the forged coupon()-第9章
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They did not all come to him on Sunday； but three came； and he began
reading to them。
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He read five chapters of St。 Matthew's Gospel； and they talked。 One
man only； Ivan Chouev； accepted the lesson and carried it out completely；
following the rule of Christ in everything from that day。 His family did the
same。 Out of the arable land he took only what was his due； and refused
to take more。
The lame tailor and Ivan had people calling on them； and some of
these people began to grasp the meaning of the Gospels； and in
consequence gave up smoking； drinking； swearing； and using bad
language and tried to help one another。 They also ceased to go to church；
and took their ikons to the village priest； saying they did not want them
any more。 The priest was frightened； and reported what had occurred to
the bishop。 The bishop was at a loss what to do。 At last he resolved to
send the archimandrite Missael to the village； the one who had formerly
been Mitia Smokovnikov's teacher of religion。
XIX
ASKING Father Missael on his arrival to take a seat； the bishop told
him what had happened in his diocese。
〃It all comes from weakness of spirit and from ignorance。 You are a
learned man； and I rely on you。 Go to the village； call the parishioners
together； and convince them of their error。〃
〃If your Grace bids me go； and you give me your blessing； I will do
my best；〃 said Father Missael。 He was very pleased with the task
entrusted to him。 Every opportunity he could find to demonstrate the
firmness of his faith was a boon to him。 In trying to convince others he
was chiefly intent on persuading himself that he was really a firm believer。
〃Do your best。 I am greatly distressed about my flock；〃 said the
bishop； leisurely taking a cup with his white plump hands from the servant
who brought in the tea。
〃Why is there only one kind of jam？ Bring another；〃 he said to the
servant。 〃I am greatly distressed；〃 he went on； turning to Father Missael。
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Missael earnestly desired to prove his zeal； but； being a man of small
means； he asked to be paid for the expenses of his journey； and being
afraid of the rough people who might be ill…dis…posed towards him； he also
asked the bishop to get him an order from the governor of the province； so
that the local police might help him in case of need。 The bishop
complied with his wishes； and Missael got his things ready with the help
of his servant and his cook。 They furnished him with a case full of wine；
and a basket with the victuals he might need in going to such a lonely
place。 Fully provided with all he wanted； he started for the village to
which he was commissioned。 He was pleasantly conscious of the
importance of his mission。 All his doubts as to his own faith passed away；
and he was now fully convinced of its reality。
His thoughts； far from being concerned with the real foundation of his
creed this was accepted as an axiomwere occupied with the arguments
used against the forms of worship。
XX
THE village priest and his wife received Father Missael with great
honours； and the next day after he had arrived the parishioners were
invited to assemble in the church。 Missael in a new silk cassock； with a
large cross on his chest； and his long hair carefully combed； ascended the
pulpit； the priest stood at his side； the deacons and the choir at a little
distance behind him； and the side entrances were guarded by the police。
The dissenters also came in their dirty sheepskin coats。
After the service Missael delivered a sermon； admonishing the
dissenters to return to the bosom of their mother； the Church； threatening
them with the torments of hell； and promising full forgiveness to those
who would repent。
The dissenters kept silent at first。 Then； being asked questions； they
gave answers。 To the question why they dissented； they said that their
chief reason was the fact that the Church worshipped gods made of wood；
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which； far from being ordained； were condemned by the Scriptures。
When asked by Missael whether they actually considered the holy
ikons to be mere planks of wood； Chouev answered；〃Just look at the
back of any ikon you choose and you will see what they are made of。〃
When asked why they turned against the priests； their answer was that
the Scripture says： 〃As you have received it without fee； so you must
give it to the others； whereas the priests require payment for the grace they
bestow by the sacraments。〃 To all attempts which Missael made to oppose
them by arguments founded on Holy Writ； the tailor and Ivan Chouev gave
calm but very firm answers； contradicting his assertions by appeal to the
Scriptures； which they knew uncommonly well。
Missael got angry and threatened them with persecution by the
authorities。 Their answer was： It is said； I have been persecuted and so
will you be。
The discussion came to nothing； and all would have ended well if
Missael had not preached the next day at mass； denouncing the wicked
seducers of the faithful and saying that they deserved the worst
punishment。 Coming out of the church； the crowd of peasants began to
consult whether it would not be well to give the infidels a good lesson for
disturbing the minds of the community。 The same day； just when Missael
was enjoying some salmon and gangfish； dining at the village priest's in
company with the inspector； a violent brawl arose in the village。 The
peasants came in a crowd to Chouev's cottage； and waited for the
dissenters to come out in order to give them a thrashing。
The dissenters assembled in the cottage numbered about twenty men
and women。 Missael's sermon and the attitude of the orthodox peasants；
together with their threats； aroused in the mind of the dissenters angry
feelings； to which they had before been strangers。 It was near evening； the
women had to go and milk the cows； and the peasants were still standing
and waiting at the door。
A boy who stepped out of the door was beaten and driven back into the
house。 The people within began consulting what was to be done； and
could come to no agreement。 The tailor said； 〃We must bear whatever is
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done to us； and not resist。〃 Chouev replied that if they decided on that
course they would； all of them； be beaten to death。 In consequence； he
seized a poker and went out of the house。 〃Come！〃 he shouted； let us
follow the law of Moses！〃 And； falling upon the peasants； he knocked out
one man's eye； and in the meanwhile all those who had been in his house
contrived to get out and make their way home。
Chouev was thrown into prison and charged with sedition and
blasphemy。
XXI
Two years previous to those events a strong and handsome young girl
of an eastern type； Katia Turchaninova； came from the Don military
settlements to St。 Petersburg to study in the university college for women。
In that town she met a student； Turin； the son of a district governor in the
Simbirsk province； and fell in love with him。 But her love was not of the
ordinary type； and she had no desire to become his wife and the mother of
his children。 He was a dear comrade to her； and their chief bond of union
was a feeling of revolt they had in common； as well as the hatred they bore；
not only to the existing forms of government； but to all those who
represented that government。 They had also in common the sense that they
both excelled their enemies in culture； in brains； as well as in morals。
Katia Turchaninova was a gifted girl； possessed of a good memory； by
means of which she easily mastered the lectures she attended。 She was
successful in her examinations； and； apart from that； read all the newest
books。 She was certain that her vocation was not to bear and rear
children； and even looked on such a task with disgust and contempt。 She
thought herself chosen by destiny to destroy the present government；
which was fettering the best abilities of the nation； and to reveal to the
people a higher standard of life； inculcated by the latest writers of other
countries。 She was handsome； a little inclined to stoutness： she had a good
complexion； shining black eyes； abundant black hair。 She inspired the men
she knew with feelings she neither wished nor had time to share； busy as
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she was with propaganda work； which consisted chiefly in mere talking。
She was not displeased； however； to inspire these feelings； and； without
dressing too smartly； did not neglect her appearance。 She liked to be
admired； as it gave her opportunities of showing how little she prized what
was valued so highly by other women。
In her views concerning the method of fighting the government she
went further than the majority of her comrades； and than her friend Turin；
all means； she taught； were justified in such a
