My uncertainty1 about Marya Ivánofna’s fate tormented2 me more than I can say. Where was she? What had become of her? Had she had time to hide herself? Was her place of refuge safe and sure? Full of these oppressive thoughts, I went to the Commandant’s house. All was empty. The chairs, the tables, the presses were burned, and the crockery in bits; the place was in dreadful disorder3. I quickly ran up the little stair which led to Marya’s room, where I was about to enter for the first time in my life.
Her bed was topsy-turvy, the press open and ransacked4. A lamp still burned before the “kivott”56 equally empty; but a small looking-glass hanging between the door and window had not been taken away. What had become of the inmate5 of this simple maiden’s cell? A terrible apprehension6 crossed my mind. I thought of Marya in the hands of the robbers. My heart failed me; I burst into tears and murmured the name of my loved one. At this moment I heard a slight noise, and Polashka, very pale, came out from behind the press.
“Oh, Petr’ Andréj?tch,” said she, wringing7 her hands; “what a day, what horrors!”
“Marya Ivánofna,” cried I, impatiently, “where is Marya Ivánofna?”
“The young lady is alive,” replied Polashka; “she is hidden at Akoulina Pamphilovna’s.”
“In the pope’s house!” I exclaimed, affrighted. “Good God! Pugatchéf is there!”
I rushed out of the room, in two jumps I was in the street and running wildly towards the pope’s house. From within there resounded8 songs, shouts, and bursts of laughter; Pugatchéf was at the table with his companions. Polashka had followed me; I sent her secretly to call aside Akoulina Pamphilovna. The next minute the pope’s wife came out into the ante-room, an empty bottle in her hand.
“In heaven’s name where is Marya Ivánofna?” I asked, with indescribable agitation9.
“She is in bed, the little dove,” replied the pope’s wife, “in my bed, behind the partition. Ah! Petr’ Andréj?tch, a misfortune very nearly happened. But, thank God, all has passed happily over. The villain10 had scarcely sat down to table before the poor darling began to moan. I nearly died of fright. He heard her.”
“‘Who is that moaning, old woman?’ said he.
“I saluted11 the robber down to the ground.
“‘My niece, Tzar; she has been ill and in bed for more than a week.’
“‘And your niece, is she young?’
“‘She is young, Tzar.’
“‘Let us see, old woman; show me your niece.’
“I felt my heart fail me; but what could I do?
“‘Very well, Tzar; but the girl is not strong enough to rise and come before your grace.’
“‘That’s nothing, old woman; I’ll go myself and see her.’
“And, would you believe it, the rascal12 actually went behind the partition. He drew aside the curtain, looked at her with his hawk’s eyes, and nothing more; God helped us. You may believe me when I say the father and I were already prepared to die the death of martyrs13. Luckily the little dove did not recognize him. O, Lord God! what have we lived to see! Poor Iván Kouzmitch! who would have thought it! And Vassilissa Igorofna and Iwán Ignatiitch! Why him too? And you, how came it that you were spared? And what do you think of Chvabrine, of Alexy Iványtch? He has cut his hair short, and he is there having a spree with them. He is a sly fox, you’ll agree. And when I spoke14 of my sick niece, would you believe it, he looked at me as if he would like to run me through with his knife. Still, he did not betray us, and I’m thankful to him for that!”
At this moment up rose the vinous shouts of the guests and the voice of Father Garasim. The guests wanted more wine, and the pope was calling his wife.
“Go home, Petr’ Andréj?tch,” she said to me, in great agitation, “I have something else to do than chatter15 to you. Some ill will befall you if you come across any of them now. Good-bye, Petr’ Andréj?tch. What must be, must be; and it may be God will not forsake16 us.”
The pope’s wife went in; a little relieved, I returned to my quarters. Crossing the square I saw several Bashkirs crowding round the gallows17 in order to tear off the high boots of the hanged men. With difficulty I forbore showing my anger, which I knew would be wholly useless.
The robbers pervaded18 the fort, and were plundering19 the officers’ quarters, and the shouts of the rebels making merry were heard everywhere. I went home. Savéliitch met me on the threshold.
“Thank heaven!” cried he, upon seeing me, “I thought the villains20 had again laid hold on you. Oh! my father, Petr’ Andréj?tch, would you believe it, the robbers have taken everything from us: clothes, linen21, crockery and goods; they have left nothing. But what does it matter? Thank God that they have at least left you your life! But oh! my master, did you recognize their ‘atamán?’"57
“No, I did not recognize him. Who is he?”
“What, my little father, you have already forgotten the drunkard who did you out of your ‘touloup’ the day of the snowstorm, a hareskin ‘touloup,’ brand new. And he, the rascal, who split all the seams putting it on.”
I was dumbfounded. The likeness22 of Pugatchéf to my guide was indeed striking. I ended by feeling certain that he and Pugatchéf were one and the same man, and I then understood why he had shown me mercy. I was filled with astonishment23 at the extraordinary connection of events. A boy’s “touloup,” given to a vagabond, saved my neck from the hangman, and a drunken frequenter of pothouses besieged24 forts and shook the Empire.
“Will you not eat something?” asked Savéliitch, faithful to his old habits. “There is nothing in the house, it is true; but I shall look about everywhere, and I will get something ready for you.”
Left alone, I began to reflect. What could I do? To stay in the fort, which was now in the hands of the robber, or to join his band were courses alike unworthy of an officer. Duty prompted me to go where I could still be useful to my country in the critical circumstances in which it was now situated25.
But my love urged me no less strongly to stay by Marya Ivánofna, to be her protector and her champion. Although I foresaw a new and inevitable26 change in the state of things, yet I could not help trembling as I thought of the dangers of her situation.
My reflections were broken by the arrival of a Cossack, who came running to tell me that the great Tzar summoned me to his presence.
“Where is he?” I asked, hastening to obey.
“In the Commandant’s house,” replied the Cossack. “After dinner our father went to the bath; now he is resting. Ah, sir! you can see he is a person of importance — he deigned27 at dinner to eat two roast sucking-pigs; and then he went into the upper part of the vapour-bath, where it was so hot that Tarass Kurotchkin himself could not stand it; he passed the broom to Bikbaieff, and only recovered by dint28 of cold water. You must agree; his manners are very majestic29, and in the bath, they say, he showed his marks of Tzar — on one of his breasts a double-headed eagle as large as a pétak,58 and on the other his own face.”
I did not think it worth while to contradict the Cossack, and I followed him into the Commandant’s house, trying to imagine beforehand my interview with Pugatchéf, and to guess how it would end.
The reader will easily believe me when I say that I did not feel wholly reassured30.
It was getting dark when I reached the house of the Commandant.
The gallows, with its victims, stood out black and terrible; the body of the Commandant’s poor wife still lay beneath the porch, close by two Cossacks, who were on guard.
He who had brought me went in to announce my arrival. He came back almost directly, and ushered31 me into the room where, the previous evening, I had bidden good-bye to Marya Ivánofna.
I saw a strange scene before me. At a table covered with a cloth and laden32 with bottles and glasses was seated Pugatchéf, surrounded by ten Cossack chiefs, in high caps and coloured shirts, heated by wine, with flushed faces and sparkling eyes. I did not see among them the new confederates lately sworn in, the traitor33 Chvabrine and the “ouriadnik.”
“Ah, ah! so it is you, your lordship,” said Pugatchéf, upon seeing me. “You are welcome. All honour to you, and a place at our feast.”
The guests made room. I sat down in silence at the end of the table.
My neighbour, a tall and slender young Cossack, with a handsome face, poured me out a bumper34 of brandy, which I did not touch. I was busy noting the company.
Pugatchéf was seated in the place of honour, his elbows on the table, and resting his black beard on his broad fist. His features, regular and agreeable, wore no fierce expression. He often addressed a man of about fifty years old, calling him sometimes Count, sometimes Timofeitsh, sometimes Uncle.
Each man considered himself as good as his fellow, and none showed any particular deference35 to their chief. They were talking of the morning’s assault, of the success of the revolt, and of their forthcoming operations.
Each man bragged36 of his prowess, proclaimed his opinions, and freely contradicted Pugatchéf. And it was decided37 to march upon Orenburg, a bold move, which was nearly crowned with success. The departure was fixed38 for the day following.
The guests drank yet another bumper, rose from table, and took leave of Pugatchéf. I wished to follow them, but Pugatchéf said —
“Stay there, I wish to speak to you!”
We remained alone together, and for a few moments neither spoke.
Pugatchéf looked sharply at me, winking39 from time to time his left eye with an indefinable expression of slyness and mockery. At last he gave way to a long burst of laughter, and that with such unfeigned gaiety that I myself, regarding him, began to laugh without knowing why.
“Well, your lordship,” said he, “confess you were afraid when my fellows cast the rope about your neck. I warrant the sky seemed to you the size of a sheepskin. And you would certainly have swung beneath the cross-beam but for your old servant. I knew the old owl40 again directly. Well, would you ever have thought, sir, that the man who guided you to a lodging41 in the steppe was the great Tzar himself?” As he said these words he assumed a grave and mysterious air. “You are very guilty as regards me,” resumed he, “but I have pardoned you on account of your courage, and because you did me a good turn when I was obliged to hide from my enemies. But you shall see better things; I will load you with other favours when I shall have recovered my empire. Will you promise to serve me zealously42?”
The robber’s question and his impudence43 appeared to be so absurd that I could not restrain a smile.
“Why do you laugh?” he asked, frowning. “Do you not believe me to be the great Tzar? Answer me frankly44.”
I did not know what to do. I could not recognize a vagabond as Emperor; such conduct was to me unpardonably base. To call him an impostor to his face was to devote myself to death; and the sacrifice for which I was prepared on the gallows, before all the world, and in the first heat of my indignation, appeared to me a useless piece of bravado45. I knew not what to say.
Pugatchéf awaited my reply in fierce silence. At last (and I yet recall that moment with satisfaction) the feeling of duty triumphed in me over human weakness, and I made reply to Pugatchéf —
“Just listen, and I will tell you the whole truth. You shall be judge. Can I recognize in you a Tzar? You are a clever man; you would see directly that I was lying.”
“Who, then, am I, according to you?”
“God alone knows; but whoever you be, you are playing a dangerous game.”
Pugatchéf cast at me a quick, keen glance.
“You do not then think that I am the Tzar Peter? Well, so let it be. Is there no chance of success for the bold? In former times did not Grischka Otrépieff59 reign46? Think of me as you please, but do not leave me. What does it matter to you whether it be one or the other? He who is pope is father. Serve me faithfully, and I will make you a field-marshal and a prince. What do you say to this?”
“No,” I replied, firmly. “I am a gentleman. I have sworn fidelity47 to Her Majesty48 the Tzarina; I cannot serve you. If you really wish me well, send me back to Orenburg.”
Pugatchéf reflected.
“But if I send you away,” said he, “will you promise me at least not to bear arms against me?”
“How can you expect me to promise you that?” replied I. “You know yourself that that does not depend upon me. If I be ordered to march against you I must submit. You are a chief now — you wish your subordinates to obey you. How can I refuse to serve if I am wanted? My head is at your disposal; if you let me go free, I thank you; if you cause me to die, may God judge you. Howbeit, I have told you the truth.”
My outspoken49 candour pleased Pugatchéf.
“E’en so let it be,” said he, clapping me on the shoulder; “either entirely50 punish or entirely pardon. Go to the four winds and do what seems good in your eyes, but come tomorrow and bid me good-bye; and now begone to bed — I am sleepy myself.”
I left Pugatchéf, and went out into the street. The night was still and cold, the moon and stars, sparkling with all their brightness, lit up the square and the gallows. All was quiet and dark in the rest of the fort. Only in the tavern51 were lights still to be seen, and from within arose the shouts of the lingering revellers.
I threw a glance at the pope’s house. The doors and the shutters52 were closed; all seemed perfectly53 quiet there. I went home and found Savéliitch deploring54 my absence. The news of my regained55 liberty overwhelmed him with joy.
“Thanks be to Thee, O Lord!” said he, making the sign of the cross. “We will leave the fort tomorrow at break of day and we will go in God’s care. I have prepared something for you; eat, my father, and sleep till morning quietly, as though in the pocket of Christ!”
I took his advice, and, after having supped with a good appetite, I went to sleep on the bare boards, as weary in mind as in body.
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1
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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2
tormented
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| 饱受折磨的 | |
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disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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4
ransacked
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| v.彻底搜查( ransack的过去式和过去分词 )；抢劫，掠夺 | |
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5
inmate
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| n.被收容者；(房屋等的)居住人；住院人 | |
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6
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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7
wringing
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| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
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8
resounded
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| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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9
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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10
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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12
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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13
martyrs
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| n.martyr的复数形式；烈士( martyr的名词复数 )；殉道者；殉教者；乞怜者（向人诉苦以博取同情） | |
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14
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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15
chatter
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| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
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16
forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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17
gallows
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| n.绞刑架，绞台 | |
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18
pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19
plundering
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的现在分词 ) | |
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20
villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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21
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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22
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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23
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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24
besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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26
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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27
deigned
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| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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29
majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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30
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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31
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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34
bumper
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| n.(汽车上的)保险杠；adj.特大的，丰盛的 | |
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35
deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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36
bragged
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| v.自夸，吹嘘( brag的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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37
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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38
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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39
winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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40
owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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41
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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42
zealously
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| adv.热心地；热情地；积极地；狂热地 | |
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43
impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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44
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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45
bravado
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| n.虚张声势，故作勇敢，逞能 | |
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46
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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47
fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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48
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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49
outspoken
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| adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的 | |
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50
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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51
tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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52
shutters
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| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
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53
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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54
deploring
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| v.悲叹，痛惜，强烈反对( deplore的现在分词 ) | |
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55
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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