creatures that once were men-第19章
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dead man and sighed; as he remembered that they had lived
together for the last three years。 Tyapa entered holding his
head like a goat which is ready to butt。
He sat down quietly and seriously on the opposite side of the
teacher's body; looked into the dark; silent face; and began
to sob。
〃So 。 。 。 he is dead 。 。 。 I too shall die soon。 。 。 。〃
〃It is quite time for that!〃 said the Captain; gloomily。
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〃It is;〃 Tyapa agreed。 〃You ought to die too。 Anything is
better than this。 。 。 。〃
〃But perhaps death might be worse? How do you know?〃
〃It could not be worse。 When you die you have only God to
deal with 。 。 。 but here you have to deal with men 。 。 。 and
menwhat are they?〃
〃Enough! 。 。 。 Be quiet!〃 interrupted Kuvalda angrily。
And in the dawn; which filled the dosshouse; a solemn stillness
reigned over all。 Long and silently they sat at the feet of
their dead companion; seldom looking at him; and both plunged
in thought。 Then Tyapa asked:
〃Will you bury him?〃
〃I? No; let the police bury him!〃
〃You took money from Vaviloff for this petition 。 。 。 and I
will give you some if you have not enough。〃 。
〃Though I have his money 。 。 。 still I shall not bury him。〃
〃That is not right。 You are robbing the dead。 I will tell
them all that you want to keep his money。〃 。 。 。 Tyapa
threatened him。
〃You are a fool; you old devil!〃 said Kuvalda; contemptuously。
〃I am not a fool 。 。 。 but it is not right nor friendly。〃
〃Enough! Be off!〃
〃How much money is there?〃
〃Twenty…five roubles;〃 。 。 。 said Kuvalda; absently。
〃So! 。 。 。 You might gain a five…rouble note。 。 。 。〃
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〃You old scoundrel! 。 。 。〃 And looking into Tyapa's face the
Captain swore。
〃Well; what? Give。 。 。 。〃
〃Go to the Devil! 。 。 。 I am going to spend this money in
erecting a monument to him。〃
〃What does he want that for?〃
〃I will buy a stone and an anchor。 I shall place the stone
on the grass; and attach the anchor to it with a very heavy
chain。〃
〃Why? You are playing tricks。 。 。 。〃
〃Well 。 。 。 It is no business of yours。〃
〃Look out! I shall tell 。 。 。〃 again threatened Tyapa。
Aristid Fomich looked at him sullenly and said nothing。 Again
they sat there in that silence which; in the presence of the
dead; is so full of mystery。
〃Listen 。 。 。 They are coming!〃 Tyapa got up and went out of
the dosshouse。
Then there appeared at the door the Doctor; the Police
Inspector of the district; and the examining Magistrate or
Coroner。 All three came in turn; looked at the dead teacher;
and then went out; throwing suspicious glances at Kuvalda。
He sat there; without taking any notice of them; until the
Police Inspector asked him:
〃Of what did he die?〃
〃Ask him 。 。 。 I think his evil life hastened his end。〃
〃What?〃 asked the Coroner。
〃I say that he died of a disease to which he had not been
accustomed。 。 。 。〃
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〃H'm; yes。 Had he been ill long?〃
〃Bring him over here; I cannot see him properly;〃 said the
Doctor; in a melancholy tone。 〃Probably there are signs
of 。 。 。〃
〃Now; then; ask someone here to carry him out!〃 the Police
Inspector ordered Kuvalda。
〃Go and ask them yourself! He is not in my way here 。 。 。〃
the Captain replied; indifferently。
〃Well!〃 。 。 。 shouted the Inspector; making a ferocious face。
〃Phew!〃 answered Kuvalda; without moving from his place and
gnashing his teeth restlessly。
〃The Devil take it!〃 shouted the Inspector; so madly that the
blood rushed to his face。 〃I'll make you pay for this!
I'll〃
〃Good…morning; gentlemen!〃 said the merchant Petunikoff; with
a sweet smile; making his appearance in the doorway。
He looked round; trembled; took off his cap and crossed himself。
Then a pompous; wicked smile crossed his face; and; looking at
the Captain; he inquired respectfully:
〃What has happened? Has there been a murder here?〃
〃Yes; something of that sort;〃 replied the Coroner。
Petunikoff sighed deeply; crossed himself again; and spoke in
an angry tone。
〃By Cod! It is just as I feared。 It always ends in your
having to come here 。 。 。 Ay; ay; ay! God save everyone。
Times without number have I refused to lease this house to
this man; and he has always won me over; and I was afraid。
You know 。 。 。 They are such awful people 。 。 。 better give
it them; I thought; or else。 。 。 。〃
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He covered his face with his hands; tugged at his beard; and
sighed again。
〃They are very dangerous men; and this man here is their leader
。 。 。 the ataman of the robbers。〃
〃But we will make him smart!〃 promised the Inspector; looking
at the Captain with revengeful eyes。
〃Yes; brother; we are old friends of yours 。 。 。〃 said Kuvalda
in a familiar tone。 〃How many times have I paid you to be
quiet?〃
〃Gentlemen!〃 shouted the Inspector; 〃did you hear him? I want
you to bear witness to this。 Aha; I shall make short work of
you; my friend; remember!〃
〃Don't count your chickens before they are hatched 。 。 。 my
friend;〃 said Aristid Fomich。
The Doctor; a young man with eye…glasses; looked at him
curiously; the Coroner with an attention that boded him no
good; Petunikoff with triumph; while the Inspector could hardly
restrain himself from throwing himself upon him。
The dark figure of Martyanoff appeared at the door of the
dosshouse。 He entered quietly; and stood behind Petunikoff;
so that his chin was on a level with the merchant's head。
Behind him stood the Deacon; opening his small; swollen;
red eyes。
〃Let us be doing something; gentlemen;〃 suggested the Doctor。
Martyanoff made an awful grimace; and suddenly suddenly sneezed
on Petunikoff's head。 The latter gave a yell; sat down
hurriedly; and then jumped aside; almost knocking down the
Inspector; into whose open arms he fell。
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〃Do you see;〃 said the frightened merchant; pointing to
Martyanoff; 〃do you see what kind of men they are。〃
Kuvalda burst out laughing。 The Doctor and the Coroner smiled
too; and at the door of the dosshouse the group of figures was
increasing 。 。 。 sleepy figures; with swollen faces; red;
inflamed eyes; and dishevelled hair; staring rudely at the
Doctor; the Coroner; and the Inspector。
〃Where are you going?〃 said the policeman on guard at the door;
catching hold of their tatters and pushing them aside。 But he
was one against many; and; without taking any notice; they all
entered and stood there; reeking of vodki; silent and
evil…looking。
Kuvalda glanced at them; then at the authorities; who were
angry at the intrusion of these ragamuffins; and said;
smilingly; 〃Gentlemen; perhaps you would like to make the
acquaintance of my lodgers and friends? Would you? But;
whether you wish it or not; you will have to make their
acquaintance sooner or later in the course of your duties。〃
The Doctor smiled in an embarrassed way。 The Coroner pressed
his lips together; and the Inspector saw that it was time to
go。 Therefore; he shouted:
〃Sideroff! Whistle! Tell them to bring a cart here。〃
〃I will go;〃 said Petunikoff; coming forward from a corner。
〃You had better take it away to…day; sir; I want to pull down
this hole。 Go away! or else I shall apply to the police!〃
100 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
The policeman's whistle echoed through the courtyard。 At the
door of the dosshouse its inhabitants stood in a group;
yawning; and scratching themselves。
〃And so you do not wish to be introduced? That is rude of
you!〃 laughed