the forged coupon()-第5章
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And you robbed him of it？ It is a great sin； I tell you。 If you go in for
stealing horses； steal them from the landowners。 They are worse than dogs；
and deserve anything。〃
The talk went on； and the peasants from Podolsk told him that it
required a great deal of cunning to steal a horse on an estate。
〃You must know all the ins and outs of the place； and must have
somebody on the spot to help you。〃
Then it occurred to Ivan Mironov that he knew a landowner
Sventizky； he had worked on his estate； and Sventizky； when paying him
off； had deducted one rouble and a half for a broken tool。 He
remembered well the grey horses which he used to drive at Sventizky's。
Ivan Mironov called on Peter Nikolaevich pretending to ask for
employment； but really in order to get the information he wanted。 He took
precautions to make sure that the watchman was absent； and that the
horses were standing in their boxes in the stable。 He brought the thieves to
the place； and helped them to carry off the three horses。
They divided their gains； and Ivan Mironov returned to his wife with
five roubles in his pocket。 He had nothing to do at home； having no
horse to work in the field； and therefore continued to steal horses in
company with professional horse…thieves and gipsies。
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XI
PETER NIKOLAEVICH SVENTIZKY did his best to discover who
had stolen his horses。 He knew somebody on the estate must have helped
the thieves； and began to suspect all his staff。 He inquired who had slept
out that night； and the gang of the working men told him Proshka had not
been in the whole night。 Proshka； or Prokofy Nikolaevich； was a young
fellow who had just finished his military service； handsome； and skilful in
all he did； Peter Nikolaevich employed him at times as coachman。 The
district constable was a friend of Peter Nikolaevich； as were the provincial
head of the police； the marshal of the nobility； and also the rural councillor
and the examining magistrate。 They all came to his house on his saint's
day； drinking the cherry brandy he offered them with pleasure； and eating
the nice preserved mushrooms of all kinds to accompany the liqueurs。
They all sympathised with him in his trouble and tried to help him。
〃You always used to take the side of the peasants；〃 said the district
constable； 〃and there you are！ I was right in saying they are worse than
wild beasts。 Flogging is the only way to keep them in order。 Well； you
say it is all Proshka's doings。 Is it not he who was your coachman
sometimes？〃
〃Yes； that is he。〃
〃Will you kindly call him？〃
Proshka was summoned before the constable； who began to examine
him。
〃Where were you that night？〃
Proshka pushed back his hair； and his eyes sparkled。
〃At home。〃
〃How so？ All the men say you were not in。〃
〃Just as you please； your honour。〃
〃My pleasure has nothing to do with the matter。 Tell me where you
were that night。〃
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〃At home。〃
〃Very well。 Policeman； bring him to the police…station。〃
The reason why Proshka did not say where he had been that night was
that he had spent it with his sweetheart； Parasha； and had promised not to
give her away。 He kept his word。 No proofs were discovered against him；
and he was soon discharged。 But Peter Nikolaevich was convinced that
Prokofy had been at the bottom of the whole affair； and began to hate him。
One day Proshka bought as usual at the merchant's two measures of oats。
One and a half he gave to the horses； and half a measure he gave back to
the merchant； the money for it he spent in drink。 Peter Nikolaevich found
it out； and charged Prokofy with cheating。 The judge sentenced the man to
three months' imprisonment。
Prokofy had a rather proud nature； and thought himself superior to
others。 Prison was a great humiliation for him。 He came out of it very
depressed； there was nothing more to be proud of in life。 And more than
that； he felt extremely bitter； not only against Peter Nikolaevich； but
against the whole world。
On the whole； as all the people around him noticed； Prokofy became
another man after his imprisonment； both careless and lazy； he took to
drink； and he was soon caught stealing clothes at some woman's house；
and found himself again in prison。
All that Peter Nikolaevich discovered about his grey horses was the
hide of one of them； Beauty； which had been found somewhere on the
estate。 The fact that the thieves had got off scot…free irritated Peter
Nikolaevich still more。 He was unable now to speak of the peasants or to
look at them without anger。 And whenever he could he tried to oppress
them。
XII
AFTER having got rid of the coupon； Eugene Mihailovich forgot all
about it； but his wife； Maria Vassilievna； could not forgive herself for
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having been taken in； nor yet her husband for his cruel words。 And most
of all she was furious against the two boys who had so skilfully cheated
her。 From the day she had accepted the forged coupon as payment； she
looked closely at all the schoolboys who came in her way in the streets。
One day she met Mahin； but did not recognise him； for on seeing her he
made a face which quite changed his features。 But when； a fortnight
after the incident with the coupon； she met Mitia Smokovnikov face to
face； she knew him at once。
She let him pass her； then turned back and followed him； and arriving
at his house she made inquiries as to whose son he was。 The next day she
went to the school and met the divinity instructor； the priest Michael
Vedensky； in the hall。 He asked her what she wanted。 She answered that
she wished to see the head of the school。 〃He is not quite well；〃 said the
priest。 〃Can I be of any use to you； or give him your message？〃
Maria Vassilievna thought that she might as well tell the priest what
was the matter。 Michael Vedensky was a widower； and a very ambitious
man。 A year ago he had met Mitia Smokovnikov's father in society； and
had had a discussion with him on religion。 Smokovnikov had beaten him
decisively on all points； indeed； he had made him appear quite ridiculous。
Since that time the priest had decided to pay special attention to
Smokovnikov's son； and； finding him as indifferent to religious matters as
his father was； he began to persecute him； and even brought about his
failure in examinations。
When Maria Vassilievna told him what young Smokovnikov had done
to her； Vedensky could not help feeling an inner satisfaction。 He saw in the
boy's conduct a proof of the utter wickedness of those who are not guided
by the rules of the Church。 He decided to take advantage of this great
opportunity of warning unbelievers of the perils that threatened them。 At
all events； he wanted to persuade himself that this was the only motive that
guided him in the course he had resolved to take。 But at the bottom of his
heart he was only anxious to get his revenge on the proud atheist。
〃Yes； it is very sad indeed；〃 said Father Michael； toying with the cross
he was wearing over his priestly robes； and passing his hands over its
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polished sides。 〃I am very glad you have given me your confidence。 As
a servant of the Church I shall admonish the young manof course with
the utmost kindness。 I shall certainly do it in the way that befits my holy
office；〃 said Father Michael to himself； really thinking that he had
forgotten the ill…feeling the boy's father had towards him。 He firmly
believed the boy's soul to be the only object of his pious care。
The next day； during the divinity lesson which Father Michael was
giving to Mitia Smokovnikov's class； he narrated the incident of the forged
coupon； adding that the culprit had been one of the pupils of the school。
〃It was a very wicked thing to do；〃 he said； 〃but to deny the crime is still
worse。 If it is true that the sin has been committed by one of you； let the
guilty one confess。〃 In saying this； Father Michael looked sharply at Mitia
Smokovnikov。 All the boys； following his glance； turned also to Mitia；
who blushed； and felt extremely ill at ease； with large beads of
perspiration on his face。 Finally； he burst into tears； and ran out of the
classroom。 His mother； noticing his trouble； found out the truth； ran at
once to the photographer's shop； paid over the twelve roubles and fifty
kopeks to Maria Vassilievna； and made her promise to deny the boy's guilt。
She further implored Mitia to hide the truth from everybody； and in any
case to withhold it from his father。
Accordingly； when Fedor Mihailovich had heard of the incident in the
divinity class； and his son； questioned by him； had denied all accusations；
he called at once on the head of the school； told him what had happened；
expressed his indignation at Father Michael's conduct； and said he would
not let matters remain as they were。
Father Michael was sent for； and immediately fell into a hot dispute
with Smokovnikov。
〃A stupid woman first falsely accused my son； then retracts her
accusation； and
