the forged coupon()-第34节
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were rows of winter corn。 In the distance a little village with its tiled roofs
was visible； on the left were fields of winter corn； and fields of stubble。 No
one was to be seen on any side； save a black human figure in front at the
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border…line； a gun slung on his back； and at his feet a dog。 On the spot
where the young Tsar stood； sitting beside him； almost at his feet； was a
young Russian soldier with a green band on his cap； and with his rifle
slung over his shoulders； who was rolling up a paper to make a cigarette。
The soldier was obviously unaware of the presence of the young Tsar and
his companion； and had not heard them。 He did now turn round when the
Tsar； who was standing directly over the soldier； asked； 〃Where are we？〃
〃On the Prussian frontier；〃 his guide answered。 Suddenly； far away in front
of them； a shot was fired。 The soldier jumped to his feet； and seeing two
men running； bent low to the ground； hastily put his tobacco into his
pocket； and ran after one of them。 〃Stop； or I'll shoot！〃 cried the soldier。
The fugitive； without stopping； turned his head and called out something
evidently abusive or blasphemous。
〃Damn you！〃 shouted the soldier； who put one foot a little forward and
stopped； after which； bending his head over his rifle； and raising his right
hand； he rapidly adjusted something； took aim； and； pointing the gun in the
direction of the fugitive； probably fired； although no sound was heard。
〃Smokeless powder； no doubt；〃 thought the young Tsar； and looking after
the fleeing man saw him take a few hurried steps； and bending lower and
lower； fall to the ground and crawl on his hands and knees。 At last he
remained lying and did not move。 The other fugitive； who was ahead of
him； turned round and ran back to the man who was lying on the ground。
He did something for him and then resumed his flight。
〃What does all this mean？〃 asked the Tsar。
〃These are the guards on the frontier； enforcing the revenue laws。 That
man was killed to protect the revenues of the State。〃
〃Has he actually been killed？〃
The guide again laid his hand upon the head of the young Tsar； and
again the Tsar lost consciousness。 When he had recovered his senses he
found himself in a small roomthe customs office。 The dead body of a
man； with a thin grizzled beard； an aquiline nose； and big eyes with the
eyelids closed； was lying on the floor。 His arms were thrown asunder； his
feet bare； and his thick； dirty toes were turned up at right angles and stuck
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out straight。 He had a wound in his side； and on his ragged cloth jacket； as
well as on his blue shirt； were stains of clotted blood； which had turned
black save for a few red spots here and there。 A woman stood close to the
wall； so wrapped up in shawls that her face could scarcely be seen。
Motionless she gazed at the aquiline nose； the upturned feet； and the
protruding eyeballs； sobbing and sighing； and drying her tears at long；
regular intervals。 A pretty girl of thirteen was standing at her mother's side；
with her eyes and mouth wide open。 A boy of eight clung to his mother's
skirt； and looked intensely at his dead father without blinking。
From a door near them an official； an officer； a doctor； and a clerk with
documents； entered。 After them came a soldier； the one who had shot the
man。 He stepped briskly along behind his superiors； but the instant he
saw the corpse he went suddenly pale； and quivered； and dropping his
head stood still。 When the official asked him whether that was the man
who was escaping across the frontier； and at whom he had fired； he was
unable to answer。 His lips trembled； and his face twitched。 〃The ss s
〃 he began； but could not get out the words which he wanted to say。 〃The
same； your excellency。〃 The officials looked at each other and wrote
something down。
〃You see the beneficial results of that same system！〃
In a room of sumptuous vulgarity two men sat drinking wine。 One of
them was old and grey； the other a young Jew。 The young Jew was holding
a roll of bank…notes in his hand； and was bargaining with the old man。
He was buying smuggled goods。
〃You've got 'em cheap；〃 he said； smiling。
〃Yesbut the risk〃
〃This is indeed terrible；〃 said the young Tsar； but it cannot be avoided。
Such proceedings are necessary。〃
His companion made no response； saying merely； 〃Let us move on；〃
and laid his hand again on the head of the Tsar。 When the Tsar recovered
consciousness； he was standing in a small room lit by a shaded lamp。 A
woman was sitting at the table sewing。 A boy of eight was bending over
the table； drawing； with his feet doubled up under him in the armchair。 A
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student was reading aloud。 The father and daughter of the family entered
the room noisily。
〃You signed the order concerning the sale of spirits；〃 said the guide to
the Tsar。
〃Well？〃 said the woman。
〃He's not likely to live。〃
〃What's the matter with him？〃
〃They've kept him drunk all the time。〃
〃It's not possible！〃 exclaimed the wife。
〃It's true。 And the boy's only nine years old； that Vania Moroshkine。〃
〃What did you do to try to save him？〃 asked the wife。
〃I tried everything that could be done。 I gave him an emetic and put
a mustard…plaster on him。 He has every symptom of delirium tremens。〃
〃It's no wonderthe whole family are drunkards。 Annisia is only a
little better than the rest； and even she is generally more or less drunk；〃
said the daughter。
〃And what about your temperance society？〃 the student asked his
sister。
〃What can we do when they are given every opportunity of drinking？
Father tried to have the public…house shut up； but the law is against him。
And； besides； when I was trying to convince Vasily Ermiline that it was
disgraceful to keep a public…house and ruin the people with drink； he
answered very haughtily； and indeed got the better of me before the crowd：
'But I have a license with the Imperial eagle on it。 If there was anything
wrong in my business； the Tsar wouldn't have issued a decree authorising
it。' Isn't it terrible？ The whole village has been drunk for the last three
days。 And as for feast…days； it is simply horrible to think of！ It has been
proved conclusively that alcohol does no good in any case； but invariably
does harm； and it has been demonstrated to be an absolute poison。 Then；
ninety…nine per cent。 of the crimes in the world are committed through its
influence。 We all know how the standard of morality and the general
welfare improved at once in all the countries where drinking has been
suppressedlike Sweden and Finland； and we know that it can be
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suppressed by exercising a moral influence over the masses。 But in our
country the class which could exert that influence the Government； the
Tsar and his officialssimply encourage drink。 Their main revenues are
drawn from the continual drunkenness of the people。 They drink
themselvesthey are always drinking the health of somebody：
'Gentlemen； the Regiment！' The preachers drink； the bishops drink〃
Again the guide touched the head of the young Tsar； who again lost
consciousness。 This time he found himself in a peasant's cottage。 The
peasanta man of forty； with red face and blood…shot eyes was furiously
striking the face of an old man； who tried in vain to protect himself from
the blows。 The younger peasant seized the beard of the old man and held
it fast。
〃For shame！ To strike your father！〃
〃I don't care； I'll kill him！ Let them send me to S
