some reminiscences-第15节
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not be worried。〃 All this considerate caution on the part of
friends； both conspirators and others； did not prevent Mr。
Nicholas B。 being made to feel the misfortunes of that ill…omened
year。
Less than forty…eight hours after the beginning of the rebellion
in that part of the country； a squadron of scouting Cossacks
passed through the village and invaded the homestead。 Most of
them remained formed between the house and the stables； while
several； dismounting； ransacked the various outbuildings。 The
officer in command； accompanied by two men； walked up to the
front door。 All the blinds on that side were down。 The officer
told the servant who received him that he wanted to see his
master。 He was answered that the master was away from home；
which was perfectly true。
I follow here the tale as told afterwards by the servant to my
grand…uncle's friends and relatives； and as I have heard it
repeated。
On receiving this answer the Cossack officer； who had been
standing in the porch； stepped into the house。
〃Where is the master gone； then？〃
〃Our master went to J〃 （the government town some fifty miles
off）； 〃the day before yesterday。〃
〃There are only two horses in the stables。 Where are the
others？〃
〃Our master always travels with his own horses〃 （meaning： not by
post）。 〃He will be away a week or more。 He was pleased to
mention to me that he had to attend to some business in the Civil
Court。〃
While the servant was speaking the officer looked about the hall。
There was a door facing him； a door to the right and a door to
the left。 The officer chose to enter the room on the left and
ordered the blinds to be pulled up。 It was Mr。 Nicholas B。's
study with a couple of tall bookcases； some pictures on the
walls； and so on。 Besides the big centre table； with books and
papers； there was a quite small writing…table with several
drawers； standing between the door and the window in a good
light； and at this table my grand…uncle usually sat either to
read or write。
On pulling up the blind the servant was startled by the discovery
that the whole male population of the village was massed in
front； trampling down the flower…beds。 There were also a few
women amongst them。 He was glad to observe the village priest
（of the Orthodox Church） coming up the drive。 The good man in
his haste had tucked up his cassock as high as the top of his
boots。
The officer had been looking at the backs of the books in the
bookcases。 Then he perched himself on the edge of the centre…
table and remarked easily：
〃Your master did not take you to town with him； then。〃
〃I am the head servant and he leaves me in charge of the house。
It's a strong； young chap that travels with our master。 IfGod
forbidthere was some accident on the road he would be of much
more use than I。〃
Glancing through the window he saw the priest arguing vehemently
in the thick of the crowd； which seemed subdued by his
interference。 Three or four men； however； were talking with the
Cossacks at the door。
〃And you don't think your master has gone to join the rebels
maybeeh？〃 asked the officer。
〃Our master would be too old for that surely。 He's well over
seventy and he's getting feeble too。 It's some years now since
he's been on horseback and he can't walk much either now。〃
The officer sat there swinging his leg； very quiet and
indifferent。 By that time the peasants who had been talking with
the Cossack troopers at the door had been permitted to get into
the hall。 One or two more left the crowd and followed them in。
They were seven in all and amongst them the blacksmith； an ex…
soldier。 The servant appealed deferentially to the officer。
〃Won't your honour be pleased to tell the people to go back to
their homes？ What do they want to push themselves into the house
like this for？ It's not proper for them to behave like this while
our master's away and I am responsible for everything here。〃
The officer only laughed a little； and after a while inquired：
〃Have you any arms in the house？〃
〃Yes。 We have。 Some old things。〃
〃Bring them all； here； on to this table。〃
The servant made another attempt to obtain protection。
〃Won't your honour tell these chaps。 。 。？〃
But the officer looked at him in silence in such a way that he
gave it up at once and hurried off to call the pantry…boy to help
him collect the arms。 Meantime the officer walked slowly through
all the rooms in the house； examining them attentively but
touching nothing。 The peasants in the hall fell back and took
off their caps when he passed through。 He said nothing whatever
to them。 When he came back to the study all the arms to be found
in the house were lying on the table。 There was a pair of big
flint…lock holster pistols from Napoleonic times； two cavalry
swords； one of the French the other of the Polish Army pattern；
with a fowling…piece or two。
The officer； opening the window； flung out pistols； swords and
guns； one after another； and his troopers ran to pick them up。
The peasants in the hall； encouraged by his manner； had stolen
after him into the study。 He gave not the slightest sign of
being conscious of their existence and； his business being
apparently concluded； strode out of the house without a word。
Directly he left； the peasants in the study put on their caps and
began to smile at each other。
The Cossacks rode away； passing through the yards of the home
farm straight into the fields。 The priest； still arguing with
the peasants； moved gradually down the drive and his earnest
eloquence was drawing the silent mob after him； away from the
house。 This justice must be rendered to the parish priests of
the Greek Church that； strangers to the country as they were
（being all drawn from the interior of Russia）； the majority of
them used such influence as they had over their flocks in the
cause of peace and humanity。 True to the spirit of their
calling； they tried to soothe the passions of the excited
peasantry and opposed rapine and violence whenever they could；
with all their might。 And this conduct they pursued against the
express wishes of the authorities。 Later on some of them were
made to suffer for this disobedience by being removed abruptly to
the far north or sent away to Siberian parishes。
The servant was anxious to get rid of the few peasants who had
got into the house。 What sort of conduct was that； he asked
them； towards a man who was only a tenant； had been invariably
good and considerate to the villagers for years； and only the
other day had agreed to give up two meadows for the use of the
village herd？ He reminded them； too； of Mr。 Nicholas B。's
devotion to the sick in the time of cholera。 Every word of this
was true and so far effective that the fellows began to scratch
their heads and look irresolute。 The speaker then pointed at the
window； exclaiming： 〃Look！ there's all your crowd going away
quietly and you silly chaps had better go after them and pray God
to forgive you your evil thoughts。〃
This appeal was an unlucky inspiration。 In crowding clumsily to
the window to see whether he was speaking the truth； the fellows
overturned the little writing…table。 As it fell over a chink of
loose coin was heard。 〃There's money in that thing；〃 cried the
blacksmith。 In a moment the top of the delicate piece of
furniture was smashed and there lay exposed in a drawer eighty
half…imperials。 Gold coin was a rare sight in Russia even at
that time； it put the peasants beside themselves。 〃There must be
more of that in the house and we shall have it；〃 yelled the ex…
soldier blacksmith。 〃This is war time。〃 The others were already
shouting out of the window urging the crowd to come back and
help。 The priest； abandoned suddenly at the gate； flung his arms
up and hurried away so as not to see what was going to happen。
In their search for money that bucolic mob smashed everything in
the house； ripping with knives； splitting with hatchets； so that；
as the servant said； there were no two pieces of wood holding
together left in the whole house。 They broke some very fine
mirrors； all the windows and every piece of glass and china
