01-the forged coupon-第7章
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ing apples in heaps at his side； looking out in
every direction to prevent the village boys from
stealing fruit； and he used to whistle and sing
meanwhile； to amuse himself。 He knew no end
of songs； and had a fine voice。 When peasant
women and young girls came to ask for apples；
and to have a chat with him； Vassily gave them
larger or smaller apples according as he liked
their looks； and received eggs or money in re…
turn。 The rest of the time he had nothing to do；
but to lie on his back and get up for his meals in
the kitchen。 He had only one shirt left； one of
pink cotton； and that was in holes。 But he was
strongly built and enjoyed excellent health。
When the kettle with black gruel was taken from
the stove and served to the working men； Vassily
used to eat enough for three； and filled the old
watchman on the estate with unceasing wonder。
At nights Vassily never slept。 He whistled or
shouted from time to time to keep off thieves； and
his piercing； cat…like eyes saw clearly in the dark…
ness。
One night a company of young lads from the
village made their way stealthily to the orchard
to shake down apples from the trees。 Vassily；
coming noiselessly from behind； attacked them；
they tried to escape； but he took one of them
prisoner to his master。
Vassily's first shed stood at the farthest end of
the orchard； but after the pears had been picked
he had to remove to another shed only forty paces
away from the house of his master。 He liked
this new place very much。 The whole day long
he could see the young ladies and gentlemen en…
joying themselves； going out for drives in the
evenings and quite late at nights； playing the piano
or the violin； and singing and dancing。 He saw
the ladies sitting with the young students on the
window sills； engaged in animated conversation；
and then going in pairs to walk the dark avenue
of lime trees； lit up only by streaks of moon…
light。 He saw the servants running about with
food and drink； he saw the cooks； the stewards；
the laundresses； the gardeners； the coachmen； hard
at work to supply their masters with food and
drink and constant amusement。 Sometimes the
young people from the master's house came to
the shed； and Vassily offered them the choicest
apples； juicy and red。 The young ladies used to
take large bites out of the apples on the spot；
praising their taste； and spoke French to one an…
otherVassily quite understood it was all about
himand asked Vassily to sing for them。
Vassily felt the greatest admiration for his
master's mode of living； which reminded him of
what he had seen in Moscow； and he became more
and more convinced that the only thing that mat…
tered in life was money。 He thought and thought
how to get hold of a large sum of money。 He
remembered his former ways of making small
profits whenever he could； and came to the con…
clusion that that was altogether wrong。 Occa…
sional stealing is of no use； he thought。 He must
arrange a well…prepared plan； and after getting
all the information he wanted； carry out his pur…
pose so as to avoid detection。
After the feast of Nativity of the Blessed Vir…
gin Mary； the last crop of autumn apples was
gathered； the master was content with the results；
paid off Vassily； and gave him an extra sum as
reward for his faithful service。
Vassily put on his new jacket； and a new hat
both were presents from his master's son
but did not make his way homewards。 He hated
the very thought of the vulgar peasants' life。 He
went back to Moscow in company of some drunken
soldiers； who had been watchmen in the orchard
together with him。 On his arrival there he at
once resolved； under cover of night； to break into
the shop where he had been employed； and beaten；
and then turned out by the proprietor without be…
ing paid。 He knew the place well； and knew
where the money was locked up。 So he bade the
soldiers； who helped him； keep watch outside； and
forcing the courtyard door entered the shop and
took all the money he could lay his hands on。
All this was done very cleverly； and no trace was
left of the burglary。 The money Vassily had
found in the shop amounted to 370 roubles。 He
gave a hundred roubles to his assistants； and with
the rest left for another town where he gave way
to dissipation in company of friends of both sexes。
The police traced his movements； and when at
last he was arrested and put into prison he had
hardly anything left out of the money which he
had stolen。
XIV
IVAN MIRONOV had become a very clever； fear…
less and successful horse…thief。 Afimia； his wife；
who at first used to abuse him for his evil ways；
as she called it； was now quite content and felt
proud of her husband； who possessed a new sheep…
skin coat； while she also had a warm jacket and
a new fur cloak。
In the village and throughout the whole dis…
trict every one knew quite well that Ivan Mironov
was at the bottom of all the horse…stealing； but
nobody would give him away； being afraid of the
consequences。 Whenever suspicion fell on him；
he managed to clear his character。 Once during
the night he stole horses from the pasture ground
in the village Kolotovka。 He generally preferred
to steal horses from landowners or tradespeople。
But this was a harder job； and when he had no
chance of success he did not mind robbing peasants
too。 In Kolotovka he drove off the horses with…
out making sure whose they were。 He did not
go himself to the spot； but sent a young and clever
fellow； Gerassim； to do the stealing for him。 The
peasants only got to know of the theft at dawn；
they rushed in all directions to hunt for the rob…
bers。 The horses； meanwhile； were hidden in a
ravine in the forest lands belonging to the state。
Ivan Mironov intended to leave them there till
the following night； and then to transport them
with the utmost haste a hundred miles away to a
man he knew。 He visited Gerassim in the forest；
to see how he was getting on； brought him a pie
and some vodka； and was returning home by a
side track in the forest where he hoped to meet
nobody。 But by ill…luck； he chanced on the keeper
of the forest； a retired soldier。
〃I say！ Have you been looking for mush…
rooms？〃 asked the soldier。
〃There were none to be found；〃 answered
Ivan Mironov； showing the basket of lime bark
he had taken with him in case he might want it。
〃Yes； mushrooms are scarce this summer；〃 said
the soldier。 He stood still for a moment； pon…
dered； and then went his way。 He clearly saw
that something was wrong。 Ivan Mironov had
no business whatever to take early morning walks
in that forest。 The soldier went back after a
while and looked round。 Suddenly he heard the
snorting of horses in the ravine。 He made his
way cautiously to the place whence the sounds
came。 The grass in the ravine was trodden
down； and the marks of horses' hoofs were clearly
to be seen。 A little further he saw Gerassim；
who was sitting and eating his meal； and the horses
tied to a tree。
The soldier ran to the village and brought back
the bailiff； a police officer； and two witnesses。
They surrounded on three sides the spot where
Gerassim was sitting and seized the man。 He did
not deny anything； but； being drunk； told them at
once how Ivan Mironov had given him plenty of
drink； and induced him to steal the horses； he
also said that Ivan Mironov had promised to come
that night in order to take the horses away。 The
peasants left the horses and Gerassim in the ra…
vine； and hiding behind the trees prepared to lie in
ambush for Ivan Mironov。 When it grew dark；
they heard a whistle。 Gerassim answered it with
a similar sound。 The moment Ivan Mironov de…
scended the slope； the peasants surrounded him
and brought him back to the village。 The next
morning a crowd assembled in front of the bailiff's
cottage。 Ivan Mironov was brought out and sub…
jected to a close examination。 Stepan Pelageush…
kine； a tall； stooping man with long arms； an
aquiline nose； and a gloomy face was the first to
put questions to him。 Stepan had terminated his
military service； and was of a solitary turn of
mind。 When he had separated from his
