One day, Doubrovsky was going the round of his little estate, when, on approaching a grove6 of birch trees, he heard the blows of an axe7, and a minute afterwards the crash of a falling tree; he hastened to the spot and found some of the Pokrovskoe peasants stealing his wood. Seeing him, they took to flight; but Doubrovsky, with the assistance of his coachman, caught two of them, whom he brought home bound. Moreover, two horses, belonging to the enemy, fell into the hands of the conqueror8.
Doubrovsky was exceedingly angry. Before this, Troekouroff's people, who were well-known robbers, had never dared to play tricks within the boundaries of his property, being aware of the friendship which existed between him and their master. Doubrovsky now perceived that they were taking advantage of the rupture9 which had occurred between him and his neighbour, and he resolved, contrary to all ideas of the rules of war, to teach his prisoners a lesson with the rods which they themselves had collected in his grove, and to send the horses to work and to incorporate them with his own cattle.
The news of these proceedings10 reached the ears of Kirila Petrovitch that very same day. He was almost beside himself with rage, and in the first moment of his passion, he wanted to take all his domestics and make an attack upon Kistenevka (for such was the name of his neighbour's village), raze11 it to the ground, and besiege12 the landholder in his own residence. Such exploits were not rare with him; but his thoughts soon took another direction. Pacing with heavy steps up and down the hall, he glanced casually13 out of the window, and saw a troika in the act of stopping at his, gate. A man in a leather travelling-cap and a frieze14 cloak stepped out of the telega and proceeded towards the wing occupied by the bailiff. Troekouroff recognized the assessor Shabashkin, and gave orders for him to be sent in to him. A minute afterwards Shabashkin stood before Kirila Petrovitch, and bowing repeatedly, waited respectfully to hear what he had to say to him.
"Good day—what is your name?" said Troekouroff: "Why have you come?"
"I was going to the town, Your Excellency," replied Shabashkin, "and I called on Ivan Demyanoff to know if there; were any orders."
"You have come at a very opportune15 moment—what is; your name? I have need of you. Take a glass of brandy and listen to me."
Such a friendly welcome agreeably surprised the assessor: he declined the brandy, and listened to Kirila Petrovitch with all possible attention.
"I have a neighbour," said Troekouroff, "a small proprietor16, a rude fellow, and I want to take his property from him.... What do you think of that?"
"Your Excellency, are there any documents—?"
"Don't talk nonsense, brother,[1] what documents are you talking about? The business in this case is to take his property away from him, with or without documents. But stop! This estate belonged to us at one time. It was bought from a certain Spitsin, and then sold to Doubrovsky's father. Can't you make a case out of that?"
"It would be difficult, Your Excellency: probably the sale was effected in strict accordance with the law."
"Think, brother; try your hardest."
"If, for example, Your Excellency could in some way obtain from your neighbour the contract, in virtue17 of which he holds possession of his estate, then, without doubt—"
"I understand, but that is the misfortune: all his papers were burnt at the time of the fire."
"What! Your Excellency, his papers were burnt? What could be better? In that case, take proceedings according to law; without the slightest doubt you will receive complete satisfaction."
Shabashkin, bowing almost to the ground, took his departure; from that day he began to devote all his energies to the business intrusted to him and, thanks to his prompt action, exactly a fortnight afterwards Doubrovsky received from the town a summons to appear in court and to produce the documents, in virtue of which he held possession of the village of Kistenevka.
Andrei Gavrilovitch, greatly astonished by this unexpected request, wrote that very same day a somewhat rude reply, in which he explained that the village of Kistenevka became his on the death of his father, that he held it by right of inheritance, that Troekouroff had nothing to do with the matter, and that all adventitious19 pretensions20 to his property were nothing but the outcome of chicanery21 and roguery. Doubrovsky had no experience in litigation. He generally followed the dictates22 of common sense, a guide rarely safe, and nearly always insufficient23.
This letter produced a very agreeable impression on the mind of Shabashkin; he saw, in the first place, that Doubrovsky knew very little about legal matters; and, in the second, that it would not be difficult to place such a passionate24 and indiscreet man in a very disadvantageous position.
Andrei Gavrilovitch, after a more careful consideration of the questions addressed to him, saw the necessity of replying more circumstantially. He wrote a sufficiently25 pertinent26 paper, but in the end this proved insufficient also.
The business dragged on. Confident in his own right, Andrei Gavrilovitch troubled himself very little about the matter; he had neither the inclination27 nor the means to scatter28 money about him, and he began to deride29 the mercenary consciences of the scribbling30 fraternity. The idea of being made the victim of treachery never entered his head. Troekouroff, on his side, thought as little of winning the case he had devised. Shabashkin took the matter in hand for him, acting31 in his name, threatening and bribing32 the judges and quoting and interpreting the ordinances33 in the most distorted manner possible.
At last, on the 9th day of February, in the year 18—, Doubrovsky received, through the town police, an invitation to appear at the district court to hear the decision in the matter of the disputed property between himself—Lieutenant Doubrovsky, and General-in-Chief Troekouroff, and to sign his approval or disapproval34 of the verdict. That same day Doubrovsky set out for the town. On the road he was overtaken by Troekouroff. They glared haughtily35 at each other, and Doubrovsky observed a malicious36 smile upon the face of his adversary37.
Arriving in town, Andrei Gavrilovitch stopped at the house of an acquaintance, a merchant, with whom he spent the night, and the next morning he appeared before the Court. Nobody paid any attention, to him. After him arrived Kirila Petrovitch. The members of the Court received him with every manifestation38 of the deepest submission39, and an armchair was brought to him out of consideration for his rank, years and corpulence. He sat down; Andrei Gavrilovitch stood leaning against the wall. A deep silence ensued, and the secretary began in a sonorous40 voice to read the decree of the Court.
When the secretary had ceased reading, the assessor arose and, with a low bow, turned to Troekouroff, inviting41 him to sign the paper which he held out to him. Troekouroff, quite triumphant42, took the pen and wrote beneath the decision of the Court his complete satisfaction.
It was now Doubrovsky's turn. The secretary handed the paper to him, but Doubrovsky stood immovable, with his head bent43 down. The secretary repeated his invitation: "To subscribe44 his full and complete satisfaction, or his manifest dissatisfaction, if he felt in his conscience that his case was just, and intended to appeal against the decision of the Court."
Doubrovsky remained silent ... Suddenly he raised his head, his eyes sparkled, he stamped his foot, pushed back the secretary, with such force, that he fell, seized the inkstand, hurled45 it at the assessor, and cried in a wild voice:
"What! you don't respect the Church of God! Away, you race of Shem!"
Then turning to Kirila Petrovitch:
"Has such a thing ever been heard of, Your Excellency?" he continued. "The huntsmen lead greyhounds into the Church of God! The dogs are running about the church! I will teach them a lesson presently!"
Everybody was terrified. The guards rushed in on hearing the noise, and with difficulty overpowered him. They led him out and placed him in a sledge46. Troekouroff went out after him, accompanied by the whole Court Doubrovsky's sudden madness had produced a deep impression upon his imagination; the judges, who had counted upon his gratitude, were not honoured by receiving a single affable word from him. He returned immediately to Pokrovskoe, secretly tortured by his conscience, and not at all satisfied with the triumph of his hatred47. Doubrovsky, in the meantime, lay in bed. The district doctor—not altogether a blockhead—bled him and applied48 leeches49 and mustard-plasters to him. Towards evening he began to feel better, and the next day he was taken to Kistenevka, which scarcely belonged to him any longer.
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1
subside
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| vi.平静，平息；下沉，塌陷，沉降 | |
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vented
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| 表达，发泄（感情，尤指愤怒）( vent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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Augmented
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| adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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rupture
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| n.破裂；(关系的)决裂；v.(使)破裂 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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raze
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| vt.铲平，把(城市、房屋等)夷为平地，拆毁 | |
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besiege
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| vt.包围，围攻，拥在...周围 | |
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13
casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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frieze
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| n.(墙上的)横饰带，雕带 | |
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15
opportune
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| adj.合适的，适当的 | |
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proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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17
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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18
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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adventitious
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| adj.偶然的 | |
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pretensions
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| 自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力 | |
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chicanery
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| n.欺诈，欺骗 | |
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dictates
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| n.命令，规定，要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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pertinent
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| adj.恰当的；贴切的；中肯的；有关的；相干的 | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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28
scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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deride
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| v.嘲弄，愚弄 | |
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30
scribbling
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| n.乱涂[写]胡[乱]写的文章[作品]v.潦草的书写( scribble的现在分词 )；乱画；草草地写；匆匆记下 | |
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31
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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32
bribing
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| 贿赂 | |
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33
ordinances
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| n.条例，法令( ordinance的名词复数 ) | |
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34
disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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36
malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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manifestation
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| n.表现形式；表明；现象 | |
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submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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40
sonorous
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| adj.响亮的，回响的；adv.圆润低沉地；感人地；n.感人，堂皇 | |
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41
inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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42
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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43
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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44
subscribe
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| vi.(to)订阅，订购；同意；vt.捐助，赞助 | |
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45
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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46
sledge
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| n.雪橇，大锤；v.用雪橇搬运，坐雪橇往 | |
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47
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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48
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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49
leeches
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| n.水蛭( leech的名词复数 )；蚂蟥；榨取他人脂膏者；医生 | |
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