Chapter 8 The Honest Thief - From the Notes of an Unknown Person
One morning, as I was getting ready to go to work, Agrafena came into my room.She is my hired cook who also takes care of housework and laundry.
To my surprise, she actually started chatting with me.
She was originally an ordinary country woman, always reticent, except for one or two words every day about what meals are being prepared, she has hardly said anything in the past five or six years, at least I have never heard of it.
"Sir, I have business with you," she said suddenly, "you should rent out the small room."
"Which cubicle?"
"It's the little room next to the kitchen. Everyone knows it."
"why?"
"Why! For people to live in, isn't that clear?"
"Who will rent it?"
"Who will rent it! The tenants will rent it, it's not clear?"
"My God, there's no room for a bed in there. It's so crowded. Who's going to live there?"
"Why live there! As long as there is a place to sleep. And he can live in the window."
"Which window?"
"That's the window, as if he didn't know it! It's the one in the front hall. He can sit there, and sew, or whatever. He can sit in a chair, too. He There's a chair, and a table, everything."
"What kind of person is he?"
"A good man, a weather-beaten man. I'll cook him something to eat.
I'm going to charge him three silver rubles for the rent and board..."
At last, after a long effort, I found out that it was an elderly man who had persuaded Agrafena, or rather encouraged her, to let him live in the kitchen as a companion.What Agrafena had in mind, it must be done.Otherwise, I know, she will not give me peace.If anything did not go her way, she immediately fell into brooding, and fell into a deep melancholy, which lasted for two or three weeks.At this time, the food is not cooked to taste, the underwear is changed and washed, and the floor is not wiped clean. All in all, many unhappiness will occur.I discovered early on that it was impossible for this woman of few words to make decisions because she had no opinions of her own.But if by chance something like a thought forms in her simple mind, you have to let her do it, or she'll be in a lot of mental torment for a long time.So, while quiet is my favorite, I immediately agreed.
"He must at least have a proof, like a passport or something?"
"Never mind! Of course there is. A good man, a weather-beaten man.
Three rubles were promised. "
The very next day there was a new tenant in my modest bachelor house.I'm not angry, though, and even secretly pleased.Generally speaking, I lived a reclusive life, almost like a hermit.I have few acquaintances and rarely go out.I have lived this kind of life for ten years, and of course I am used to living alone.But ten, fifteen years from now, perhaps even more reclusive, still with this Agrafena, still living in the single house, the prospects must be rather bleak, of course!Therefore, in this case, it is a gift from heaven to have an honest and peaceful companion!
Agrafena was not lying.My lodger is a weather-beaten man.Judging from the passport, he is a retired soldier. In fact, I didn't look at the passport. I could tell it at a glance just by his face.This is easy to see.My lodger, Astafy Ivanovitch, was a good fellow among their companions.We get along very well.But here's the best part: Astafy Ivanovich sometimes liked to tell stories about the events of his life.As my life has always been dull, it was a great pleasure to have such a good storyteller for company.Once, he told me such a story, which left a deep impression on me.But how did the story get told?
One day I was alone in the house: both Astafy Ivanovitch and Agrafena went off to work.Suddenly I heard a noise in the second room, and a person walked in. I thought he looked strange. I went out and saw that there was indeed a stranger standing in the front hall. He was short in stature, although it was cold autumn, But he only wore a thin frock coat.
"What's your business?"
"I'm looking for Alexandrov, the civil servant. Does he live here?"
"There is no one like that, my brother. Good-bye!"
"What does the keeper say about him being here?" said the visitor, slipping cautiously towards the door.
"Go, go, brother, go!"
The next day, after lunch, Astafy Ivanovitch was trying me on a frock coat he had altered, when someone else entered the hall.I opened the door a tiny crack.
In my presence, the gentleman who had been here yesterday swaggered down a tight coat with a pleat at the waist from the hanger, tucked it under his arm, and then walked out of the room.Agrafena watched, gaping in amazement, and did nothing to protect the coat.Astafy Ivanovitch ran after the impostor, and ten minutes later he came back panting and empty-handed.That person has disappeared without a trace!
"Well, that's unlucky, Astafy Ivanovitch. We've got the overcoat! Otherwise it would have been worse, what a liar!"
But everything that happened shocked Astafy Ivanovich so much that, looking at him, I even forgot about the theft.He couldn't get back to normal, and from time to time he dropped what he was doing, and told the whole story again and again, saying that he was standing there, just two steps away from his eyes, being killed by someone. A tight coat with a pleat at the waist was taken, and it was done so quickly that you couldn't catch the guy who stole it.Then he sat down and continued to work, but after a while he put down the work again, and so on many times.In the end, I saw him go to the yard guard and blame him for being irresponsible for allowing this kind of thing to happen in the yard under his jurisdiction.When he came back, he started scolding Grafina again.Then he sat down to work again, but still talking to himself, and murmured for a long time how it happened, how he was standing here, and there I was, right under my nose, two paces away, A tight coat with pleats at the waist was stolen, etc.In short, although Astafy Ivanovich was a good worker, he was a helpful and attentive person.
"You and I have been duped, Astafy Ivanovich!" I said to him in the evening, offering him a cup of tea, hoping that he would tell the story of the stolen coat again, because I was lonely and bored.The story has been made very comical by its many repetitions, and by the very emotion of the narrator.
"Yes, we are all fooled! Even the bystanders are annoyed and angry, although it is not my clothes that are lost. So, I think, there is nothing worse in the world than a thief. Some people are good Take advantage of others, but this guy steals your labor, your sweat, your time...
Damn it, bah!I don't even want to say it, I get angry when I say it!Sir, why don't you feel sorry for your property being stolen? "
"Yes, what a pity! Astafy Ivanitch! Burning things is better than stealing them! It's so irritating to see thieves commit crimes, and I don't want to!"
"Who wants to see this kind of scene? Of course, a thief is not the same as a thief... Sir, it happened to me once. I met an honest thief."
"How can you meet honest thieves? Are there honest thieves, Astafy Ivanitch?"
"It is true, sir! There is no honest thief, and there can be no honest thief. All I want to say is that he seems to be honest, but he steals. It is a pity!"
"And what is it, Astafy Ivanovich?"
"Sir, this happened two years ago. At that time, I had no employment for nearly a year, and I was still living in the same place, and I met a poor man.
He is a parasite, a drinker and a lust. He used to work somewhere, but he was fired long ago because of drinking all day long.He is such a disgraceful person!God knows what clothes he was wearing!Sometimes you wonder: Is he wearing a shirt under his coat?Whatever was in his hand, he drank it all.
However, he does not cause trouble.He is easy-going, kind and friendly, never asks for alms from others, and is always ashamed.Oh, when you see his pitiful appearance, you can't wait to give him a cup!That's how I got to know him. It can also be said that he was the one who entangled me... It doesn't matter to me.But who is he!Haunting you like a puppy, wherever you go, he will follow you.And we are just acquaintances, what a loser!First of all, he asked to stay overnight, but there was no other way, so he agreed.I found that he also has an ID card, and he is also a nice person!Then, the next day, he was let in again for the night.When the third day came, I sat by the window all day and stayed overnight.Well, I thought, well, he's stuck with me: to feed him, to drink, to keep him overnight.A poor man has to support a free eater.Before that, he also pestered a small clerk like he pestered me, and often went to his house to eat and drink with him.Later, the employee became a drunkard, and he died of anger for some reason.And this man's name is Yemelya, Yemelya Ilyich.I thought, thought, and pondered: What should I do with him?Drive him away, it's hard on my conscience, poor thing!My goodness, poor man, poor indeed!He doesn't say a word, just sits around all the time, just staring into your eyes like a puppy.You see what alcoholism can do to a man!I thought to myself: Go away, Yemelyanoushka, go away!You have nothing to do with me; you have the wrong man; how can I feed you with my meager bread, as I myself will soon be broke?I sat and thought again: How could I say these things to him?What will he do after hearing it?Well, I can imagine it myself: as soon as he heard what I said, he would look at me for a long time, and would sit there for a long time without moving, unable to understand anything. Climbing down from the window, he snatched up his little bag (I now realize it was a plaid red bag with a lot of holes in it, God knows what he stuffed in it, he was always and everywhere took it with him, adjusted his shabby overcoat so that he might be seen to be well dressed and warm, and could not see a hole (what a gentleman!), and opened the door , weeping, and walked to the stairs. Cough, this man has not completely degenerated... Poor! At this time, I thought: What about my own situation! I thought to myself: Wait a minute, Ye Mai Ryanushka, you have been eating and drinking with me for a while, and I will move away soon, and you will not find me. No, sir, we will meet again. Master Alexander Filimonovitch ( He is dead, may he go to heaven) said at the time: I am very satisfied with you, Astafy, we will all come back from the country, we will not forget you, and will hire you again. I am at his old man's house I used to be a housekeeper, the old man was kind, and he died that year. As soon as we sent him away, I took my savings, a little money, and wanted to live in peace, so I went to find an old woman , rented a small corner in her house. She also only had one corner that was unoccupied. She also worked as a nanny for others at that time, but now she is richer, living alone, and can often receive some pensions Kim. I thought, goodbye now, Emelyanoushka, my darling! You will never find me again! What do you want, sir? I will go home in the evening (I went to see an acquaintance ), the first thing I saw was Emelyanoushka, sitting on one of my suitcases, with a checkered bag beside him, sitting in that old overcoat, waiting for my return ... to relieve boredom He also borrowed a religious book from the landlady, holding his head upside down. At last we met again! My hands were hanging down. I thought, well, there is no way, why didn't he get rid of him in the first place What? So I asked straight to the point: 'Do you have your ID card, Yemeria?' "Sir, I just sat down and started thinking: He, a wandering bum, is going to cause me a lot of trouble Is it? The result of consideration is: it doesn't matter much if there is a little trouble. I think he has to eat. Well, he must give him a piece of bread in the morning. Need to buy an onion. Of course I have to give him bread and onions at noon. I have to give him onions and kvass in the evening. If he wants to eat, he has to give some bread. If there is any soup, the two of us will eat it I'm well fed. I don't eat much. You know a man who drinks doesn't eat anything. Drinking is all he needs. I think he'll kill me if he drinks too much, but, sir, Another thought popped into my head and it keeps haunting me. If Yemeria goes away like this, I will never be happy for the rest of my life .So I decided to be his benefactor and do good deeds to the end.I thought, I must save him from a miserable death, I must make him sober!I thought: 'Wait a minute, well, Yemeria, you stay, but you stay here with me, and you must obey my orders! '" I also thought about it: I will start teaching him how to do something now. Of course, I can't make a surprise attack, let him start right away. Let him play first, and I will pay attention to observation during this time, and I have to ask him to do something. But, Yemelya, you have to discover your ability. Because, sir, to do any job, one must first have ability. So I investigated him secretly. I found that he was a man without Useful man, Emelyanoushka! Sir, I started with good words: I told him so-and-so, so-and-so, Emelya Ilyich, look at yourself Look, just cheer up.
"'That's enough! Look at you, you're all in rags, and your shabby coat, pardon me for being rude, can be used as a sieve. It's really not good-looking! You should save face Come on!' My Emelyanoushka, sat with bowed head, and listened to my reprimand. What can be done, sir! He's in that state: so drunk that he can't use his tongue, He can't say a single decent word. You say something and he answers something, you say cucumber and he answers beans! He has been listening to me talking about him for a long time, and then he sighed."
"'I ask you, Emelya Ilyich, why are you sighing?' "'I am so, nothing, Astafy Ivanitch, please rest assured!Two country women were fighting in the street today, and one, Astafy Ivanitch, accidentally knocked over the other's basket of sweet potatoes. '"'Well, what happened next?'"
"'The other knocked over one of her baskets on purpose, and stomped on it.' "'So what, Emelya Ilyich? '"'It's all right, Astafy Ivanitch, that's all I'm saying.' "That's all, that's all!I thought to myself, alas!Yemeria, Yemeryushka!You're loafing and drinking again, and you've lost your mind! ..."
"'A gentleman accidentally dropped a banknote on Pea Street or Fa Yuen Street. A farmer saw it and said: This is my good luck. But another farmer also saw it at this time, and he Say: This is my good fortune! I saw before you...'”
"'Well, Emelya Ilyitch!'"'Then the two peasants fought, Astafy Ivanitch.A policeman came up, picked up the note, and handed it back to the master, who threatened to send the two peasants to prison. '"'Well, what's the point? Does it have any significance, Emelyanoushka? . . . '"
"'I'm nothing. Everyone laughs, Astafy Ivanitch.'"
"'Ah! Emelyanoushka! What are the spectators! For a penny you sell your soul. Do you know what I'm going to tell you, Emelya Ilyich? '"'What do you say, Astafy Ivanitch? '"'Something to do, I really have to. I've told you a hundred times, look it up, have pity on yourself!'"'What work do I have, huh? Staffy Ivanovic?I don't even know what job I'm looking for, and no one will hurry me, Astafy Ivanitch! '"'You were dismissed, Yemelya, because you liked to drink!'"'But Vlass, the clerk, was called to the cashier today, Astafy Ivanitch. '"'Why was he sent, Emelianushka?'"'I don't know that, Astafy Ivanitch.That means there is a need there, and that's why he was sent to Luo ...' "'Oh,' I thought to myself, 'we're both in trouble, Emelyanoushka! Because we've sinned, God will Punish us!' Well, what can you do with such a man, sir?
"However, this boy is cunning! He listened to it, and then got tired of it.
Just saw that I was angry, grabbed that ragged coat and ran away without a trace!
Wandering outside during the day and coming back drunk in the evening.Who gave it to him, and where it was paid for, God only knows!It's not my fault! ...
"'No,' I said, 'Emeria, you must die! Stop drinking, do you hear, stop drinking! Next time you come back drunk, you'll sleep on the stairs Come on, I will never let you in!...'" After listening to my instructions, my Yemelia sat at home for one day, two days, and on the third day, he slipped away again.I waited and waited, but I still didn't see him come back.It should be said that I frightened him to death, so I began to feel sorry for him.What can I do with him!I think I scared him away.Alas, where has he gone now?My lord, he will probably disappear!It was late at night and he hadn't come back yet.The next morning, I went to the hallway and saw that he lived in the hallway.Lying down with his head on the small steps, he was so cold that his whole body was almost frozen.
'What's the matter with you, Yemelia?May God be with you!where have you been? ''You, Astafy Ivanitch, you were angry and in a bad mood the other day, and made me sleep in the passage, so I didn't dare to come in, Astafy Ivanitch, Just sleeping in this passage...' "I'm so annoyed, and so sorry for him!
"I said, 'Emelya, wouldn't it be nice for you to find any job, why are you cleaning stairs here!...'" 'What job can I get, Astafy Ivanitch? ? ' "I said (I got angry again!), 'You wretched fellow, if you were, if you were learning to tailor. Look how your coat is torn! It's full of holes and Don't tell me, you still use it to wipe the stairs! You can take a needle and patch up those holes, it will always look better. Oh, you drunkard!' "What do you say, sir!He really picked up a needle. Actually, I was joking, but he was embarrassed, so he picked up the needle.He put on his torn coat and began to thread a needle.I looked at him and, needless to say, his eyes were red and swollen, almost oozing pus.His hands were trembling, and he tried to put it on, but he couldn't get it through the eye of the needle.He bit the end of the thread for a while, rubbed it for a while, and threaded it back and forth, but it still didn't work!So he put down his needle and thread and looked straight at me...
"'Hey, Yemeria, please forgive me! It would be too shameful in front of everyone! Actually, I was only joking with you, and I just scolded you. . . . Don't do evil, May God be with you! Just sit there, don't do anything disgraceful, don't spend the night on the stairs, don't disgrace me again!
...'"'Then what am I doing, Astafy Ivanitch? As a matter of fact, I know that I'm always drunk and useless! . . . just let you, my... It's nothing to worry about...'" At this moment, his blue lips trembled suddenly, and a tear rolled down his gray cheek, hanging on his unshaven beard, and began to tremble, my Yemelia Suddenly burst into tears, and then burst into tears... God!It was like a knife was stuck in my heart.
"'Well, you are a sentimental person, I never thought of that! But who would have thought, who would have guessed? . . . No, Yemelya, I thought, if I Regardless of you, you will be thrown away like a bunch of rags!
. . . ' "Well, sir, it's a long story! In fact, it's a trifle, so empty that it's not worth talking about. You'd probably say, sir, that you wouldn't even spend two bucks on it. Here, I'm different, and if I had the money, I'd give out lots and lots of them, so that this kind of thing never happens again! Sir, I've had a pair of trousers before, damn it, nice trousers, blue, with a The plaid was given to me by a landlord. He often came here. Originally, he ordered it. Later, he didn’t want it, saying it was too small, so the trousers fell into my hands. I thought to myself, this is a precious item. something!
On Torkuchi Street, it can be sold for about five rubles. If I don’t sell it, I can use it to make a pair of drawers for the gentlemen of Petersburg, and I can make me a waistcoat with the remaining cloth.All this has come just in time for our poor brothers!And Yemelyanoushka was at a grim, melancholy moment.I saw that he didn't drink one day, didn't drink the next day, and didn't drink at all on the third day. He completely lost his energy, so he looked very pitiful and sat sullenly.
I thought to myself, either you kid has no money, or you really followed the advice of others and embarked on the road of reforming evil and returning to righteousness.It happened, sir, that there was a great festival at that time, and I went to all-night prayers, and when I came back, I found my Yemelia sitting drunk and swaying by the little window.Hey, I thought to myself: Your boy is still like this!I didn't know why I opened the box later, and when I opened it, the good pair of pants was gone... I searched here and there, but there was no trace!I've searched everything and still nothing, it's driving me nuts!I ran to the old woman, scolded her at first, but then felt that I was wrong.But it never occurred to Yemelia to steal, although there is evidence that he was sitting there drunk! 'No,' said the old woman, 'God be with you, sir, what do I want trousers for?Can I wear it out?A good friend of yours took one of my skirts not long ago... By the way, that is to say, I don’t know, I didn’t see it. ' she said.I said 'who is here, who has been here? ’ She said: ‘Sir, no one has come.I stay here all the time.Yemelya Ilyich had gone out once, and then came back.Look, he is sitting!You ask him to go. ’ I said: ‘Yemelia, you didn’t take my new pair of trousers, did you remember that they were made for the landlord? ’ he said: ‘No, Astafy Ivanitch, that is to say, I didn’t take it. '" This is a strange thing! So I started searching again, and I searched and searched, but there was still nothing! Yemelia was still sitting there, shaking her body. I squatted in front of him, facing the box, and suddenly I gave him a sideways look with one eye... Hey, I thought, seeing my heart start to burn in my chest, and I blushed. Suddenly Yemelya looked at me too.
"'No,' he said. 'I didn't take your trousers, Astafy Ivanitch. . . You might think I did, but I didn't, sir.'" 'Then it went again Where did you go, Emelia Ilyich? '"'No,' he said, 'I have never seen Astafy Ivanitch.' "'So, Emelya Ilyich, the trousers will run away by themselves? '"'Perhaps so, Astafy Ivanitch.' "I just listened to him finish, then got up, went to the window, lit the lamp, and sat down to sew.I am refitting a vest for a civil servant who lives downstairs from us.But I myself was burning with anxiety, and my chest was tight.It would be a lot easier if I used all the clothes in the hanging closet to light the stove.Now Yemelia realized that I was really angry.Sir, when a man does a bad thing, he probably has a premonition of disaster long ago, like the birds of the sky before a thunderstorm.
"'That's right, Astafy Ivanitch,' began Emelyanoushka (his small voice was trembling), 'today the doctor Antip Prokhoritch died the same day as the other day. The coachman's wife is married...' "I gave him a look, you know, a savage look. ...
Yemelia understood my look.I found him standing up, walking to the bed, and starting to search for something beside the bed.I'm waiting to see.He touched it for a long time, and at the same time kept muttering: "No, no, where did this ghost thing go?" 'What else am I waiting for him to do.I saw him crawl under the bed on his knees.At last I could bear it no longer, and said: "'Emelya Ilyitch, why are you crawling on your knees?'" 'Look for trousers, Astafy Ivanitch!I was just trying to see if it fell in. ’ “I said: ‘Sir (I began to address him as “you” in a fit of anger), why do you bother and wear your knees for a poor man like me!’”’This Where is it, Astafy Ivanitch, I have nothing, sir . '"'Well!...' I said: 'Listen, Emelya Ilyitch!' "He said: 'Listen to what, Astafy Ivanitch? ' "I said, 'Didn't you steal it from me? You're a thief, you're a liar, I treated you well, and you treat me like this!' That is, he knelt before me, in the ground Crawling around made me very angry.
"'No, sir . . . Astafy Ivanitch . . . '" But he himself lay under the bed for a long time, and then crawled out.
I took a look: his face was pale, like a white sheet.He stood up a little and sat by the window next to me for about ten minutes.
"He said: 'No, Astafy Ivanitch,' and suddenly he got up and came up to me, looking as terrible as it is now.
"He said 'No, Astafy Ivanitch, I didn't take your trousers...'" He trembled all over, pointed to his chest with trembling fingers, and the constant trembling of his small voice, sir, made me I was a little timid, my body seemed to grow together with the window.
"I said: 'Well, Emelya Ilyich, do as you say, and please forgive me! Even if I am a fool and blame you. As for the trousers, they are lost as soon as they are lost, and we can live without them. We have hands, thank God, but we don't steal...we don't even extend our hands to other poor buddies, we can earn our own living...'" I found him standing in front of me after listening to me. He stood still, then sat down, and sat there all night without moving.Even when I went to bed, Yemelya remained where she was.Until the next morning, I got up and saw that he was still lying on the bare floor, bent over, covered with his own old overcoat.He was distressed, so he didn't go to bed to sleep.Since then, sir, I have not liked him, or rather, I have hated him in the first few days.Metaphorically speaking, it's like my own son stole from me and it breaks my heart.I thought to myself: 'Oh, Yemelya, Yemelya! 'Since that, sir, Yemelya has been drinking non-stop for about two weeks, that is to say, he is dizzy and completely drunk.Go out early in the morning and come back late at night.For two weeks I didn't hear a word from him.In other words, it is likely that he was in great pain at the time, or else he wanted to torture himself.
Then he stopped drinking suddenly, and, as he probably knew, had run out of everything, and sat by the window again.I remember, he sat silently for three days and nights, and then I saw him crying!Sir, that is to say, he is sitting there crying!He was like a dry well, as if he couldn't notice that he was weeping.Sir, it is indeed a heavy heart to see a grown-up man, and an old man like Yemelia at that, weeping.
"I said: 'What's the matter with you, Yemeria?'" He shivered, and I shivered too.Since then, I have spoken to him for the first time.
"'It's nothing .Why do you keep sitting like an owl? 'I began to feel sorry for him.
"'Yes, Astafy Ivanovich, I'm not sorry for that. I want to find some work, Astafy Ivanovich.'" 'What is it, Ye Melia Ilyich? '"'Anything will do. Maybe I'll find something like I used to do. I've already asked Fedosey Ivanitch... It's not good for me to offend you, Astafy Ivanovich. Vanitch. I may find an errand, Astafy Ivanitch, and then I will repay you and double my board.'"'Come on, Yemeria, come on.Even if there was a little fault in the past, it is over.Damn it!Let's go on living the old way! '"'No, Astafy Ivanitch, you may have a little..., but I did not take your trousers...'"'Well, as you say, God be with you With you, Yemerinushka! '"'No, Astafy Ivanitch. It is now clear that I no longer live with you, please forgive me, Astafy Ivanitch'"'God be with you Together, Yemelya Ilyich, who is mad at you and drives you away, is it me? '"'No, I'd be ashamed to live with you any longer, Astafy Ivanitch... I'd better go...'"He was really angry, and kept thinking about it.I looked at him, and he really got up, and threw his old overcoat over his shoulders.
"'Where are you going, Emelya Ilyich? Listen, what is the matter with you? Where are you going'" 'No, goodbye, Astafy Ivan Don't you keep me, Nicky (he was crying himself again).I am leaving the place of crime, Astafy Ivanitch!You are a completely different person now than you were in the past.
"'What's the difference? It's the same! But you're like a child, ignorant, and you're going to suffer alone, Emelya Ilyich.' "'No, Astafy Ivanitch, when you go out, don't forget to lock the box.I am now, Astafy Ivanitch, I feel like crying when I see the box... No, you had better let me go, Astafy Ivanitch, in our life together I will give Please forgive me for all the troubles you have caused! ' "Sir, what do you think? He really left. I waited for a day, thinking that he would come back in the evening, but he didn't! The next day, the third day didn't come back. I panicked and worried all day long: No Eat, don't drink, don't sleep. This man really disturbed me! On the fourth day I went out to look for it. I searched all the teahouses and taverns, looked around, asked, but found nothing. Yemelyanoushka disappeared. Yes! I thought to myself: 'Have you thrown your victorious head? Perhaps you were drunk and died under someone else's fence, and now lie there like a rotten log.' I came home half dead. The next day I looked around again. I blamed myself for letting a fool go away by myself. But I found that: on the third day (which happened to be a holiday), the door creaked at dawn, and I I took a closer look and saw that it was Yemelia who came in. His face was blue, his hair was full of dirt, he seemed to be sleeping on the street, he was skinny, took off his torn coat, sat on the box facing me, and looked at me. I am happy, but the pain in my heart is worse than before. Sir, it is what it is. To be honest, if I make such a mistake, I will say that I would rather die like a dog than live回来！然而叶麦里亚却回来了！
当然罗，看到一个人处境如此，心情是很沉重的。于是我开始亲切地安慰他。我说，'好啦，叶麦里亚努什卡，我高兴你回来。要是你再晚一点回来，我今天又要到酒馆里找你去了。
你吃过饭了没有？'“'吃过了，阿斯塔菲·伊凡内奇。'“'没吃吧？老兄，这里还剩下一点昨天没喝完的汤，是牛肉炖的，不是清汤。瞧，这里还有葱和面包。我说吃吧，这些东西对身体不是没有用的。'“于是我端给了他。哎呀，我发现他那胃口真好，一个人三整天没吃没喝，吃起来真能狼吞虎咽。这就是说，是饥饿把他赶到我这里来的。我望着他心肠软了，一般怜惜之情，油然而生。心想我得去小酒店跑一趟，打点酒来，让他解解闷，掏点心里话。'算啦！我对你不再有怨恨了，叶麦里努什卡！
我打来了酒。我说，叶麦里亚·伊里奇，让我们为节日干杯吧。你想喝吗？这酒不赖。'“他伸出一只手来，显出一副很想喝的样子，手已经抓住了酒杯，但他停下来，稍稍等了等。我一看，他抓起酒杯往嘴边送，酒洒到了他的衣袖上。不，他把酒送到了嘴边，但马上又把它放回到桌上。
“'你怎么啦，叶麦里亚努什卡？'“'没什么，我那个……阿斯塔菲·伊凡内奇。'“'不喝还是怎么的？'“'我，阿斯塔菲·伊凡内奇……我不再喝酒了，阿斯塔菲·伊凡内奇。'“'你是打算彻底戒酒，还是只有今天不喝呢，叶麦里亚努什卡？'“他默默不语。我发现，一分钟以后，他把头枕到了手上。
“'你怎么啦，是不是病了，叶麦里亚？'“'是的，我觉得不舒服，阿斯塔菲·伊凡内奇！'“我把他扶到床上。一看他确实不好：他头发烧，浑身打颤，像患虐疾似的。我坐在他身边守了一天。到夜里他情况更坏。我给他把克瓦斯饮料里拌了点油和葱，还加上一点面包。我说：'你吃下去，一定会好些的！'他连连摇头。他说：'不，我今天不吃，阿斯塔菲·伊万内奇'。我又给他准备了茶，把老太婆也忙坏了，但他一点也没好转。我心想，这下可糟了！第三天清早我就去找医生。早先我在波索米亚金老爷家干活那会儿就认识一个医生，他姓科斯托普拉沃夫，就住这儿。他给我治过病。医生来了，看了看他说：'不，情况确实不妙，没必要找我了。随便给他点药粉吃吃吧。'我没给他吃药粉。我心想是医生随便说的，这一拖就是第五天了。
“先生，他躺在我面前，快要死去了。我坐在窗台上，手里拿着没干完的活计。老太婆在生炉子。我们都没说话。先生，我的心却在为他这个放荡的人难过，似乎我将要埋葬我亲生的儿子。我知道，叶麦里亚现在正望着我，打从大清早起，我就看见他硬撑着，想对我说什么，看得出来，他又不敢说。最后，我望了他一眼，发现这个可怜人的眼睛里，流露出满心的愁苦，他目不转睛地望着我，可是发现我在看他的时候，他马上又把眼皮垂了下来。
“'阿斯塔菲·伊凡内奇！'“'什么事，叶麦里亚努什卡？'“'比方说，如果我把我的大衣拿到托尔库契大街上去卖，人家会出很多钱吗，阿斯塔菲·伊凡内奇？'“我说：'不知道，也许会卖得起价钱吧。大概能卖三卢布，叶麦里亚·伊里奇。'“要是真的拿到市场上去卖的话，不但人家一个子不给，还会当着你的面，笑掉大牙呢！这样破破烂烂的东西还拿来卖！刚才我那么说，不过是我了解这个人的脾性，随便说说，安慰安慰他罢了。
“'可我觉得，阿斯塔菲·伊凡内奇，那件大衣三个银卢布是卖得出的，它是呢子做的呢，阿斯塔菲·伊凡内奇。既然是呢子的，怎么只值三个卢布呢？'“我说：'不知道，叶麦里亚·伊里奇；既然你想拿去卖，那就拿去吧，当然，起码也得卖三卢布才行。'“叶麦里亚沉默了一会儿。随后他把我喊住。
“'阿斯塔菲·伊凡内奇？'“我问：'什么事呀，叶麦里亚努什卡？'“'您把我的大衣卖掉，我快死了，您不要把大衣和我一起埋掉。我就这么躺着行，可大衣是呢子做的，顶值钱的，您也用得着。'“先生，这时我心如刀绞，痛得我连话都说不出来了。我发现他临终前的痛苦，已经到来。我们又默默不语了。这样默默地过了一小时。我又看了看他：他老是望着我，但一碰到我的目光，他就又垂下眼皮。
“我说：'您要不要喝点水呀，叶麦里亚·伊里奇？'“'给点吧，愿上帝和您在一起，阿斯塔菲·伊凡内奇。'“我给他送上一杯水，他喝了。
“他说：'谢谢，阿斯塔菲·伊凡内奇。'“'还要不要别的什么，叶麦里亚努什卡？'“'不，阿斯塔菲·伊凡内奇，什么也不要了，可是我……'“'什么事？'“'这个……'“'这个什么呀，叶麦里亚努什卡？'“'那条……裤子……当时是我从您这里拿去的……阿斯塔菲·伊凡内奇……'“我说：'算啦！上帝会饶恕你的'叶麦里亚努什卡，你的命好苦啊！你安息吧……'先生，说着说着，我的心里也难受极了，泪水不住地从眼睛里往外涌出。我转身背过去好一会。
“'阿斯塔菲·伊凡内奇……'“我转身一看，叶麦里亚还想对我说什么，他稍稍抬起身子，使尽力气，嘴唇翕动着……突然他满脸绯红，望着我……
我忽然又看到：他的脸色又变白了，越变越白，煞那间，就完全失去了血色，他头向后一仰，吁了一口气，于是马上就把灵魂交给了上帝……”
圣诞晚会与婚礼——摘自一位不知名者的笔记前些日子我见过一次婚礼……但是，不！我最好给您讲讲圣诞晚会吧，婚礼办得不错，我很喜欢，但是那次晚会却更好。不知道为什么，我望着这场婚礼，就想起那次圣诞晚会。事情是这样发生的。正好是五年前的除夕，我应邀去参加一次儿童舞会。邀请我的人是一位著名的实业家，他交游广、熟人多、手腕高明，所以可以说，这个儿童舞会不过是个借口，目的是让那些父母亲们聚集起来，无拘无束地顺便谈谈他们感兴趣的问题。我是一个局外人，没有什么具体的问题可谈，因此我相当轻松地度过了一个晚上。这儿还有一位先生，好像也不是出身名门望族，但却像我一样，偶然碰上了这一家庭聚会……他比所有的人更早注意到我。这是一位个子高、身材瘦的男子，他神情十分严肃，穿着非常讲究。
但是看得出来，他对家庭幸福好像根本没有兴趣。除了主人之外，参加舞会的来客中，他没有一个熟人。看得出来，他非常寂寞，但他却很勇敢，一直坚持到晚会结束，始终装做一个非常快活而幸福的人。后来我才知道，这位先生来自外省，他在首都有一件伤脑筋的事情要办。他给我们的主人带来一封介绍信，主人对此毫无ｃｏｎａｍｏｒｅ①，但出于礼貌，还是请他参加了儿童舞会。没人请他玩牌，没人给他敬烟，甚至没有任何人同他交谈。也许人们老远就根据羽毛认出这是一只什么鸟了，弄得我的这位先生手足无措，简直不知道手往哪儿搁好，只好整个晚上摆弄自己的络腮胡子。他的络腮胡子确实长得非常漂亮。但是，他摸胡子的用心程度，简直让人望着他觉得是先长出这些胡子，后来才出现摸胡子的这位先生的。
积极举办晚会的主人有五个长得很好的男孩。除了主人和上面提到的那位先生之外，我还喜欢一位先生。但这位先生与前面的那一位完全不同。这是一位有头有脸的人物。他叫尤利安·马斯塔科维奇。一眼就可以看出：他是一位贵客。
他对待主人的态度，与主人对待那位老摸自己的络腮胡子的先生的态度，一模一样。男女主人对他说了无数的客气话，给他倒茶敬烟，照料得无微不至。他们把其他的客人引到他这里，向他作介绍，但却不引他去见任何别的客人。当尤利安·马斯塔科维奇谈到这次晚会，说他很少有机会这么愉快地度过时光的时候，我发现男主人的眼睛里噙着泪水。有这位大人物在场，我不知为什么有点感到害怕，因此，在对孩子们作了一番欣赏之后，我便走进那个空无一人的小客厅，坐在几乎占去整整半个房间的女主人的花亭里。
所有的孩子都可爱得出奇，达到了令人难以置信的程度。
①意大利语！热情。
尽管做妈妈的和家庭女老师一再训诫，他们却坚决不愿意学那些大人的样。一眨眼功夫，他们就抢光了圣诞树上的糖果，一颗也不剩下。他们在没有弄清哪件玩具归谁之前，就把一半的玩具弄坏了。一个黑眼睛的男孩，生着一头卷发，老想用自己的木制手枪对着我射击。他的长相特别漂亮。但最引人注目的，是他的姐姐，一个十一二岁的小姑娘。她非常美丽，活像一尊小爱神；她非常文静，善于沉思，脸色苍白，鼓着一对沉思的大眼睛。好像她受到了孩子们的欺侮，因此她来到了我坐的那个客厅，躲在角落里，玩她的洋娃娃。客人们怀着敬意纷纷指着她的父亲，一个很有钱的承包商，不知是谁在悄声指出，他已经给小姑娘存了三十万卢布当陪嫁。我转过身来，朝那些对这事很感兴趣的人们，看了一眼。我的目光落到了尤利安·马斯塔科维奇的身上。他把一双手抄在背后，头向一侧稍稍偏着，好像在极其注意地倾听这些先生们的节日祝福。后来，我对男女主人在分赠孩子们的礼物时所表现出来的心计，不能不感到惊讶。那个已经有了三十万卢布陪嫁的小姑娘得到的是一个打扮得最漂亮，穿着最华贵的洋娃娃。所有幸福的儿童都得到了礼物，但随着孩子们父母亲地位的降低，礼物的份量也相应下降。最后得到礼物的，是一个十岁左右的男孩，他个子又小又瘦，脸上有几粒雀斑，长着一头红发。他得到的只是一本讲自然界的伟大，讲感动的眼泪的故事书，没有插图，连卷首、章篇首尾的小花饰也没有。他是主人家为孩子们请来的家庭女老师、一个可怜的寡妇的儿子。这孩子受尽折磨，变得非常胆小。他穿一件旧土布做成的小加克衫。领到那本小书以后，他在其他的玩具周围徘徊了好久。他很想同其他的孩子们玩，但他又不敢。看得出来：他已经感觉出并且明白自己的处境。我非常喜欢观察孩子。对他们在生活中最初的独立表现，觉得非常有趣。我发现别的孩子得到的价值昂贵的玩具，对这个红头发孩子，具有很大的诱惑力，特别是演戏，他很希望演上一角，所以他决计低声下气地去接近别的孩子。他脸上堆起微笑，和其他的孩子玩了起来。他把自己的一个苹果，给了一个脸庞浮肿的男孩。那男孩的手帕里包得满满的，尽是好吃的糖果点心。
红头发男孩甚至决心把一个男孩背起来，为的是不被从演戏的人员中赶出来。但是一分钟以后，一个顽皮的孩子狠狠地揍了他一顿。这红头发孩子不敢哭。这时候，他的妈妈、家庭女教师来了，她嘱咐孩子不要妨碍别的孩子们玩耍。于是这孩子走进了小姑娘所在的那个客厅。小姑娘让他走到自己身边。于是两人一起非常热情地着手为那只贵重的洋娃娃进行打扮。
我在那座爬满常春藤的凉亭里，已经坐了半个来小时，一边仔细倾听红头发孩子和有着三十万陪嫁的小美人的细声交谈，一边打起瞌睡来了。他们正在为洋娃娃忙得不亦乐乎的时候，尤利安·马斯塔科维奇突然走进了屋里。他是利用孩子们吵架的时机，悄悄地从大厅里走出来的。我发现，一分来钟以前，他还在与未来的有钱媳妇的爸爸、热烈地谈话。他们虽然刚刚认识，却在争论哪一种差事比哪一种差事优越。现在他正站着沉思，好像在扳着指头计算着什么。
“三十万……三十万，”他悄悄说道，“十一岁……十二岁……十三岁……再过五年，就是一十六岁啦！我们假定年利率百分之四，一年就是一万二千，五年就是六万，再拿这六万……好吧，我们就假定五年以后总共是四十万，对了！这……总不能只给年利百分之四吧，骗子！也许要利息百分之八或者百分之十呢。好，五十万，就算是五十万吧，这至少是满有把握可以得到的。嗯，此外还会有许多衣服之类的嫁装的……”
他盘算完毕，擤了擤鼻子，本想从屋里退出去，却突然朝小姑娘望了一眼，然后就停住不动了。我站在几盆花的后面，他没看见。我觉得他极其激动。不是这一番盘算，就是别的什么，对他产生了很大的影响。他搓搓两手，在原地站不住了。当他停下脚步，向未来的未婚妻又坚决投过去一瞥时，这种激动已经达到了极限。他本该往前走去，但他先环顾四周，然后踮着脚尖，朝小女孩的身旁走去，好像觉得自己有点抱愧似的。他带着微笑走近来，弯下身子，吻了一下小姑娘的脑袋。小姑娘没料到他这一着，吓得惊叫一声。
“您在这儿干什么呢，可爱的小女孩？”他悄声问道，同时一边东张西望，一边拧小姑娘的面颊。
“我们在玩……”
“啊？和他玩吗？”尤利安·马斯塔科维奇斜着眼睛望了一下小男孩。
“宝贝，你该到客厅里去！”尤利安·马斯塔科维奇对那小男孩说道。
小男孩没有吭气，一双眼睛盯着他望。尤利安·马斯塔科维奇又望了望四周，于是又对着小姑娘俯下身子。
“可爱的孩子，您这是什么，是洋娃娃吗？”他问道。
“是洋娃娃，”小姑娘皱着眉头回答。她有点害怕。
“洋娃娃……可爱的孩子，您知不知道，您的洋娃娃是用什么东西做的？”
“不知道……”小姑娘悄悄地回答，完全把脑袋垂下去了。
“宝贝，是用破布做成的。小男孩，你该到大厅里去，找你自己的伙伴去，”尤利安·马斯塔科维奇说完，严厉地瞪了小男孩一眼。小姑娘和小男孩皱起眉头，互相抱在一起。他们不想分开。
“您知道不知道，为什么把这个洋娃娃送给您呢？！”尤利安·马斯塔科维奇把声音降得越来越低，问道。
"I have no idea."
“因为您在这一星期内表现很好，令人可爱。”
这时，尤利安·马斯塔科维奇已经激动得不能再激动，他四下张望，把声音降得越来越低，最后用几乎让激动和焦急的心情弄得叫人听不见的声音问道：“如果我将来去您父母家做客，您会喜欢我吗，可爱的小姑娘？”
说完这句话以后，尤利安·马斯塔科维奇想再一次吻吻可爱的小姑娘，但是红头发小男孩看到小姑娘马上就要哭起来的时候，马上拉着她的两手，由于对小姑娘充满同情，他自己也呜呜地哭泣起来了。尤利安·马斯塔科维奇为此大发雷霆。
“去，离开这里，走开！”他对小男孩说道，“到大厅里去，到你的伙伴们那里去！”
“不，不要走，不要走！您快走开吧，”小姑娘说道，“留下他，让他留下！”她说着，几乎放声哭了起来。
不知是谁在门里发出响声，尤利安·马斯塔科维奇赶紧抬起他魁梧的身子，吓了一跳。但红头发的小男孩比尤利安·马斯塔科维奇吓得更厉害。他抛下小姑娘，悄悄地靠着墙根，从客厅溜进饭厅。为了不致引起怀疑，尤利安·马斯塔科维奇也走进了饭厅。他满脸通红，像只醉虾，朝镜子里一瞧，似乎有点感到尴尬。他也许是在为自己的急躁、缺乏耐心而感到不快。也许，扳着手指计算的结果使他先是感到吃惊，后来又使他受到诱惑与鼓舞，以致于他不顾自己的体面和庄重，决心像小孩子一样，直接向自己的对象，发起进攻，虽然这个对象至少要五年以后才能成为真正的对象。我跟在这位可敬的先生后面，走进饭厅，看到了奇怪的一幕。尤利安·马尔科维奇又恼又恨，满脸胀得通红，拚命吓唬红头发小男孩。那孩子离开他越来越远，吓得不知道往哪里跑好。
“去，你在这里干什么？快去，不中用的家伙，快去！你在这儿偷水果吃，是吗？你在这儿偷水果吃？去，不中用的家伙，鼻涕虫，快走，到你的伙伴那里去！”
吓坏了的小男孩，采取最后的一着，试着爬到了桌子底下。当时要赶他走的人，已经气到了极点，掏出他的一块长长的麻纱手绢，开始抽打趴在桌子底下一声不吭的孩子。应当指出：尤利安·马斯塔科维奇身子有点胖。这是一个保养得不错的人，面色红润，相当结实，挺着个大肚子，还有两条粗壮的大腿，一句话，是个壮实的小子，圆得像颗核桃。他满头大汗、气喘吁吁、脸红得可怕。最后他的愤怒，也许还有忌妒（谁知道呢？）达到了极点，他简直是怒火中烧了。我放声哈哈大笑。尤利安·马斯塔科维奇回转身来，虽然他名声显赫，这时却已万分尴尬了。这时候，男主人从对面门里走了出来。小男孩也从桌底下爬出来，擦擦自己的膝盖和手肘。尤利安·马斯塔科维奇急忙将手中握着一角的手帕送到鼻子边上。
主人望望我们三个，感到有点莫名其妙，但他作为一个精通世故而又办事严肃认真的人，马上抓住了这个与客人单独见面的机会。
“这孩子就是，”他指着红头发男孩说道，“就是我荣幸地向您恳求……”。
“啊？”尤利安·马斯塔科维奇回答着，他还没有完全恢复常态。
“是教我孩子的家庭女老师的儿子，”男主人继续用恳求的语气继续说道，“一个可怜的女人，一个寡妇，丈夫原是一名忠实的公务员，因此……尤利安·马斯塔科维奇，如果可能的话……”
“啊呀，不，不，”尤利安·马斯塔科维奇急急忙忙叫了起来，“不，请您原谅，菲里普·阿列克塞叶维奇，怎么也不行。我问过了，没有空缺，即使有一个，那也会早有十个人去补缺了，而且他们比他更有权……非常遗憾，非常遗憾。
..."
“确实遗憾，”男主人重复说道，“不过，这孩子很谦虚，文文静静……”
“我发现他是个顽皮鬼，”尤利安·马斯塔科维奇歇斯底里地歪着嘴巴。回答道：“去，小鬼，你站着干吗？快去找你的伙伴！”他转身对着孩子说道。
好像他这时再也忍不住了，用一只眼睛瞟了我一眼。我也忍不住了，直对着他哈哈大笑起来。尤利安·马斯塔科维奇马上转过身去，向主人问这个奇怪的青年人是什么人？显然是指我说的。他们开始悄悄耳语，从房里走了出去。我随后看到尤利安·马斯塔科维奇一边听男主人说话，一边露出不相信的神情，连连摇头。
我笑够以后，回到了大厅里。那位大人物在那里受到孩子们的父母和男女主人的包围，正在同刚刚向他引见的一位妇女，热烈地交谈。那位妇女牵着一个小姑娘的手。十分钟以前尤利安·马斯塔科维奇同她在客厅里有过一次不愉快的谈话。现在他满口称赞这位可爱的小姑娘长相漂亮，才华横溢、姿态优美、富有教养。他显然是在小姑娘的妈妈面前献殷勤。母亲听着他的奉承话，高兴得差点掉下泪来。小姑娘父亲的嘴边也露出了笑容。男主人对这皆大欢喜的场面，也感到高兴。所有的客人都深表同情，连孩子们的游戏也停了下来，免得妨碍大家谈话。整个空气都充满仰慕之情。长相漂亮的小姑娘的母亲，内心深处都受到感动，我后来听到她用精心挑选的词汇，邀请尤利安·马斯塔科维奇大驾光临他们家，成为他们高贵的客人。她认为这将是给予他们家的特殊荣耀。尤利安·马斯塔科维奇怀着真诚的喜悦心情接受了这一邀请。后来，客人们按照礼节的要求，纷纷散开，我听到他们彼此用十分动人的语言，赞扬承包商夫妇和他们的小姑娘，特别是尤利安·马斯塔科维奇。
“这位先生结婚了吗？”我几乎是大声地问我的一位熟人，他站的地方离尤利安·马斯塔科维奇比谁都近。
尤利安·马斯塔科维奇恶狠狠地向我投过来审视的一瞥。
“没有！”我的熟人作了回答。他对我故意这样不知趣地提问，打心底里感到不快……
前不久，我从某某教堂走过。那里人山人海、车水马龙，使我大吃一惊。周围的人们都在谈论这盛大的婚礼。那是一个阴天，而且开始下起濛濛细雨来了。我跟着人流，走进教堂，于是我看见了新郎。那是一个个子矮小、衣着极其讲究的圆脸小子，大腹便便，身体保养得很好。他跑来跑去，忙忙碌碌，不停地发号施令。最后，有人说新娘坐车来了。我拚命挤进人群，看到了一位绝妙佳人，她大概才进入妙龄的第一个春天。但是这位美人的面色却是苍白的，心情是忧郁的。她心不在焉地望着。我甚至觉得，她的眼睛因为前不久流过泪，而显得红肿。她脸部每一根线条的古典式的严谨，都使她的美具有某种庄严肃穆的神态。透过这种庄严肃穆的神态，透过这种忧郁的心情，仍然可以看出她最初的、稚气未退的天真无邪的容颜。某种天真到不能再天真的、尚未定型的、年青的东西，不断表现出来，似乎在默默无言地为自己哀求怜惜。
有人说，她刚满十六岁。我注意看看新郎，突然发现他正是我整整三年不见的尤利安·马斯塔科维奇。我又望了望新娘……我的天哪！我赶快挤出教堂。人群中有人说新娘很有钱，有陪嫁五十万，还有许多衣衫……
“他这算盘真打得精明！”我这么一想，就挤到外面去了……