01-the forged coupon-第4章
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half of Ivan Mironov； not so much for the sake
of the fee； as because he believed the peasant； and
was revolted by the wrong done to him。
Both parties appeared in the court when the
case was tried； and the yard…porter Vassily was
summoned as witness。 They repeated in the
court all they had said before to the police officials。
Ivan Mironov again called to his aid the name of
the Divinity； and reminded the shopkeeper of the
hour of death。 Eugene Mihailovich； although
quite aware of his wickedness； and the risks he
was running； despite the rebukes of his conscience；
could not now change his testimony； and went on
calmly to deny all the allegations made against
him。
The yard…porter Vassily had received another
ten roubles from his master； and； quite unper…
turbed； asserted with a smile that he did not know
anything about Ivan Mironov。 And when he
was called upon to take the oath； he overcame his
inner qualms； and repeated with assumed ease
the terms of the oath； read to him by the old
priest appointed to the court。 By the holy Cross
and the Gospel； he swore that he spoke the whole
truth。
The case was decided against Ivan Mironov；
who was sentenced to pay five roubles for expenses。
This sum Eugene Mihailovich generously paid
for him。 Before dismissing Ivan Mironov； the
judge severely admonished him； saying he ought
to take care in the future not to accuse respectable
people； and that he also ought to be thankful that
he was not forced to pay the costs； and that he had
escaped a prosecution for slander； for which he
would have been condemned to three months' im…
prisonment。
〃I offer my humble thanks；〃 said Ivan Mi…
ronov； and； shaking his head； left the court with
a heavy sigh。
The whole thing seemed to have ended well for
Eugene Mihailovich and the yard…porter Vassily。
But only in appearance。 Something had hap…
pened which was not noticed by any one； but which
was much more important than all that had been
exposed to view。
Vassily had left his village and settled in town
over two years ago。 As time went on he sent
less and less money to his father； and he did not
ask his wife； who remained at home； to join him。
He was in no need of her； he could in town have
as many wives as he wished； and much better ones
too than that clumsy； village…bred woman。 Vas…
sily； with each recurring year； became more and
more familiar with the ways of the town people；
forgetting the conventions of a country life。
There everything was so vulgar； so grey； so poor
and untidy。 Here； in town； all seemed on the
contrary so refined； nice； clean； and rich； so or…
derly too。 And he became more and more con…
vinced that people in the country live just like
wild beasts； having no idea of what life is； and
that only life in town is real。 He read books
written by clever writers； and went to the perform…
ances in the Peoples' Palace。 In the country；
people would not see such wonders even in dreams。
In the country old men say： 〃Obey the law； and
live with your wife； work； don't eat too much；
don't care for finery；〃 while here； in town； all the
clever and learned peoplethose； of course；
who know what in reality the law isonly pur…
sue their own pleasures。 And they are the bet…
ter for it。
Previous to the incident of the forged coupon；
Vassily could not actually believe that rich people
lived without any moral law。 But after that；
still more after having perjured himself； and not
being the worse for it in spite of his fearson
the contrary； he had gained ten roubles out of it
Vassily became firmly convinced that no moral
laws whatever exist； and that the only thing to do
is to pursue one's own interests and pleasures。
This he now made his rule in life。 He accord…
ingly got as much profit as he could out of pur…
chasing goods for lodgers。 But this did not pay
all his expenses。 Then he took to stealing； when…
ever chance offeredmoney and all sorts of val…
uables。 One day he stole a purse full of money
from Eugene Mihailovich； but was found out。
Eugene Mihailovich did not hand him over to the
police； but dismissed him on the spot。
Vassily had no wish whatever to return home
to his village； and remained in Moscow with his
sweetheart； looking out for a new job。 He got
one as yard…porter at a grocer's； but with only
small wages。 The next day after he had entered
that service he was caught stealing bags。 The
grocer did not call in the police； but gave him a
good thrashing and turned him out。 After that
he could not find work。 The money he had left
was soon gone； he had to sell all his clothes and
went about nearly in rags。 His sweetheart left
him。 But notwithstanding； he kept up his high
spirits； and when the spring came he started to
walk home。
IX
PETER NIKOLAEVICH SVENTIZKY； a short man in
black spectacles （he had weak eyes； and was
threatened with complete blindness）； got up； as
was his custom； at dawn of day； had a cup of tea；
and putting on his short fur coat trimmed with
astrachan； went to look after the work on his es…
tate。
Peter Nikolaevich had been an official in the
Customs； and had gained eighteen thousand rou…
bles during his service。 About twelve years ago
he quitted the servicenot quite of his own ac…
cord： as a matter of fact he had been compelled
to leaveand bought an estate from a young
land…owner who had dissipated his fortune。 Peter
Nikolaevich had married at an earlier period；
while still an official in the Customs。 His wife；
who belonged to an old noble family； was an
orphan； and was left without money。 She was
a tall； stoutish； good…looking woman。 They had
no children。 Peter Nikolaevich had considerable
practical talents and a strong will。 He was the
son of a Polish gentleman； and knew nothing
about agriculture and land management； but
when he acquired an estate of his own； he man…
aged it so well that after fifteen years the waste
piece of land； consisting of three hundred acres；
became a model estate。 All the buildings； from
the dwelling…house to the corn stores and the shed
for the fire engine were solidly built； had iron
roofs； and were painted at the right time。 In the
tool house carts； ploughs； harrows； stood in per…
fect order； the harness was well cleaned and oiled。
The horses were not very big； but all home…bred；
grey； well fed； strong and devoid of blemish。
The threshing machine worked in a roofed
barn； the forage was kept in a separate shed； and
a paved drain was made from the stables。 The
cows were home…bred； not very large； but giving
plenty of milk； fowls were also kept in the poultry
yard； and the hens were of a special kind； laying
a great quantity of eggs。 In the orchard the fruit
trees were well whitewashed and propped on poles
to enable them to grow straight。 Everything was
looked aftersolid； clean； and in perfect order。
Peter Nikolaevich rejoiced in the perfect condi…
tion of his estate； and was proud to have achieved
itnot by oppressing the peasants； but； on the
contrary； by the extreme fairness of his dealings
with them。
Among the nobles of his province he belonged
to the advanced party； and was more inclined to
liberal than conservative views； always taking the
side of the peasants against those who were still
in favour of serfdom。 〃Treat them well； and
they will be fair to you；〃 he used to say。 Of
course； he did not overlook any carelessness on
the part of those who worked on his estate； and
he urged them on to work if they were lazy； but
then he gave them good lodging； with plenty of
good food； paid their wages without any delay；
and gave them drinks on days of festival。
Walking cautiously on the melting snowfor
the time of the year was FebruaryPeter Nikol…
aevich passed the stables； and made his way to
the cottage where his workmen were lodged。
It was still dark； the darker because of the dense
fog； but the windows of the cottage were lighted。
The men had already got up。 His intention was
to urge them to begin work。 He had arranged
that they should drive out to the forest and bring
back the last supply of firewood he needed before
spring。
〃What is that？〃 he thought； seeing th
