resurrection(复活)-第104章
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of the lamp。 From behind the palisade came the hum of male and
female voices。 In about three minutes more something rattled； the
gate opened； and a sergeant； with his cloak thrown over his
shoulders； stepped out of the darkness into the lamplight。
The sergeant was not as strict as the sentinel； but he was
extremely inquisitive。 He insisted on knowing what Nekhludoff
wanted the officer for； and who he was； evidently scenting his
booty and anxious not to let it escape。 Nekhludoff said he had
come on special business； and would show his gratitude； and would
the sergeant take a note for him to the officer。 The sergeant
took the note； nodded； and went away。 Some time after the gate
rattled again； and women carrying baskets； boxes； jugs and sacks
came out； loudly chattering in their peculiar Siberian dialect as
they stepped over the threshold of the gate。 None of them wore
peasant costumes； but were dressed town fashion； wearing jackets
and fur…lined cloaks。 Their skirts were tucked up high； and their
heads wrapped up in shawls。 They examined Nekhludoff and his
guide curiously by the light of the lamp。 One of them showed
evident pleasure at the sight of the broad…shouldered fellow； and
affectionately administered to him a dose of Siberian abuse。
〃You demon； what are you doing here？ The devil take you；〃 she
said； addressing him。
〃I've been showing this traveller here the way；〃 answered the
young fellow。 〃And what have you been bringing here？〃
〃Dairy produce； and I am to bring more in the morning。〃
The guide said something in answer that made not only the women
but even the sentinel laugh； and； turning to Nekhludoff； he said：
〃You'll find your way alone？ Won't get lost； will you？
〃I shall find it all right。〃
〃When you have passed the church it's the second from the
two…storied house。 Oh； and here； take my staff；〃 he said； handing
the stick he was carrying； and which was longer than himself； to
Nekhludoff； and splashing through the mud with his enormous
boots； he disappeared in the darkness； together with the women。
His voice mingling with the voices of the women was still audible
through the fog； when the gate again rattled； and the sergeant
appeared and asked Nekhludoff to follow him to the officer。
CHAPTER VIII。
NEKHLUDOFF AND THE OFFICER。
This halting station； like all such stations along the Siberian
road； was surrounded by a courtyard； fenced in with a palisade of
sharp…pointed stakes； and consisted of three one…storied houses。
One of them； the largest； with grated windows； was for the
prisoners； another for the convoy soldiers； and the third； in
which the office was； for the officers。
There were lights in the windows of all the three houses； and；
like all such lights； they promised； here in a specially
deceptive manner； something cosy inside the walls。 Lamps were
burning before the porches of the houses and about five lamps
more along the walls lit up the yard。
The sergeant led Nekhludoff along a plank which lay across the
yard up to the porch of the smallest of the houses。
When he had gone up the three steps of the porch he let
Nekhludoff pass before him into the ante…room； in which a small
lamp was burning； and which was filled with smoky fumes。 By the
stove a soldier in a coarse shirt with a necktie and black
trousers； and with one top…boot on； stood blowing the charcoal in
a somovar； using the other boot as bellows。 ＇The long boots worn
in Russia have concertina…like sides； and when held to the
chimney of the somovar can be used instead of bellows to make the
charcoal inside burn up。＇ When he saw Nekhludoff； the soldier
left the somovar and helped him off with his waterproof； then
went into the inner room。
〃He has come； your honour。〃
〃Well； ask him in；〃 came an angry voice。
〃Go in at the door；〃 said the soldier； and went back to the
somovar。
In the next room an officer with fair moustaches and a very red
face； dressed in an Austrian jacket that closely fitted his broad
chest and shoulders； sat at a covered table； on which were the
remains of his dinner and two bottles； there was a strong smell
of tobacco and some very strong； cheap scent in the warm room。 On
seeing Nekhludoff the officer rose and gazed ironically and
suspiciously； as it seemed； at the newcomer。
〃What is it you want？〃 he asked； and； not waiting for a reply；
he shouted through the open door：
〃Bernoff； the somovar！ What are you about？〃
〃Coming at once。〃
〃You'll get it 'at once' so that you'll remember it；〃 shouted the
officer； and his eyes flashed。
〃I'm coming；〃 shouted the soldier； and brought in the somovar。
Nekhludoff waited while the soldier placed the somovar on the
table。 When the officer had followed the soldier out of the room
with his cruel little eyes looking as if they were aiming where
best to hit him； he made the tea； got the four…cornered decanter
out of his travelling case and some Albert biscuits； and having
placed all this on the cloth he again turned to Nekhludoff。
〃Well； how can I he of service to you？〃
〃I should like to be allowed to visit a prisoner；〃 said
Nekhludoff； without sitting down。
〃A political one？ That's forbidden by the law；〃 said the officer。
〃The woman I mean is not a political prisoner；〃 said Nekhludoff。
〃Yes。 But pray take a scat；〃 said the officer。 Nekhludoff sat
down。
〃She is not a political one； but at my request she has been
allowed by the higher authorities to join the political
prisoners〃
〃Oh； yes； I know；〃 interrupted the other； 〃a little dark one？
Well； yes； that can be managed。 Won't you smoke？〃 He moved a box
of cigarettes towards Nekhludoff； and； having carefully poured
out two tumblers of tea； he passed one to Nekhludoff。 〃If you
please；〃 he said。
〃Thank you； I should like to see〃
〃The night is long。 You'll have plenty of time。 I shall order her
to be sent out to you。〃
〃But could I not see her where she is？ Why need she be sent for？〃
Nekhludoff said。
〃In to the political prisoners？ It is against the law。〃
〃I have been allowed to go in several times。 If there is any
danger of my passing anything in to them I could do it through
her just as well。'
〃Oh； no； she would be searched；〃 said the officer； and laughed in
an unpleasant manner。
〃Well； why not search me？〃
〃All right； we'll manage without that；〃 said the officer； opening
the decanter； and holding it out towards Nekhludoff's tumbler of
tea。 〃May I？ No？ Well； just as you like。 When you are living here
in Siberia you are too glad to meet an educated person。 Our work；
as you know； is the saddest； and when one is used to better
things it is very hard。 The idea they have of us is that convoy
officers are coarse； uneducated men； and no one seems to remember
that we may have been born for a very different position。〃
This officer's red face； his scents； his rings； and especially
his unpleasant laughter disgusted Nekhludoff very much； but
to…day； as during the whole of his journey； he was in that
serious； attentive state which did not allow him to behave
slightingly or disdainfully towards any man； but made him feel
the necessity of speaking to every one 〃entirely；〃 as he
expressed to himself； this relation to men。 When he had heard the
officer and understood his state of mind； he said in a serious
manner：
〃I think that in your position； too； some comfort could be found
in helping the suffering people；〃 he said。
〃What are their sufferings？ You don't know what these people
are。〃
〃They are not special people；〃 said Nekhludoff ； 〃they are just
such people as others； and some of them are quite innocent。〃
〃Of course； there are all sorts among them； and naturally one
pities them。 Others won't let anything off； but I try to lighten
their condition where I can。 It's better that I should suffer；
but not they。 Others keep to the law in every detail； even as far
as to shoot； but I show pity。 May I？Take another；〃 he said； and
poured out another tumbler of tea for Nekhludoff。
〃And who is she； this woman that you want to see？〃 he asked。
〃It is an unfortunate woman who got into a brothel； and was there
falsely accused of poisoning； and she is a very good woman；〃
