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！
visions were gone for good。 His soul was full of new and happy ideas。
He felt glad to be alone if only he could read； and if he had the Gospel。 He
knew that he might have got hold of the Gospel； but he could not read。
He had started to learn the alphabet in his boyhood； but could not
grasp the joining of the syllables； and remained illiterate。 He made up
his mind to start reading anew； and asked the guard to bring him the
Gospels。 They were brought to him； and he sat down to work。 He
contrived to recollect the letters； but could not join them into syllables。 He
tried as hard as he could to understand how the letters ought to be put
together to form words； but with no result whatever。 He lost his sleep； had
no desire to eat； and a deep sadness came over him； which he was unable
to shake off。
〃Well； have you not yet mastered it？〃 asked the guard one day。
〃No。〃
〃Do you know 'Our Father'？〃
〃I do。〃
〃Since you do； read it in the Gospels。 Here it is；〃 said the guard；
showing him the prayer in the Gospels。 Stepan began to read it； comparing
the letters he knew with the familiar sounds。
And all of a sudden the mystery of the syllables was revealed to him；
and he began to read。 This was a great joy。 From that moment he could
read； and the meaning of the words； spelt out with such great pains；
became more significant。
Stepan did not mind any more being alone。 He was so full of his
work that he did not feel glad when he was transferred back to the
common cell； his private cell being needed for a political prisoner who had
been just sent to prison。
56
… Page 57…
THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
V
IN the meantime Mahin； the schoolboy who had taught his friend
Smokovnikov to forge the coupon； had finished his career at school and
then at the university； where he had studied law。 He had the advantage of
being liked by women； and as he had won favour with a vice…minister's
former mistress； he was appointed when still young as examining
magistrate。 He was dishonest； had debts； had gambled； and had seduced
many women； but he was clever； sagacious； and a good magistrate。 He
was appointed to the court of the district where Stepan Pelageushkine had
been tried。 When Stepan was brought to him the first time to give
evidence； his sincere and quiet answers puzzled the magistrate。 He
somehow unconsciously felt that this man； brought to him in fetters and
with a shorn head； guarded by two soldiers who were waiting to take him
back to prison； had a free soul and was immeasurably superior to himself。
He was in consequence somewhat troubled； and had to summon up all his
courage in order to go on with the inquiry and not blunder in his questions。
He was amazed that Stepan should narrate the story of his crimes as if they
had been things of long ago； and committed not by him but by some
different man。
〃Had you no pity for them？〃 asked Mahin。
〃No。 I did not know then。〃
〃Well； and now？〃
Stepan smiled with a sad smile。 〃Now；〃 he said； 〃I would not do it
even if I were to be burned alive。〃
〃But why？
〃Because I have come to know that all men are brethren。〃
〃What about me？ Am I your brother also？〃
〃Of course you are。〃
〃And how is it that I； your brother； am sending you to hard labour？〃
〃It is because you don't know。〃
57
… Page 58…
THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
〃What do I not know？〃
〃Since you judge； it means obviously that you don't know。〃
〃Go on。 。 。 。What next？〃
VI
Now it was not Chouev； but Stepan who used to read the gospel in the
common cell。 Some of the prisoners were singing coarse songs； while
others listened to Stepan reading the gospel and talking about what he had
read。 The most attentive among those who listened were two of the
prisoners； Vassily； and a convict called Mahorkin； a murderer who had
become a hangman。 Twice during his stay in this prison he was called
upon to do duty as hangman； and both times in far…away places where
nobody could be found to execute the sentences。
Two of the peasants who had killed Peter Nikolaevich Sventizky； had
been sentenced to the gallows； and Mahorkin was ordered to go to Pensa
to hang them。 On all previous occasions he used to write a petition to the
governor of the province he knew well how to read and to writestating
that he had been ordered to fulfil his duty； and asking for money for his
expenses。 But now； to the greatest astonishment of the prison authorities；
he said he did not intend to go； and added that he would not be a hangman
any more。
〃And what about being flogged？〃 cried the governor of the prison。
〃I will have to bear it； as the law commands us not to kill。〃
〃Did you get that from Pelageushkine？ A nice sort of a prison
prophet！ You just wait and see what this will cost you！〃
When Mahin was told of that incident； he was greatly impressed by the
fact of Stepan's influence on the hangman； who refused to do his duty；
running the risk of being hanged himself for insubordination。
58
… Page 59…
THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
VII
AT an evening party at the Eropkins； Mahin； who was paying
attentions to the two young daughters of the housethey were rich
matches； both of themhaving earned great applause for his fine singing
and playing the piano； began telling the company about the strange convict
who had converted the hangman。 Mahin told his story very accurately； as
he had a very good memory； which was all the more retentive because of
his total indifference to those with whom he had to deal。 He never paid the
slightest attention to other people's feelings； and was therefore better able
to keep all they did or said in his memory。 He got interested in Stepan
Pelag