01-the forged coupon-第6章
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ria Vassilievna； could not forgive herself for hav…
ing 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 school…
boys 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 an…
swered 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 Smokovni…
kov'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 fail…
ure 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 re…
solved 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 Mi…
chael； toying with the cross he was wearing over
his priestly robes； and passing his hands over its
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 to…
wards 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 Smokovni…
kov'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 com…
mitted 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 Vas…
silievna； 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 you of course
could not hit on anything more sensible to do than
to slander an honest and truthful boy！〃
〃I did not slander him； and I must beg you not
to address me in such a way。 You forget what
is due to my cloth。〃
〃Your cloth is of no consequence to me。〃
〃Your perversity in matters of religion is
known to everybody in the town！〃 replied Father
Michael； and he was so transported with anger
that his long thin head quivered。
〃Gentlemen！ Father Michael！〃 exclaimed
the director of the school； trying to appease their
wrath。 But they did not listen to him。
〃It is my duty as a priest to look after the
religious and moral education of our pupils。〃
〃Oh； cease your pretence to be religious！
Oh； stop all this humbug of religion！ As if I
did not know that you believe neither in God nor
Devil。〃
〃I consider it beneath my dignity to talk to a
man like you；〃 said Father Michael； very much
hurt by Smokovnikov's last words； the more so
because he knew they were true。
Michael Vedensky carried on his studies in the
academy for priests； and that is why； for a long
time past； he ceased to believe in what he con…
fessed to be his creed and in what he preached
from the pulpit； he only knew that men ought to
force themselves to believe in what he tried to
make himself believe。
Smokovnikov was not shocked by Father Mi…
chael's conduct； he only thought it illustrative of
the influence the Church was beginning to exercise
on society； and he told all his friends how his son
had been insulted by the priest。
Seeing not only young minds； but also the elder
generation； contaminated by atheistic tendencies；
Father Michael became more and more convinced
of the necessity of fighting those tendencies。 The
more he condemned the unbelief of Smokovnikov；
and those like him； the more confident he grew
in the firmness of his own faith； and the less he
felt the need of making sure of it； or of bringing
his life into harmony with it。 His faith； acknowl…
edged as such by all the world around him； be…
came Father Michael's very best weapon with
which to fight those who denied it。
The thoughts aroused in him by his conflict
with Smokovnikov； together with the annoyance
of being blamed by his chiefs in the school； made
him carry out the purpose he had entertained ever
since his wife's deathof taking monastic orders；
and of following the course carried out by some
of his fellow…pupils in the academy。 One of them
was already a bishop； another an archimandrite
and on the way to become a bishop。
At the end of the term Michael Vedensky gave
up his post in the school； took orders under the
name of Missael； and very soon got a post as
rector in a seminary in a town on the river Volga。
XIII
MEANWHILE the yard…porter Vassily was march…
ing on the open road down to the south。
He walked in daytime； and when night came
some policeman would get him shelter in a peas…
ant's cottage。 He was given bread everywhere；
and sometimes he was asked to sit down to the
evening meal。 In a village in the Orel district；
where he had stayed for the night； he heard that
a merchant who had hired the landowner's or…
chard for the season； was looking out for strong
and able men to serve as watchmen for the fruit…
crops。 Vassily was tired of tramping； and as he
had also no desire whatever to go back to his
native village； he went to the man who owned the
orchard； and got engaged as watchman for five
roubles a month。
Vassily found it very agreeable to live in his
orchard shed； and all the more so when the apples
and pears began to grow ripe； and when the men
from the barn supplied him every day with large
bundles of fresh straw from the threshing ma…
chine。 He used to lie the whole day long on
the fragrant straw； with fresh； delicately smell…
ing apples in heaps at his side； looking out in
every direction t
