resurrection(复活)-第6章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
of living a good； moral life；〃 he thought； looking at the
beaming； healthy； cheerful； and kindly president； who； with
elbows far apart； was smoothing his thick grey whiskers with his
fine white hands over the embroidered collar of his uniform。 〃He
is always contented and merry while I am suffering。〃
The secretary came in and brought some document。
〃Thanks； very much；〃 said the president； lighting a cigarette。
〃Which case shall we take first； then？〃
〃The poisoning case； I should say；〃 answered the secretary； with
indifference。
〃All right； the poisoning case let it be；〃 said the president；
thinking that he could get this case over by four o'clock； and
then go away。 〃And Matthew Nikitich； has he come？〃
〃Not yet。〃
〃And Breve？〃
〃He is here；〃 replied the secretary。
〃Then if you see him； please tell him that we begin with the
poisoning case。〃 Breve was the public prosecutor； who was to read
the indictment in this case。
In the corridor the secretary met Breve； who； with up lifted
shoulders； a portfolio under one arm； the other swinging with the
palm turned to the front； was hurrying along the corridor；
clattering with his heels。
〃Michael Petrovitch wants to know if you are ready？ the secretary
asked。
〃Of course； I am always ready；〃 said the public prosecutor。 〃What
are we taking first？
〃The poisoning case。〃
〃That's quite right；〃 said the public prosecutor； but did not
think it at all right。 He had spent the night in a hotel playing
cards with a friend who was giving a farewell party。 Up to five
in the morning they played and drank； so he had no time to look
at this poisoning case； and meant to run it through now。 The
secretary； happening to know this； advised the president to begin
with the poisoning case。 The secretary was a Liberal； even a
Radical； in opinion。
Breve was a Conservative； the secretary disliked him； and envied
him his position。
〃Well； and how about the Skoptzy？〃 ＇a religious sect＇ asked the
secretary。
〃I have already said that I cannot do it without witnesses； and
so I shall say to the Court。〃
〃Dear me； what does it matter？〃
〃I cannot do it；〃 said Breve； and； waving his arm； he ran into
his private room。
He was putting off the case of the Skoptzy on account of the
absence of a very unimportant witness； his real reason being that
if they were tried by an educated jury they might possibly be
acquitted。
By an agreement with the president this case was to be tried in
the coming session at a provincial town； where there would be
more peasants； and； therefore； more chances of conviction。
The movement in the corridor increased。 The people crowded most
at the doors of the Civil Court； in which the case that the
dignified man talked about was being heard。
An interval in the proceeding occurred； and the old woman came
out of the court； whose property that genius of an advocate had
found means of getting for his client； a person versed in law who
had no right to it whatever。 The judges knew all about the case；
and the advocate and his client knew it better still； but the
move they had invented was such that it was impossible not to
take the old woman's property and not to hand it over to the
person versed in law。
The old woman was stout； well dressed； and had enormous flowers
on her bonnet； she stopped as she came out of the door； and
spreading out her short fat arms and turning to her advocate； she
kept repeating。 〃What does it all mean？ just fancy！〃
The advocate was looking at the flowers in her bonnet； and
evidently not listening to her； but considering some question or
other。
Next to the old woman； out of the door of the Civil Court； his
broad； starched shirt front glistening from under his low…cut
waistcoat； with a self…satisfied look on his face； came the
celebrated advocate who had managed to arrange matters so that
the old woman lost all she had； and the person versed in the law
received more than 100；000 roubles。 The advocate passed close to
the old woman； and； feeling all eyes directed towards him； his
whole bearing seemed to say： 〃No expressions of deference are
required。〃
CHAPTER VII。
THE OFFICIALS OF THE COURT。
At last Matthew Nikitich also arrived； and the usher； a thin man；
with a long neck and a kind of sideways walk； his nether lip
protruding to one side； which made him resemble a turkey； came
into the jurymen's room。
This usher was an honest man； and had a university education； but
could not keep a place for any length of time； as he was subject
to fits of drunkenness。 Three months before a certain countess；
who patronised his wife； had found him this place； and he was
very pleased to have kept it so long。
〃Well； sirs； is everybody here？〃 he asked； putting his pince…nez
on his nose； and looking round。
〃Everybody； I think；〃 said the jolly merchant。
〃All right； we'll soon see。〃 And； taking a list from his pocket；
he began calling out the names； looking at the men； sometimes
through and sometimes over his pince…nez。
〃Councillor of State； ＇grades such as this are common in Russia；
and mean very little＇ J。 M。 Nikiforoff！〃
〃I am he；〃 said the dignified…looking man； well versed in the
habits of the law court。
〃Ivan Semionovitch Ivanoff； retired colonel！
〃Here！〃 replied a thin man； in the uniform of a retired officer。
〃Merchant of the Second Guild； Peter Baklasheff！〃
〃Here we are； ready！〃 said the good…humoured merchant； with a
broad smile。
〃Lieutenant of the Guards； Prince Dmitri Nekhludoff！〃
〃I am he；〃 answered Nekhludoff。
The usher bowed to him； looking over his pince…nez； politely and
pleasantly； as if wishing to distinguish him from the others。
〃Captain Youri Demitrievitch…Dantchenko； merchant； Grigori
Euphimitch Kouleshoff；〃 etc。 All but two were present。
〃Now please to come to the court； gentlemen；〃 said the usher；
pointing to the door； with an amiable wave of his hand。
All moved towards the door； pausing to let each other pass。 Then
they went through the corridor into the court。
The court was a large； long room。 At one end there was a raised
platform； with three steps leading up to it； on which stood a
table； covered with a green cloth trimmed with a fringe of a
darker shade。 At the table were placed three arm…chairs； with
high…carved oak backs； on the wall behind them hung a
full…length； brightly…coloured portrait of the Emperor in uniform
and ribbon； with one foot in advance； and holding a sword。 In the
right corner hung a case； with an image of Christ crowned with
thorns； and beneath it stood a lectern； and on the same side the
prosecuting attorney's desk。 On the left； opposite the desk； was
the secretary's table； and in front of it； nearer the public； an
oak grating； with the prisoners' bench； as yet unoccupied； behind
it。 Besides all this； there were on the right side of the
platform high…backed ashwood chairs for the jury； and on the
floor below tables for the advocates。 All this was in the front
part of the court； divided from the back by a grating。
The back was all taken up by seats in tiers。 Sitting on the front
seats were four women； either servant or factory girls； and two
working men； evidently overawed by the grandeur of the room； and
not venturing to speak above a whisper。
Soon after the jury had come in the usher entered； with his
sideward gait； and stepping to the front； called out in a loud
voice； as if he meant to frighten those present； 〃The Court is
coming！〃 Every one got up as the members stepped on to the
platform。 Among them the president； with his muscles and fine
whiskers。 Next came the gloomy member of the Court； who was now
more gloomy than ever； having met his brother…in…law； who
informed him that he had just called in to see his sister （the
member's wife）； and that she had told him that there would be no
dinner there。
〃So that； evidently； we shall have to call in at a cook shop；〃
the brother…in…law added； laughing。
〃It is not at all funny；〃 said the gloomy member； and became
gloomier still。
Then at last came the third member of the Court； the same Matthew
Nikitich； who was always late。 He was a bearded man； with large；
round； kindly eyes。 He w
