A number of high officials had been invited to dinner； and
he was obliged to talk to them： not in the way he felt disposed to do； but
according to what he was expected to say。 At last the tiresome dinner was
over； and the guests departed。
The young Tsar heaved a sigh of relief； stretched himself and retired to
his apartments to take off his uniform with the decorations on it； and to
don the jacket he used to wear before his accession to the throne。 His
young wife had also retired to take off her dinner…dress； remarking that she
would join him presently。
When he had passed the row of footmen who were standing erect
before him； and reached his room； when he had thrown off his heavy
uniform and put on his jacket； the young Tsar felt glad to be free from
work； and his heart was filled with a tender emotion which sprang from
the consciousness of his freedom； of his joyous； robust young life； and of
his love。 He threw himself on the sofa； stretched out his legs upon it；
leaned his head on his hand； fixed his gaze on the dull glass shade of the
lamp； and then a sensation which he had not experienced since his
childhood； the pleasure of going to sleep； and a drowsiness that was
irresistible suddenly came over him。
〃My wife will be here presently and will find me asleep。 No； I must
not go to sleep；〃 he thought。 He let his elbow drop down； laid his cheek
in the palm of his hand； made himself comfortable； and was so utterly
happy that he only felt a desire not to be aroused from this delightful state。
And then what happens to all of us every day happened to him he fell
asleep without knowing himself when or how。 He passed from one state
into another without his will having any share in it； without even desiring
it； and without regretting the state out of which he had passed。 He fell into
a heavy sleep which was like death。 How long he had slept he did not
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know； but he was suddenly aroused by the soft touch of a hand upon his
shoulder。
〃It is my darling； it is she；〃 he thought。 〃What a shame to have dozed
off！〃
But it was not she。 Before his eyes； which were wide open and
blinking at the light； she； that charming and beautiful creature whom he
was expecting； did not stand； but HE stood。 Who HE was the young Tsar
did not know； but somehow it did not strike him that he was a stranger
whom he had never seen before。 It seemed as if he had known him for a
long time and was fond of him； and as if he trusted him as he would trust
himself。 He had expected his beloved wife； but in her stead that man
whom he had never seen before had come。 Yet to the young Tsar； who
was far from feeling regret or astonishment； it seemed not only a most
natural； but also a necessary thing to happen。
〃Come！〃 said the stranger。
〃Yes； let us go；〃 said the young Tsar； not knowing where he was to go；
but quite aware that he could not help submitting to the command of the
stranger。 〃But how shall we go？〃 he asked。
〃In this way。〃
The stranger laid his hand on the Tsar's head； and the Tsar for a
moment lost consciousness。 He could not tell whether he had been
unconscious a long or a short time； but when he recovered his senses he
found himself in a strange place。 The first thing he was aware of was a
strong and stifling smell of sewage。 The place in which he stood was a
broad passage lit by the red glow of two dim lamps。 Running along one
side of the passage was a thick wall with windows protected by iron
gratings。 On the other side were doors secured with locks。 In the passage
stood a soldier； leaning up against the wall； asleep。 Through the doors
the young Tsar heard the muffled sound of living human beings： not of
one alone； but of many。 HE was standing at the side of the young Tsar；
and pressing his shoulder slightly with his soft hand； pushed him to the
first door； unmindful of the sentry。 The young Tsar felt he could not do
otherwise than yield； and approached the door。 To his amazement the
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sentry looked straight at him； evidently without seeing him； as he neither
straightened himself up nor saluted； but yawned loudly and； lifting his
hand； scratched the back of his neck。 The door had a small hole； and in
obedience to the pressure of the hand that pushed him； the young Tsar
approached a step nearer and put his eye to the small opening。 Close to the
door； the foul smell that stifled him was stronger； and the young Tsar
hesitated to go nearer； but the hand pushed him on。 He leaned forward；
put his eye close to the opening； and suddenly ceased to perceive the
odour。 The sight he saw deadened his sense of smell。 In a large room；
about ten yards long and six yards wide； there walked unceasingly from
one end to the other； six men in long grey coats； some in felt boots； some
barefoot。 There were over twenty men in all in the room； but in that first
moment the young Tsar only saw those who were walking with quick；
even； silent steps。 It was a horrid sight to watch the continual； quick；
aimless movements of the men who passed and overtook each other；
turning sharply when they reached the wall； never looking at one another；
and evidently concentrated each on his own thoughts。 The young Tsar had
observed a similar sight one day when he was watching a tiger in a
menagerie pacing rapidly with noiseless tread from one end of his cage to
the other； waving its tail； silently turning when it reached the bars； and
looking at nobody。 Of these men one； apparently a young peasant； with
curly hair； would have been handsome were it not for the unnatural pallor
of his face； and the concentrated； wicked； scarcely human； look in his eyes。
Another was a Jew； hairy and gloomy。 The third was a lean old man； bald；
with a beard that had been shaven and had since grown like bristles。 The
fourth was extraordinarily heavily built； with well…developed muscles； a
low receding forehead and a flat nose。 The fifth was hardly more than a
boy； long； thin； obviously consumptive。 The sixth was small and dark；
with nervous； convulsive movements。 He walked as if he were skipping；
and muttered continuously to himself。 They were all walking rapidly
backwards and forwards past the hole through which the young Tsar was
looking。 He watched their faces and their gait with keen interest。 Having
examined them closely； he presently became aware of a number of other
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men at the back of the room； standing round； or lying on the shelf that
served as a bed。 Standing close to the door he also saw the pail which
caused such an unbearable stench。 On the shelf about ten men； entirely
covered with their cloaks； were sleeping。 A red…haired man with a huge
beard was sitting sideways on the shelf； with his shirt off。 He was
examining it； lifting it up to the light； and evidently catching the vermin on
it。 Another man； aged and white as snow； stood with his profile turned
towards the door。 He was praying； crossing himself； and bowing low；
apparently so absorbed in his devotions as to be oblivious of all around
him。
〃I seethis is a prison；〃 thought the young Tsar。 〃They certainly
deserve pity。 It is a dreadful life。 But it cannot be helped。 It is their
own fault。〃
But this thought had hardly come into his head before HE； who was
his guide； replied to it。
〃They are all here under lock and key by your order。 They have all
been sentenced in your name。 But far from meriting their present
condition which is due to your human judgment； the greater part of them
are far better than you or those who were their judges and who keep them
here。 This one〃 he pointed to the handsome； curly…headed fellow〃is a
murderer。 I do not consider him more guilty than those who kill in war or
in duelling； and are rewarded for their deeds。 He had neither education nor
moral guidance； and his life had been cast among thieves and drunkards。
This lessens his guilt； but he has done wrong； nevertheless； in being a
murderer。 He killed a merchant； to rob him。 The other man； the Jew； is a
thief； one of a gang of thieves。 That uncommonly strong fellow is a
horse…stealer； and guilty also； but compared with others not as culpable。
Look！〃and suddenly the young Tsar found himself in an open field on a
vast frontier。 On the right were potato fields； the plants had been rooted
out； and were lying in heaps； blackened by the frost； in alternate streaks
were rows of winter corn。 In t
