the man who was afraid-第75节

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　same　with　man；　some　man　bustles　about　to　and　fro；　bruises　himself；　exhausts　himself；　and　then　throws　himself　anywhere；　just　to　rest。'　Hey　I　unbind　my　hands。〃

His　face　turned　pale；　his　eyes　closed；　his　shoulders　quivered。　Tattered　and　crumpled　he　rocked　about　in　the　chair；　striking　his　chest　against　the　edge　of　the　table；　and　began　to　whisper　something。

The　merchants　exchanged　significant　glances。　Some；　nudging　one　another　in　the　sides；　shook　their　heads　at　Foma　in　silence。　Yakov　Mayakin's　face　was　dark　and　immobile　as　though　hewn　out　of　stone。

〃Shall　we　perhaps　unbind　him？〃　whispered　Bobrov。

〃When　we　get　a　little　nearer。〃

〃No；　it's　not　necessary；〃　said　Mayakin　in　an　undertone…　〃We'll　leave　him　here。　Let　someone　send　for　a　carriage。　We'll　take　him　straight　to　the　asylum。〃

〃And　where　am　I　to　rest？〃　Foma　muttered　again。　〃Whither　shall　I　fling　myself？〃　And　he　remained　as　though　petrified　in　a　broken；　uncomfortable　attitude；　all　distorted；　with　an　expression　of　pain　on　his　face。

Mayakin　rose　from　his　seat　and　went　to　the　cabin；　saying　softly：

〃Keep　an　eye　on　him；　he　might　fling　himself　overboard。〃

〃I　am　sorry　for　the　fellow；〃　said　Bobrov；　looking　at　Yakov　Tarasovich　as　he　departed。

〃No　one　is　to　blame　for　his　madness；〃　replied　Reznikov；　morosely。

〃And　Yakov；〃　whispered　Zubov；　nodding　his　head　in　the　direction　of　Mayakin。

〃What　about　Yakov？　He　loses　nothing　through　it。〃

〃Yes；　now　he'll；　ha；　ha！〃

〃He'll　be　his　guardian；　ha；　ha；　ha！〃

Their　quiet　laughter　and　whisper　mingled　with　the　groaning　of　the　engine　did　not　seem　to　reach　Foma's　ear。　Motionlessly　he　stared　into　the　distance　before　him　with　a　dim　look；　and　only　his　lips　were　slightly　quivering。

〃His　son　has　returned；〃　whispered　Bobrov。

〃I　know　his　son；〃　said　Yashchurov。　〃I　met　him　in　Perm。〃

〃What　sort　of　a　man　is　he？〃

〃A　business…like；　clever　fellow。〃

〃Is　that　so？〃

〃He　manages　a　big　business　in　Oosolye。〃

〃Consequently　Yakov　does　not　need　this　one。　Yes。　So　that's　it。〃

〃Look；　he's　weeping！〃

〃Oh？〃

Foma　was　sitting　leaning　against　the　back　of　the　chair；　and　drooping　his　head　on　the　shoulder。　His　eyes　were　shut；　and　from　under　his　eyelids　tears　were　trickling　one　after　another。　They　coursed　down　his　cheeks　into　his　moustache。　Foma's　lips　quivered　convulsively；　and　the　tears　fell　from　his　moustache　upon　his　breast。　He　was　silent　and　motionless；　only　his　chest　heaved　unevenly；　and　with　difficulty。　The　merchants　looked　at　his　pale；　tear…stained　face；　grown　lean　with　suffering；　with　the　corners　of　his　lips　lowered　downward；　and　walked　away　from　him　quietly　and　mutely。

And　then　Foma　remained　alone；　with　his　hands　tied　behind　his　back；　sitting　at　the　table　which　was　covered　with　dirty　dishes　and　different　remains　of　the　feast。　At　times　he　slowly　opened　his　heavy；　swollen　eyelids；　and　his　eyes；　through　tears；　looked　dimly　and　mournfully　at　the　table　where　everything　was　dirty；　upset；　ruined。

。。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。　　。

Three　years　have　passed。

About　a　year　ago　Yakov　Tarasovich　Mayakin　died。　He　died　in　full　consciousness；　and　remained　true　to　himself；　a　few　hours　before　his　death　he　said　to　his　son；　daughter　and　son…in…law：

〃Well；　children；　live　in　richness！　Yakov　has　tasted　everything；　so　now　it　is　time　for　Yakov　to　go。　You　see；　I　am　dying；　yet　I　am　not　despondent；　and　the　Lord　will　set　that　down　to　my　credit。　I　have　bothered　Him；　the　Most　Gracious　One；　with　jests　only；　but　never　with　moans　and　complaints！　0h　Lord！　I　am　glad　that　I　have　lived　with　understanding　through　Thy　mercy！　Farewell；　my　children。　Live　in　harmony；　and　don't　philosophize　too　much。　Know　this；　not　he　is　holy　who　hides　himself　from　sin　and　lies　calm。　With　cowardice　you　cannot　defend　yourself　against　sin；　thus　also　says　the　parable　of　the　talents。　But　he　who　wants　to　attain　his　goal　in　life　fears　not　sin。　God　will　pardon　him　an　error。　God　has　appointed　man　as　the　builder　of　life；　but　has　not　endowed　him　with　too　much　wisdom。　Consequently；　He　will　not　call　in　his　outstanding　debts　severely。　For　He　is　holy　and　most　merciful。〃

He　died　after　a　short　but　very　painful　agony。

Yozhov　was　for　some　reason　or　other　banished　from　the　town　soon　after　the　occurrence　on　the　steamer。

A　great　commercial　house　sprang　up　in　the　town　under　the　firm…　name　of　〃Taras　Mayakin　&　African　Smolin。〃

Nothing　had　been　heard　of　Foma　during　these　three　years。　It　was　rumoured　that　upon　his　discharge　from　the　asylum　Mayakin　had　sent　him　away　to　some　relatives　of　his　mother　in　the　Ural。

Not　long　ago　Foma　appeared　in　the　streets　of　the　town。　He　is　worn　out；　shabby　and　half…witted。　Almost　always　intoxicated；　he　appears　now　gloomy；　with　knitted　brow；　and　with　head　bent　down　on　his　breast；　now　smiling　the　pitiful　and　melancholy　smile　of　a　silly　fanatic。　Sometimes　he　is　turbulent；　but　that　happens　rarely。　He　lives　with　his　foster…sister　in　a　little　wing　in　the　yard。　His　acquaintances　among　the　merchants　and　citizens　often　ridicule　him。　As　Foma　walks　along　the　street；　suddenly　someone　shouts　to　him：

〃Eh；　you　prophet；　come　here！〃

Yet　he　rarely　goes　to　those　who　call　him；　he　shuns　people　and　does　not　care　to　speak　with　them。　But　when　he　does　approach　them　they　say　to　him：

〃Well；　tell　us　something　about　doomsday；　won't　you？　Ha；　ha；　ha！　Prophet！〃





The　End