the man who was afraid-第68节

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ows　the　power　of　education。　And　he；　that　foster…　brother　of　yours；　he　will　go　to　ruin。〃

〃That's　true；　sir！〃　said　Foma；　opening　the　door　and　appearing　on　the　threshold。

Pale；　with　knitted　brow　and　quivering　lips；　he　stared　straight　into　Taras's　face　and　said　in　a　dull　voice：　〃True！　I　will　go　to　ruin　andamen！　The　sooner　the　better！〃

Lubov　sprang　up　from　the　chair　with　frightened　face；　and　ran　up　to　Taras；　who　stood　calmly　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　with　his　hands　thrust　in　his　pockets。

〃Foma！　Oh！　Shame！　You　have　been　eavesdropping。　Oh；　Foma！〃　said　she　in　confusion。

〃Keep　quiet；　you　lamb！〃　said　Foma　to　her。

〃Yes；　eavesdropping　is　wrong！〃　ejaculated　Taras；　slowly；　without　lifting　from　Foma　his　look　of　contempt。

〃Let　it　be　wrong！〃　said　Foma；　with　a　wave　of　the　hand。　〃Is　it　my　fault　that　the　truth　can　be　learned　by　eavesdropping　only？〃

〃Go　away；　Foma；　please！〃　entreated　Lubov；　pressing　close　to　her　brother。

〃Perhaps　you　have　something　to　say　to　me？〃　asked　Taras；　calmly。

〃I？〃　exclaimed　Foma。　〃What　can　I　say？　I　cannot　say　anything。　It　is　you　whoyou；　I　believe；　know　everything。〃

〃You　have　nothing　then　to　discuss　with　me？〃　asked　Taras　again。

〃I　am　very　pleased。〃

He　turned　sideways　to　Foma　and　inquired　of　Lubov：

〃What　do　you　thinkwill　father　return　soon？〃

Foma　looked　at　him；　and；　feeling　something　akin　to　respect　for　the　man；　deliberately　left　the　house。　He　did　not　feel　like　going　to　his　own　huge　empty　house；　where　each　step　of　his　awakened　a　ringing　echo；　he　strolled　along　the　street；　which　was　enveloped　in　the　melancholy　gray　twilight　of　late　autumn。　He　thought　of　Taras　Mayakin。

〃How　severe　he　is。　He　takes　after　his　father。　Only　he's　not　so　restless。　He's　also　a　cunning　rogue；　I　think；　while　Lubka　regarded　him　almost　as　a　saint。　That　foolish　girl！　What　a　sermon　he　read　to　me！　A　regular　judge。　And　sheshe　was　kind　toward　me。〃　But　all　these　thoughts　stirred　in　him　no　feelingsneither　hatred　toward　Taras　nor　sympathy　for　Lubov。　He　carried　with　him　something　painful　and　uncomfortable；　something　incomprehensible　to　him；　that　kept　growing　within　his　breast；　and　it　seemed　to　him　that　his　heart　was　swollen　and　was　gnawing　as　though　from　an　abscess。　He　hearkened　to　that　unceasing　and　indomitable　pain；　noticed　that　it　was　growing　more　and　more　acute　from　hour　to　hour；　and；　not　knowing　how　to　allay　it；　waited　for　the　results。

Then　his　godfather's　trotter　passed　him。　Foma　saw　in　the　carriage　the　small　figure　of　Yakov　Mayakin；　but　even　that　aroused　no　feeling　in　him。　A　lamplighter　ran　past　Foma；　overtook　him；　placed　his　ladder　against　the　lamp　post　and　went　up。　The　ladder　suddenly　slipped　under　his　weight；　and　he；　clasping　the　lamp　post；　cursed　loudly　and　angrily。　A　girl　jostled　Foma　in　the　side　with　her　bundle　and　said：

〃Excuse　me。〃

He　glanced　at　her　and　said　nothing。　Then　a　drizzling　rain　began　to　fall　from　the　skytiny；　scarcely　visible　drops　of　moisture　overcast　the　lights　of　the　lanterns　and　the　shop　windows　with　grayish　dust。　This　dust　made　him　breathe　with　difficulty。

〃Shall　I　go　to　Yozhov　and　pass　the　night　there？　I　might　drink　with　him；〃　thought　Foma　and　went　away　to　Yozhov；　not　having　the　slightest　desire　either　to　see　the　feuilleton…writer　or　to　drink　with　him。

At　Yozhov's　he　found　a　shaggy　fellow　sitting　on　the　lounge。　He　had　on　a　blouse　and　gray　pantaloons。　His　face　was　swarthy；　as　though　smoked；　his　eyes　were　large；　immobile　and　angry；　his　thick　upper　lip　was　covered　with　a　bristle…like；　soldier　moustache。　He　was　sitting　on　the　lounge；　with　his　feet　clasped　in　his　huge　arms　and　his　chin　resting　on　his　knees。　Yozhov　sat　sideways　in　a　chair；　with　his　legs　thrown　across　the　arm　of　the　chair。　Among　books　and　newspapers　on　the　table　stood　a　bottle　of　vodka　and　there　was　an　odour　of　something　salty　in　the　room。

〃Why　are　you　tramping　about？〃　Yozhov　asked　Foma；　and；　nodding　at　him；　said　to　the　man　on　the　lounge：　〃Gordyeeff！〃

The　man　glanced　at　the　newcomer　and　said　in　a　harsh；　shrill　voice：　〃Krasnoshchokov。〃

Foma　seated　himself　on　a　corner　of　the　lounge　and　said　to　Yozhov：

〃I　have　come　to　stay　here　over　night。〃

〃Well？　Go　on；　Vasily。〃

The　latter　glanced　at　Foma　askance　and　went　on　in　a　creaking　voice：

〃In　my　opinion；　you　are　attacking　the　stupid　people　in　vain。　Masaniello　was　a　fool；　but　what　had　to　be　performed　was　done　in　the　best　way　possible。　And　that　Winkelried　was　certainly　a　fool　also；　and　yet　had　he　not　thrust　the　imperial　spears　into　himself　the　Swiss　would　have　been　thrashed。　Have　there　not　been　many　fools　like　that？　Yet　they　are　the　heroes。　And　the　clever　people　are　the　cowards。　Where　they　ought　to　deal　the　obstacle　a　blow　with　all　their　might　they　stop　to　reflect：　'What　will　come　of　it？　Perhaps　we　may　perish　in　vain？'　And　they　stand　there　like　posts　until　they　breathe　their　last。　And　the　fool　is　brave！　He　rushes　headforemost　against　the　wallbang！　If　his　skull　breakswhat　of　it？　Calves'　heads　are　not　dear。　And　if　he　makes　a　crack　in　the　wall　the　clever　people　will　pick　it　open　into　gates；　will　pass　and　credit　themselves　with　the　honour。　No；　Nikolay　Matveyich；　bravery　is　a　good　thing　even　though　it　be　without　reason。〃

〃Vasily；　you　are　talking　nonsense！〃　said　Yozhov；　stretching　his　hand　toward　him。

〃Ah；　of　course！〃　assented　Vasily。　〃How　am　I　to　sip　cabbage　soup　with　a　bast　shoe？　And　yet　I　am　not　blind。　I　can　see。　There　is　plenty　of　brains；　but　no　good　comes　of　it。　During　the　time　the　clever　people　think　and　reflect　as　to　how　to　act　in　the　wisest　way；　the　fools　will　down　them。　That's　all。〃

〃Wait　a　little！〃　said　Yozhov。

〃I　can't！　I　am　on　duty　today。　I　am　rather　late　as　it　is。　I'll　drop　in　tomorrowmay　I？〃

〃Come！　I'll　give　a　roasting！〃

〃That's　exactly　your　business。〃

Vasily　adjusted　himself　slowly；　rose　from　the　lounge；　took　Yozhov's　yellow；　thin　little　hand　in　his　big；　swarthy　paw　and　pressed　it。

〃Goodbye！〃

Then　he　nodded　toward　Foma　and　went　through　the　door　sideways。

〃Have　you　seen？〃　Yozhov　asked　Foma；　pointing　his　hand　at　the　door；　behind　which　the　heavy　footsteps　still　resounded。

〃What　sort　of　a　man　is　he？〃

〃Assistant　machinist；　Vaska　Krasnoshchokov。　Here；　take　an　example　from　him：　At　the　age　of　fifteen　he　began　to　study；　to　read　and　write；　and　at　twenty…eight　he　has　read　the　devil　knows　how　many　good　books；　and　has　mastered　two　languages　to　perfection。　Now　he's　going　abroad。〃

〃What　for？〃　inquired　Foma。

〃To　study。　To　see　how　people　live　there；　while　you　languish　here…　…what　for？〃

〃He　spoke　sensibly　of　the　fools；〃　said　Foma；　thoughtfully。

〃I　don't　know；　for　I　am　not　a　fool。〃

〃That　was　well　said。　The　stupid　man　ought　to　act　at　once。　Rush　forward　and　overturn。〃

〃There；　he's　broken　loose！〃　exclaimed　Yozhov。　〃You　better　tell　me　whether　it　is　true　that　Mayakin's　son　has　returned？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Why　do　you　ask？〃

〃Nothing。〃

〃I　can　see　by　your　face　that　there　is　something。〃

〃We　know　all　about　his　son；　we've　heard　about　him。〃

〃But　I　have　seen　him。〃

〃Well？　What　sort　of　man　is　he？〃

〃The　devil　knows　him！　What　have　I　to　do　with　him？〃

〃Is　he　like　his　father？〃

〃He's　stouter；　plumper；　there　is　more　seriousness　about　him；　he　is　so　cold。〃

〃Which　means　that　he　will　be　even　worse　than　Yashka。　Well；　now；　my　dear；　be　on　your　guard　or　they　will　suck　you　dry。〃

〃Well；　let　them　do　it！〃

〃They'll　rob　you。　You'll　become　a　pauper。　That　Taras　fleeced　his　father…in…law　in　Yekateringburg　so　cleverly。〃

〃Let　him　fleece　me　too；　if　he　likes。　I　shall　not　say　a　word　to　him　except　'thanks。'〃

〃You　are　still　singing　that　same　old　tune？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃To　be　set　at　liberty。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Drop　it！　What　do　you　want　freedom　for？　What　will　you　do　with　it？　Don't　you　know　that　you　are　not　fit　for　anything；　that　you　are　illiterate；　that　you　certainly　cannot　even　split　a　log　of　wood？　Now；　if　I　could　only　free　myself　from　the　necessity　of　drinking　vodka　and　eating　bread！〃

Yozhov　jumped　to　his　feet；　and；　stopping　in　front　of　Foma；　began　to　speak　in　a　loud　voice；　as　though　declaiming：

〃I　would　gather　together　the　remains　of　my　wounded　soul；　and　together　with　the　blood　of　my　heart　I　would　spit　them　into　the　face　of　our　intelligent　society；　the　devil　take　it！　I　would　say　to　them：

'You　insects；　you　are　the　best　sap　of　my　country！　The　fact　of　your　existence　has　been　repaid　by　the　blood　and　the　tears　of　scores　of　generations　of　Russian　people。　0；　you　nits！　How　dearly　your　country　has　paid　for　you！　What　are　you　doing　for　its　sake　in　return？　Have　you　transformed　the　tears　of　the　past　into　pearls？　What　have　you　contributed　toward　life？　What　have　you　accomplished？　You　have　permitted　yourselves　to　be　conquered？　What　are　you　doing？　You　permit　yourselves　to　be　mocked。〃'

He　stamped　his　feet　with　rage；　and　setting　his　teeth　together　stared　at　Foma　with　burning；　angry　looks；　and　resembled　an　infuriated　wild　beast。

〃I　would　say　to　them：　'You！　You　reason　too　much；　but　you　are　not　very　wise；　and　you　are　utterly　powerless；　and　you　are　all　cowards！　Your　hearts　are　filled　up　with　morality　and　noble　intentions；　but　they　are　as　soft　and　warm　as　feather　beds；　the　spirit　of　creativeness　sleeps　within　them　a　profound　and　calm　sleep；　and　your　hearts　do　not　throb；　they　merely　rock　slowly；　like　cradles。'　Dipping　my　finger　in　the　blood　of　my　he