复活 Resurrection 21

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复活Resurrection21
THETRIALTHEPROSECUTORANDTHEADVOCATES.
Whentheexaminationofthearticlesofmaterialevidencewasfinished,thepresidentannouncedthattheinvestigationwasnowconcludedandimmediatelycalledontheprocutortoproceed,hopingthatasthelatterwasalsoaman,he,too,mightfeelinclinedtosmokeordine,andshowsomemercyontherest.Butthepublicprocutorshowedmercyneithertohimlfnortoanyoneel.Hewasverystupidbynature,but,besidesthis,hehadhadthemisfortuneoffinishingschoolwithagoldmedalandofreceivingarewardforhissayon"Servitude"whenstudyingRomanLawattheUniversity,andwasthereforelfconfidentandlfsatisfiedinthehighestdegree(hissuccesswiththeladiesalsoconducingtothis)andhisstupidityhadbecomeextraordinary.
Whenthewordwasgiventohim,hegotupslowly,showingthewholeofhisgracefulfigureinhimbroidereduniform.Puttinghishandonthedeskhelookedroundtheroom,slightlybowinghishead,and,avoidingtheeyesoftheprisoners,begantoreadthespeechhehadpreparedwhilethereportswerebeingread.
"Gentlemenofthejury!Thebusinessthatnowliesbeforeyouis,ifImaysoexpressmylf,verycharacteristic."
Thespeechofapublicprocutor,accordingtohisviews,shouldalwayshaveasocialimportance,likethecelebratedspeechesmadebytheadvocateswhohavebecomedistinguished.True,theaudienceconsistedofthreewomenamptress,acook,andSimeon'ssisterandacoachman;butthisdidnotmatter.Thecelebritieshadbeguninthesameway.Tobealwaysattheheightofhisposition,i.e.,topenetrateintothedepthsofthepsychologicalsignificanceofcrimeandtodiscoverthewoundsofsociety,wasoneoftheprocutor'sprinciples.
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"Youebeforeyou,gentlemenofthejury,acrimecharacteristic,ifImaysoexpressmylf,oftheendofourcentury;bearing,sotosay,thespecificfeaturesofthatverypainfulphenomenon,thecorruptiontowhichthoelementsofourprentdaysociety,whichare,sotosay,particularlyexpodtotheburningraysofthisprocess,aresubject."
Thepublicprocutorspokeatgreatlength,tryingnottoforgetanyofthenotionshehadformedinhismind,and,ontheotherhand,nevertohesitate,andlethisspeechflowonforanhourandaquarterwithoutabreak.
Onlyoncehestoppedandforsometimestoodswallowinghissaliva,buthesoonmasteredhimlfandmadeupfortheinterruptionbyheightenedeloquence.Hespoke,nowwithatender,insinuatingaccent,steppingfromfoottofootandlookingatthejury,nowinquiet,businessliketones,glancingintohisnotebook,thenwithaloud,accusingvoice,lookingfromtheaudiencetotheadvocates.Butheavoidedlookingattheprisoners,whowereallthreefixedlygazingathim.Everynewcrazetheninvogueamonghistwasalludedtoinhisspeech;everythingthatthenwas,andsomethingsthatstillare,consideredtobethelastwordsofscientificwisdom:thelawsofheredityandinborncriminality,evolutionandthestruggleforexistence,hypnotismandhypnoticinfluence.
Accordingtohisdefinition,themerchantSmelkoffwasofthegenuineRussiantype,andhadperishedinconquenceofhisgenerous,trustingnature,havingfallenintothehandsofdeeplydegradedindividuals.
SimeonKartinkinwastheatavisticproductionofrfdom,astupefied,ignorant,unprincipledman,whohadnotevenanyreligion.Euphemiawashismistress,andavictimofheredity;allthesignsofdegenerationwerenoticeableinher.ThechiefwirepullerinthisaffairwasMaslova,prentingthephenomenonofdecadenceinitslowestform."Thiswoman,"hesaid,lookingather,"has,aswehavetodayheardfromhermistressinthiscourt,receivedaneducation;shecannotonlyreadandwrite,butsheknowsFrench;sheisillegitimate,andprobablycarriesinherthegermsofcriminality.Shewaducatedinanenlightened,noblefamilyandmighthavelivedbyhonestwork,butshedertsherbenefactress,givesherlfuptoalifeofshameinwhichsheisdistinguishedfromhercompanionsbyhereducation,andchiefly,gentlemenofthejury,asyouhaveheardfromhermistress,byherpowerofactingonthevisitorsbymeansofthatmysteriouscapacitylatelyinvestigatedbyscience,especiallybytheschoolofCharcot,knownbythenameofhypnoticinfluence.BythemeansshegetsholdofthisRussian,thiskindheartedSadko,[Sadko,theheroofalegend]therichguest,andushistrustinorderfirsttorobandthenpitilesslytomurderhim."
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"Well,heispilingitonnow,isn'the?"saidthepresidentwithasmile,bendingtowardstheriousmember.
"Afearfulblockhead!"saidtheriousmember.
Meanwhilethepublicprocutorwentonwithhisspeech."Gentlemenofthejury,"gracefullyswayinghisbody,"thefateofsocietyistoacertainextentinyourpower.Yourverdictwillinfluenceit.Graspthefullmeaningofthiscrime,thedangerthatawaitssocietyfromthowhomImayperhapsbepermittedtocallpathologicalindividuals,suchasMaslova.Guarditfrominfection;guardtheinnocentandstrongelementsofsocietyfromcontagionorevendestruction."
Andasifhimlfovercomebythesignificanceoftheexpectedverdict,thepublicprocutorsankintohischair,highlydelightedwithhisspeech.
Thenofthespeech,whendivestedofallitsflowersofrhetoric,wasthatMaslova,havinggainedthemerchant'sconfidence,hypnotidhimandwenttohislodgingswithhiskeymeaningtotakeallthemoneyherlf,buthavingbeencaughtintheactbySimeonandEuphemiahadtoshareitwiththem.Then,inordertohidethetracesofthecrime,shehadreturnedtothelodgingswiththemerchantandtherepoisonedhim.
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Aftertheprocutorhadspoken,amiddleagedmaninswallowtailcoatandlowcutwaistcoatshowingalargehalfcircleofstarchedwhiteshirt,rofromtheadvocates'benchandmadeaspeechindefenceofKartinkinandBotchkova;thiswasanadvocateengagedbythemfor300roubles.HeacquittedthembothandputalltheblameonMaslova.HedeniedthetruthofMaslova'sstatementsthatBotchkovaandKartinkinwerewithherwhenshetookthemoney,layinggreatstressonthepointthatherevidencecouldnotbeaccepted,shebeingchargedwithpoisoning."The2,500roubles,"theadvocatesaid,"couldhavebeeneasilyearnedbytwohonestpeoplegettingfromthreetofiveroublesperdayintipsfromthelodgers.Themerchant'smoneywasstolenbyMaslovaandgivenaway,orevenlost,asshewasnotinanormalstate."
ThepoisoningwascommittedbyMaslovaalone;thereforehebeggedthejurytoacquitKartinkinandBotchkovaofstealingthemoney;oriftheycouldnotacquitthemofthetheft,atleasttoadmitthatitwasdonewithoutanyparticipationinthepoisoning.
Inconclusiontheadvocateremarked,withathrustatthepublicprocutor,that"thebrilliantobrvationsofthatgentlemanonheredity,whileexplainingscientificfactsconcerningheredity,wereinapplicableinthisca,asBotchkovawasofunknownparentage."Thepublicprocutorputsomethingdownonpaperwithanangrylook,andshruggedhisshouldersincontemptuoussurpri.
ThenMaslova'sadvocatero,andtimidlyandhesitatinglybeganhisspeechinherdefence.
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Withoutdenyingthatshehadtakenpartinthestealingofthemoney,heinsistedonthefactthatshehadnointentionofpoisoningSmelkoff,buthadgivenhimthepowderonlytomakehimfallasleep.HetriedtogoinforalittleeloquenceingivingadescriptionofhowMaslovawasledintoalifeofdebaucherybyamanwhohadremainedunpunishedwhileshehadtobearalltheweightofherfall;butthixcursionintothedomainofpsychologywassounsuccessfulthatitmadeeverybodyfeeluncomfortable.Whenhemutteredsomethingaboutmen'scrueltyandwomen'shelplessness,thepresidenttriedtohelphimbyaskinghimtokeepclortothefactsoftheca.Whenhehadfinishedthepublicprocutorgotuptoreply.Hedefendedhispositionagainstthefirstadvocate,sayingthatovenifBotchkovawasofunknownparentagethetruthofthedoctrineofhereditywastherebyinnowayinvalidated,sincethelawsofheredityweresofarprovedbysciencethatwecannotonlydeducethecrimefromheredity,butheredityfromthecrime.AstothestatementmadeindefenceofMaslova,thatshewasthevictimofanimaginary(helaidaparticularlyvenomousstressonthewordimaginary)betrayer,hecouldonlysaythatfromtheevidencebeforethemitwasmuchmorelikelythatshehadplayedthepartoftemptresstomanyandmanyavictimwhohadfallenintoherhands.Havingsaidthishesatdownintriumph.Thentheprisonerswereofferedpermissiontospeakintheirowndefence.
EuphemiaBotchkovarepeatedoncemorethatsheknewnothingaboutitandhadtakenpartinnothing,andfirmlylaidthewholeblameonMaslova.SimeonKartinkinonlyrepeatedveraltimes:"Itisyourbusiness,butIaminnocent;it'sunjust."Maslovasaidnothinginherdefence.Toldshemightdosobythepresident,sheonlyliftedhereyestohim,castalookroundtheroomlikeahuntedanimal,and,droppingherhead,begantocry,sobbingaloud.
"Whatisthematter?"themerchantaskedNekhludoff,hearinghimutterastrangesound.Thiswasthesoundofweepingfiercelykeptback.Nekhludoffhadnotyetunderstoodthesignificanceofhisprentposition,andattributedthesobshecouldhardlykeepbackandthetearsthatfilledhiyestotheweaknessofhisnerves.Heputonhispincenezinordertohidethetears,thengotouthishandkerchiefandbeganblowinghisno.
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Fearofthedisgracethatwouldbefallhimifeveryoneinthecourtknewofhisconductstifledtheinnerworkingofhissoul.Thisfearwas,duringthisfirstperiod,strongerthanallel.
等物证检查完毕,庭长宣布法庭调查结束。他希望快点了结这个案件,就不休息,请提出公诉的副检察官发言,心想他也是人,也要吸烟吃饭,一定会顾惜他们的。不料副检察官既不顾惜自己,也不顾惜别人。他这人天生十分愚蠢,加上中学毕业时又获得了金质奖章,在大学里写了一篇关于罗马法地役权的论文得到奖金,因此自命不凡,刚愎自用(他在女人方面取得的成功更使他扬扬自得),结果也就变得越发愚蠢。庭长请他发言,他慢条斯理地站起来,显示出穿着绣有花纹的制服的优美身材,双手按住写字台,稍微低下头,向法庭扫视了一下,但目光避开被告们,开始发言。
“诸位陪审员先生,你们承审的案件,”他开始发表刚才在宣读报告时准备好的演说,“是一个典型的——如果可以这样说的话——犯罪案件。”
副检察官自以为他的演说应该有社会影响,就象那些名律师发表他们一举成名的演说那样。不错,旁听席上只坐着三个女人——一个女裁缝、一个厨娘和西蒙的姐姐,还有一个马车夫,但这并不影响他的演说。社会名流也都是这样崭露头角的。副检察官的行事原则,就是要永远高瞻远瞩,换句话说,就是要探索犯罪心理奥秘,揭露社会溃疡。
“诸位陪审员先生,你们看见你们面前这个典型的——如果可以这样说的话——世纪末罪行。这种罪行具有可悲的腐化堕落的特征,而在我们这个时代,我们社会里某些分子就受到这种堕落风气的严重影响……”
副检察官讲了好半天,一方面,竭力思索他已经想好的种种警句,另一方面,主要的是使他的演讲能毫不停顿,滔滔不绝地讲上一小时零一刻钟。他只停顿了一次,咽了好一阵唾沫,但立刻振作精神,更加口若悬河地说下去,来弥补这个间歇。他一会儿换一只脚站着,眼睛盯着陪审员,对他们曲意奉承;一会儿看看笔记本,声音平静而老练;一会儿又用慷慨激昂的语气控诉,身子忽而对着旁听者,忽而对着陪审员。只有那三个被告他一眼也不看,虽然他们都睁大眼睛望着他。他的演讲引用了当时在他们圈子里很流行的最新理论。这种理论不仅当时很时髦,就是到今天也还是被看成学术上的新事物,其中包括遗传学、先天犯罪说、龙勃罗梭①、塔尔德②、进化论、生存竞争、催眠术、暗示说、沙尔科③、颓废论。
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①戈勃罗梭(1836—1909)——意大利精神病学者,刑事人类学派的代表,认为“犯罪”是从有人类以来长期遗传的结果,提出反动的“先天犯罪说”。
②塔尔德(1843—1904)——法国社会学家,刑事学家。
③沙尔科(1825—1893)——法国神经病理学家,曾著书论述催眠术。
按照副检察官的判断,商人斯梅里科夫是个强壮淳朴的俄罗斯人,天性忠厚,气度宽大,轻信别人,以致落入无耻男女之手,不幸丧生。
西蒙·卡尔津金是农奴制隔代遗传的产物,一生备受压迫,缺乏教养,毫无原则,甚至不信宗教。叶菲米雅是他的情妇,是遗传的牺牲品,身上具有精神退化的种种征状。但造成罪行的主要动力是玛丝洛娃,她是颓废派的最恶劣代表。
“这个女人,”副检察官眼睛不看她,说,“受过教育,因为我们刚才在这个法庭里听到她掌班的证词。她不仅能读书写字,还懂得法语。她是个孤儿,多半生来带着犯罪的胚胎。她出身于有教养的贵族家庭,本可以靠诚实的劳动生活,可是她抛弃她的恩人,放纵***。为了满足***而投身***院,并由于受过教育而在姑娘中间特别走运。不过,诸位陪审员先生,正如刚才你们在这里听她掌班说的那样,主要是由于她能用一种神秘的本领控制嫖客。这种本领最近已由科学,特别是沙尔科学派研究出来,被称为‘暗示说’。她就是凭这种本领控制了那位善良、轻信而富裕的俄罗斯壮士,利用他对她的信任先盗窃钱财,然后又丧尽天良要了他的命。”
“哼,他这简直是胡说八道,”庭长笑着侧身对那个严厉的法官说。
“十足的笨蛋,”严厉的法官回答说。
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“诸位陪审员先生,”这时副检察官姿势优美地扭动细腰,继续说下去,“这些人的命运现在掌握在你们手里,不过社会的命运也多少掌握在你们手里,因为你们的判决将对社会发生影响。你们要深切注意这种罪行的危害性,注意玛丝洛娃之类病态人物对社会形成的威胁。你们要保护社会不受他们的传染,要保护这个社会中纯洁健康的成员不因此而导致常见的灭亡。”
副检察官似乎被当前判决的重要性所慑服,同时又陶醉于自己的演说,终于无力地在椅子上坐下来。
他的演说剥去华丽的词藻,中心意思就是,玛丝洛娃用催眠术把商人迷倒,骗得他的信任,拿了钥匙到旅馆房间取钱,原想独吞那些钱财,但被西蒙和叶菲米雅撞见,只得同他们分赃。这以后,为了掩盖犯罪痕迹,她又同那商人一起回到旅馆,在那里把他毒死。
副检察官发言以后,就有一个身穿燕尾服、胸前露出半圆形阔硬衬的中年人,从律师席上站起来,神气活现地替卡尔津金和包奇科娃辩护。这是他们花了三百卢布雇来的辩护律师。他为他们两人开脱,把全部罪责都推在玛丝洛娃身上。
律师批驳玛丝洛娃所说的她取钱时包奇科娃和卡尔津金都在场的供词,坚持说她既然是个已被揭发的毒死人命犯,她的供词就毫无价值。他还说,至于两千五百卢布,那么两个勤劳正直的茶房是挣得出来的,他们有时一天可以从旅客手里得到三、五个卢布赏钱。至于商人的钱,那是被玛丝洛娃盗窃了,可能已转交给什么人,甚至于丢失了,因为当时她精神状态不正常。毒死商人是玛丝洛娃一人干的。
因此他要求陪审员裁定卡尔津金和包奇科娃在盗窃钱财上无罪;如果陪审员裁定他们在盗窃上有罪,那么他们至少没有参与毒死人命罪,也没有参与预谋。
律师在结尾时刺了一下副检察官,说副检察官先生关于遗传科学方面的一番宏论,虽然精辟,但并不适用于本案,因为包奇科娃父母的身分不明。
副检察官恨得咬牙切齿,在一张纸上记了些什么,露出轻蔑而惊讶的神气耸耸肩膀。
接着,玛丝洛娃的律师站起来辩护。他说话结结巴巴,显然有点胆怯。他没有否认玛丝洛娃参与盗窃钱财,只坚持她没有蓄意毒死斯梅里科夫,给他吃药粉只是为了让他睡觉。他想施展一下他的口才,就提纲挈领地讲了玛丝洛娃当年怎样受一个男人诱*,那个男人至今逍遥法外,而她却不得不承受堕落的全部重担。但律师在心理学方面的分析并没有取得成功,因为人人听了都替他害臊。他谈到男人的粗暴残忍和女人的悲惨痛苦的时候,已经语无伦次,庭长有意帮他解围,就请他不要离题太远。
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这个律师讲完后,副检察官又站起来,批驳第一个律师的话,为自己的遗传学论点辩护。他说,即使包奇科娃的父母身分不明,遗传学说的正确性也丝毫不受损害,因为遗传规律已为科学所充分证实,我们不仅能通过遗传推断犯罪,而且能通过犯罪推断遗传。至于另一位辩护人说,玛丝洛娃曾受一个凭空想象的(他用特别恶毒的口气说了“凭空想象的”几个字)者的腐蚀,那么种种事实毋宁说,是她了许许多多男人,使他们落在她的手里,成为无辜的牺牲品。他说完这话,得意扬扬地坐下。接着,法庭让被告们自己辩护。
叶菲米雅·包奇科娃一再说她什么也不知道,什么事也没有参与,一口咬定一切罪行都是玛丝洛娃独自干的。西蒙只是反复说:
“你们要怎么办就怎么办,反正我没有罪,我是冤枉的。”
玛丝洛娃却什么话也没说。庭长对她说,她有权替自己辩护,她却象一头被包围的野兽,只抬起眼睛来对他望望,又望望其他人,接着垂下眼睛,放声痛哭起来。
“您怎么啦?”坐在聂赫留朵夫旁边的那个商人,听见聂赫留朵夫突然嘴里发出古怪的声音,问道。原来聂赫留朵夫正勉强忍住抽噎。
聂赫留朵夫还弄不清他目前的处境究竟是怎么一回事,就把强自克制的抽噎和夺眶而出的泪水看作神经脆弱的表现。为了掩饰,他戴上夹鼻眼镜,接着掏出手绢,擤了擤鼻涕。
他想到要是法庭里人人都知道他的罪行,他就会丢尽脸面。这种恐惧压倒了他的内心斗争,在这最初阶段,它比什么都强烈。