复活 Resurrection 11

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复活Resurrection11
THETRIALMASLOVACROSSEXAMINED.
Whenthereadingoftheindictmentwasover,thepresident,afterhavingconsultedthemembers,turnedtoKartinkin,withanexpressionthatplainlysaid:Nowweshallfindoutthewholetruthdowntotheminutestdetail.
"PeasantSimeonKartinkin,"hesaid,stoopingtotheleft.
SimeonKartinkingotup,stretchedhisarmsdownhissides,andleaningforwardwithhiswholebody,continuedmovinghischeeksinaudibly.
"Youareaccudofhavingonthe17thJanuary,188,togetherwithEuphemiaBotchkovaandKaterinaMaslova,stolenmoneyfromaportmanteaubelongingtothemerchantSmelkoff,andthen,havingprocuredsomearnic,persuadedKaterinaMaslovatogiveittothemerchantSmelkoffinaglassofbrandy,whichwasthecauofSmelkoff'sdeath.Doyoupleadguilty?"saidthepresident,stoopingtotheright.
"Notnohow,becauourbusinessistoattendonthelodgers,and"
"You'lltellusthatafterwards.Doyoupleadguilty?"
"Oh,no,sir.Ionly,"
"You'lltellusthatafterwards.Doyoupleadguilty?"quietlyandfirmlyaskedthepresident.
"Can'tdosuchathing,becauthat"
TheusheragainrusheduptoSimeonKartinkin,andstoppedhiminatragicwhisper.
Thepresidentmovedthehandwithwhichheheldthepaperandplacedtheelbowinadifferentpositionwithanairthatsaid:"Thisisfinished,"andturnedtoEuphemiaBotchkova.
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"EuphemiaBotchkova,youareaccudofhaving,onthe17thofJanuary,188,inthelodginghouMauritania,togetherwithSimeonKartinkinandKaterinaMaslova,stolensomemoneyandaringoutofthemerchantSmelkoff'sportmanteau,andhavingsharedthemoneyamongyourlves,givenpoisontothemerchantSmelkoff,therebycausinghisdeath.Doyoupleadguilty?"
"Iamnotguiltyofanything,"boldlyandfirmlyrepliedtheprisoner."Ineverwentneartheroom,butwhenthisbaggagewentinshedidthewholebusiness."
"Youwillsayallthisafterwards,"thepresidentagainsaid,quietlyandfirmly."Soyoudonotpleadguilty?"
"Ididnottakethemoneynorgivethedrink,norgointotheroom.HadIgoneinIshouldhavekickedherout."
"Soyoudonotpleadguilty?"
"Never."
"Verywell."
"KaterinaMaslova,"thepresidentbegan,turningtothethirdprisoner,"youareaccudofhavingcomefromthebrothelwiththekeyofthemerchantSmelkoff'sportmanteau,money,andaring."Hesaidallthislikealessonlearnedbyheart,leaningtowardsthememberonhisleft,whowaswhisperingintohiscarthatabottlementionedinthelistofthematerialevidencewasmissing."Ofhavingstolenoutoftheportmanteaumoneyandaring,"herepeated,"andsharedit.Then,returningtothelodginghouMauritaniawithSmelkoff,ofgivinghimpoisoninhisdrink,andtherebycausinghisdeath.Doyoupleadguilty?"
"Iamnotguiltyofanything,"shebeganrapidly."AsIsaidbeforeIsayagain,IdidnottakeitIdidnottakeit;Ididnottakeanything,andtheringhegavemehimlf."
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"Youdonotpleadguiltyofhavingstolen2,500roubles?"askedthepresident.
"I'vesaidItooknothingbutthe40roubles."
"Well,anddoyoupleadguiltyofhavinggiventhemerchantSmelkoffapowderinhisdrink?"
"Yes,thatIdid.OnlyIbelievedwhattheytoldme,thattheyweresleepingpowders,andthatnoharmcouldcomeofthem.Ineverthought,andneverwished...Godismywitness;Isay,Inevermeantthis,"shesaid.
"SoyoudonotpleadguiltyofhavingstolenthemoneyandtheringfromthemerchantSmelkoff,butconfessthatyougavehimthepowder?"saidthepresident.
"Well,yes,Idoconfessthis,butIthoughttheyweresleepingpowders.Ionlygavethemtomakehimsleep;Inevermeantandneverthoughtofwor."
"Verywell,"saidthepresident,evidentlysatisfiedwiththeresultsgained."Nowtellushowitallhappened,"andheleanedbackinhischairandputhisfoldedhandsonthetable."Tellusallaboutit.Afreeandfullconfessionwillbetoyouradvantage."
Maslovacontinuedtolookatthepresidentinsilence,andblushing.
"Tellushowithappened."
"Howithappened?"Maslovasuddenlybegan,speakingquickly."Icametothelodginghou,andwasshownintotheroom.Hewasthere,alreadyverydrunk."Shepronouncedtheword_he_withalookofhorrorinherwideopeneyes."Iwishedtogoaway,buthewouldnotletme."Shestopped,asifhavinglostthethread,orrememberedsomethingel.
"Well,andthen?"
"Well,whatthen?Iremainedabit,andwenthomeagain."
Atthismomentthepublicprocutorraidhimlfalittle,leaningononeelbowinanawkwardmanner.
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"Youwouldliketoputaquestion?"saidthepresident,andhavingreceivedananswerintheaffirmative,hemadeagestureinvitingthepublicprocutortospeak.
"Iwanttoask,wastheprisonerpreviouslyacquaintedwithSimeonKartinkin?"saidthepublicprocutor,withoutlookingatMaslova,and,havingputthequestion,hecompresdhislipsandfrowned.
Thepresidentrepeatedthequestion.Maslovastaredatthepublicprocutor,withafrightenedlook.
"WithSimeon?Yes,"shesaid.
"Ishouldliketoknowwhattheprisoner'sacquaintancewithKartinkinconsistedin.Didtheymeetoften?"
"Consistedin?...Heinvitedmeforthelodgers;itwasnotanacquaintanceatall,"answeredMaslova,anxiouslymovinghereyesfromthepresidenttothepublicprocutorandbacktothepresident.
"IshouldliketoknowwhyKartinkininvitedonlyMaslova,andnoneoftheothergirls,forthelodgers?"saidthepublicprocutor,withhalfclodeyesandacunning,Mephistopheliansmile.
"Idon'tknow.HowshouldIknow?"saidMaslova,castingafrightenedlookround,andfixinghereyesforamomentonNekhludoff."Heaskedwhomheliked."
"Isitpossiblethatshehasrecognidme?"thoughtNekhludoff,andthebloodrushedtohisface.ButMaslovaturnedawaywithoutdistinguishinghimfromtheothers,andagainfixedhereyesanxiouslyonthepublicprocutor.
"SotheprisonerdenieshavinghadanyintimaterelationswithKartinkin?Verywell,Ihavenomorequestionstoask."
Andthepublicprocutortookhilbowoffthedesk,andbeganwritingsomething.Hewasnotreallynotinganythingdown,butonlygoingoverthelettersofhisnoteswithapen,havingentheprocureurandleadingadvocates,afterputtingacleverquestion,makeanote,withwhich,lateron,toannihilatetheiradversaries.
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Thepresidentdidnotcontinueatonce,becauhewasconsultingthememberwiththespectacles,whetherhewasagreedthatthequestions(whichhadallbeenpreparedbeforehandandwrittenout)shouldbeput.
"Well!Whathappenednext?"hethenwenton.
"Icamehome,"lookingalittlemoreboldlyonlyatthepresident,"andwenttobed.HardlyhadIfallenasleepwhenoneofourgirls,Bertha,wokeme.'Go,yourmerchanthascomeagain!'He"sheagainutteredtheword_he_withevidenthorror"hekepttreatingourgirls,andthenwantedtondformorewine,buthismoneywasallgone,andhentmetohislodgingsandtoldmewherethemoneywas,andhowmuchtotake.SoIwent."
Thepresidentwaswhisperingtothememberonhisleft,but,inordertoappearasifhehadheard,herepeatedherlastwords.
"Soyouwent.Well,whatnext?"
"Iwent,anddidallhetoldme;wentintohisroom.Ididnotgoalone,butcalledSimeonKartinkinandher,"shesaid,pointingtoBotchkova.
"That'salie;Ineverwentin,"Botchkovabegan,butwasstopped.
"IntheirprenceItookoutfournotes,"continuedMaslova,frowning,withoutlookingatBotchkova.
"Yes,butdidtheprisonernotice,"againaskedtheprocutor,"howmuchmoneytherewaswhenshewasgettingoutthe40roubles?"
Maslovashudderedwhentheprocutoraddresdher;shedidnotknowwhyitwas,butshefeltthathewishedherevil.
"Ididnotcountit,butonlysawsome100roublenotes."
"Ah!Theprisonersaw100roublenotes.That'sall?"
"Well,soyoubroughtbackthemoney,"continuedthepresident,lookingattheclock.
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"Idid."
"Well,andthen?"
"Thenhetookmebackwithhim,"saidMaslova.
"Well,andhowdidyougivehimthepowder?Inhisdrink?"
"HowdidIgiveit?Iputtheminandgaveithim."
"Whydidyougiveithim?"
Shedidnotanswer,butsigheddeeplyandheavily.
"Hewouldnotletmego,"shesaid,afteramoment'ssilence,"andIwasquitetiredout,andsoIwentoutintothepassageandsaidtoSimeon,'Ifhewouldonlyletmego,Iamsotired.'Andhesaid,'Wearealsosickofhim;wewerethinkingofgivinghimasleepingdraught;hewillfallasleep,andthenyoucango.'SoIsaidallright.Ithoughttheywereharmless,andhegavemethepacket.Iwentin.Hewaslyingbehindthepartition,andatoncecalledforbrandy.Itookabottleof'finechampagne'fromthetable,pouredouttwoglass,oneforhimandoneformylf,andputthepowdersintohisglass,andgaveithim.HadIknownhowcouldIhavegiventhemtohim?"
"Well,andhowdidtheringcomeintoyourposssion?"askedthepresident."Whendidhegiveityou?"
"Thatwaswhenwecamebacktohislodgings.Iwantedtogoaway,andhegavemeaknockontheheadandbrokemycomb.IgotangryandsaidI'dgoaway,andhetooktheringoffhisfingerandgaveittomesothatIshouldnotgo,"shesaid.
Thenthepublicprocutoragainslightlyraidhimlf,and,puttingonanairofsimplicity,askedpermissiontoputafewmorequestions,and,havingreceivedit,bendinghisheadoverhimbroideredcollar,hesaid:"IshouldliketoknowhowlongtheprisonerremainedinthemerchantSmelkoff'sroom."
Maslovaagainemedfrightened,andsheagainlookedanxiouslyfromthepublicprocutortothepresident,andsaidhurriedly:
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"Idonotrememberhowlong."
"Yes,butdoestheprisonerrememberifshewentanywhereelinthelodginghouaftersheleftSmelkoff?"
Maslovaconsideredforamoment."Yes,Ididgointoanemptyroomnexttohis."
"Yes,andwhydidyougoin?"askedthepublicprocutor,forgettinghimlf,andaddressingherdirectly.
"Iwentintorestabit,andtowaitforanisvostchik."
"AndwasKartinkinintheroomwiththeprisoner,ornot?"
"Hecamein."
"Whydidhecomein?"
"Therewassomeofthemerchant'sbrandyleft,andwefinishedittogether."
"Oh,finishedittogether.Verywell!AnddidtheprisonertalktoKartinkin,and,ifso,whatabout?"
Maslovasuddenlyfrowned,blushedveryred,andsaid,hurriedly,"Whatabout?Ididnottalkaboutanything,andthat'sallIknow.Dowhatyoulikewithme;Iamnotguilty,andthat'sall."
"Ihavenothingmoretoask,"saidtheprocutor,and,drawinguphisshouldersinanunnaturalmanner,beganwritingdown,astheprisoner'sownevidence,inthenotesforhisspeech,thatshehadbeenintheemptyroomwithKartinkin.
Therewasashortsilence.
"Youhavenothingmoretosay?"
"Ihavetoldeverything,"shesaid,withasigh,andsatdown.
Thenthepresidentnotedsomethingdown,and,havinglistenedtosomethingthatthememberonhisleftwhisperedtohim,heannouncedatenminutes'interval,rohurriedly,andleftthecourt.Thecommunicationhehadreceivedfromthetall,beardedmemberwiththekindlyeyeswasthatthemember,havingfeltaslightstomachderangement,wishedtodoalittlemassageandtotakesomedrops.Andthiswaswhyanintervalwasmade.
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Whenthejudgeshadrin,theadvocates,thejury,andthewitnessalsoro,withthepleasantfeelingthatpartofthebusinesswasfinished,andbeganmovingindifferentdirections.
Nekhludoffwentintothejury'sroom,andsatdownbythewindow.
等到起诉书念完,庭长同两个法官商量了一番,然后转身对卡尔津金说话,脸上的神情分明表示:这下子我们就会把全部案情弄个水落石出了。
“农民西蒙·卡尔津金,”他身子侧向左边,开口说。
西蒙·卡尔津金站起来,两手贴住裤子两侧的接缝,整个身子向前冲,两边腮帮无声地抖动个不停。
“你被控于一八八×年一月十七日串通叶菲米雅·包奇科娃和叶卡吉琳娜·玛丝洛娃盗窃商人斯梅里科夫皮箱里的现款,然后拿来***,唆使叶卡吉琳娜·玛丝洛娃放在酒里给商人斯梅里科夫喝下,致使斯梅里科夫中毒毙命。你承认自己犯了罪吗?”他说完把身子侧向右边。
“绝对没这回事,因为我们的本份是伺候客人……”
“这话你留到以后再说。你承认自己犯了罪吗?”
“绝对没有,老爷。我只是……”
“有话以后再说。你承认自己犯了罪吗?”庭长从容而坚决地再次问道。
“我可不会干这种事,因为……”
民事执行吏又连忙奔到西蒙·卡尔津金身边,悲天悯人地低声制止他。
庭长现出对他的审问已经完毕的神气,把拿文件那只手的臂肘挪了个地方,转身对叶菲米雅·包奇科娃说话。
“叶菲米雅·包奇科娃,你被控于一八八×年一月十七日在摩尔旅馆串通西蒙·卡尔津金和叶卡吉琳娜·玛丝洛娃从商人斯梅里科夫皮箱里盗窃其现款与戒指一枚,三人分赃,并为掩盖你们的罪行,让商人斯梅里科夫喝下毒酒,致使他毙命。你承认自己犯了罪吗?”
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“我什么罪也没有,”这个女被告神气活现地断然说。“我连那个房间都没有进去过……既然那个贱货进去过,那就是她作的案。”
“这话你以后再说,”庭长又是那么软中带硬地说。“那么你不承认自己犯了