The waiting-room of the celebrated1 Petersburg lawyer was full when Alexey Alexandrovitch entered it. Three ladies--an old lady, a young lady, and a merchant's wife--and three gentlemen-- one a German banker with a ring on his finger, the second a merchant with a beard, and the third a wrathful-looking government clerk in official uniform, with a cross on his neck-- had obviously been waiting a long while already. Two clerks were writing at tables with scratching pens. The appurtenances of the writing-tables, about which Alexey Alexandrovitch was himself very fastidious, were exceptionally good. He could not help observing this. One of the clerks, without getting up, turned wrathfully to Alexey Alexandrovitch, half closing his eyes. "What are you wanting?"
He replied that he had to see the lawyer on some business.
"He is engaged," the clerk responded severely3, and he pointed4 with his pen at the persons waiting, and went on writing.
"Can't he spare time to see me?" said Alexey Alexandrovitch.
"He has not time free; he is always busy. Kindly5 wait your turn."
"Then I must trouble you to give him my card," Alexey Alexandrovitch said with dignity, seeing the impossibility of preserving his incognito6.
The clerk took the card and, obviously not approving of what he read on it, went to the door.
Alexey Alexandrovitch was in principle in favor of the publicity7 of legal proceedings8, though for some higher official considerations he disliked the application of the principle in Russia, and disapproved10 of it, as far as he could disapprove9 of anything instituted by authority of the Emperor. His whole life had been spent in administrative11 work, and consequently, when he did not approve of anything, his disapproval12 was softened13 by the recognition of the inevitability14 of mistakes and the possibility of reform in every department. In the new public law courts he disliked the restrictions15 laid on the lawyers conducting cases. But till then he had had nothing to do with the law courts, and so had disapproved of their publicity simply in theory; now his disapprobation was strengthened by the unpleasant impression made on him in the lawyer's waiting room.
"Coming immediately," said the clerk; and two minutes later there did actually appear in the doorway16 the large figure of an old solicitor17 who had been consulting with the lawyer himself.
The lawyer was a little, squat18, bald man, with a dark, reddish beard, light-colored long eyebrows19, and an overhanging brow. He was attired20 as though for a wedding, from his cravat21 to his double watch-chain and varnished22 boots. His face was clever and manly23, but his dress was dandified and in bad taste.
"Pray walk in," said the lawyer, addressing Alexey Alexandrovitch; and, gloomily ushering24 Karenin in before him, he closed the door.
"Won't you sit down?" He indicated an armchair at a writing table covered with papers. He sat down himself, and, rubbing his little hands with short fingers covered with white hairs, he bent25 his head on one side. But as soon as he was settled in this position a moth26 flew over the table. The lawyer, with a swiftness that could never have been expected of him, opened his hands, caught the moth, and resumed his former attitude.
"Before beginning to speak of my business," said Alexey Alexandrovitch, following the lawyer's movements with wondering eyes, "I ought to observe that the business about which I have to speak to you is to be strictly27 private."
The lawyer's overhanging reddish mustaches were parted in a scarcely perceptible smile.
"I should not be a lawyer if I could not keep the secrets confided28 to me. But if you would like proof..."
Alexey Alexandrovitch glanced at his face, and saw that the shrewd, gray eyes were laughing, and seemed to know all about it already.
"You know my name?" Alexey Alexandrovitch resumed.
"I know you and the good"--again he caught a moth--"work you are doing, like every Russian," said the lawyer, bowing.
Alexey Alexandrovitch sighed, plucking up his courage. But having once made up his mind he went on in his shrill29 voice, without timidity--or hesitation30, accentuating31 here and there a word.
"I have the misfortune," Alexey Alexandrovitch began, "to have been deceived in my married life, and I desire to break off all relations with my wife by legal means--that is, to be divorced, but to do this so that my son may not remain with his mother."
The lawyer's gray eyes tried not to laugh, but they were dancing with irrepressible glee, and Alexey Alexandrovitch saw that it was not simply the delight of a man who has just got a profitable job: there was triumph and joy, there was a gleam like the malignant32 gleam he saw in his wife's eyes.
"You desire my assistance in securing a divorce?"
"Yes, precisely33 so; but I ought to warn you that I may be wasting your time and attention. I have come simply to consult you as a preliminary step. I want a divorce, but the form in which it is possible is of great consequence to me. It is very possible that if that form does not correspond with my requirements I may give up a legal divorce."
"Oh, that's always the case," said the lawyer, "and that's always for you to decide."
He let his eyes rest on Alexey Alexandrovitch's feet, feeling that he might offend his client by the sight of his irrepressible amusement. He looked at a moth that flew before his nose, and moved his hands, but did not catch it from regard for Alexey Alexandrovitch's position.
"Though in their general features our laws on this subject are known to me," pursued Alexey Alexandrovitch, "I should be glad to have an idea of the forms in which such things are done in practice."
"You would be glad," the lawyer, without lifting his eyes, responded, adopting, with a certain satisfaction, the tone of his client's remarks, "for me to lay before you all the methods by which you could secure what you desire?"
And on receiving an assuring nod from Alexey Alexandrovitch, he went on, stealing a glance now and then at Alexey Alexandrovitch's face, which was growing red in patches.
"Divorce by our laws," he said, with a slight shade of disapprobation of our laws, "is possible, as you are aware, in the following cases.... Wait a little!" he called to a clerk who put his head in at the door, but he got up all the same, said a few words to him, and sat down again. "...In the following cases: physical defect in the married parties, desertion without communication for five years," he said, crooking34 a short finger covered with hair, "adultery" (this word he pronounced with obvious satisfaction), "subdivided36 as follows" (he continued to crook35 his fat fingers, though the three cases and their subdivisions could obviously not be classified together): "physical defect of the husband or of the wife, adultery of the husband or of the wife." As by now all his fingers were used up, he uncrooked all his fingers and went on: "This is the theoretical view; but I imagine you have done me the honor to apply to me in order to learn its application in practice. And therefore, guided by precedents37, I must inform you that in practice cases of divorce may all be reduced to the following-- there's no physical defect, I may assume, nor desertion?..."
Alexey Alexandrovitch bowed his head in assent38.
"--May be reduced to the following: adultery of one of the married parties, and the detection in the fact of the guilty party by mutual39 agreement, and failing such agreement, accidental detection. It must be admitted that the latter case is rarely met with in practice," said the lawyer, and stealing a glance at Alexey Alexandrovitch he paused, as a man selling pistols, after enlarging on the advantages of each weapon, might await his customer's choice. But Alexey Alexandrovitch said nothing, and therefore the lawyer went on: "The most usual and simple, the sensible course, I consider, is adultery by mutual consent. I should not permit myself to express it so, speaking with a man of no education," he said, "but I imagine that to you this is comprehensible."
Alexey Alexandrovitch was, however, so perturbed40 that he did not immediately comprehend all the good sense of adultery by mutual consent, and his eyes expressed this uncertainty41; but the lawyer promptly42 came to his assistance.
"People cannot go on living together--here you have a fact. And if both are agreed about it, the details and formalities become a matter of no importance. And at the same time this is the simplest and most certain method."
Alexey Alexandrovitch fully2 understood now. But he had religious scruples43, which hindered the execution of such a plan.
"That is out of the question in the present case," he said. "Only one alternative is possible: undesigned detection, supported by letters which I have."
At the mention of letters the lawyer pursed up his lips, and gave utterance44 to a thin little compassionate45 and contemptuous sound.
"Kindly consider," he began, "cases of that kind are, as you are aware, under ecclesiastical jurisdiction46; the reverend fathers are fond of going into the minutest details in cases of that kind," he said with a smile, which betrayed his sympathy with the reverend fathers' taste. "Letters may, of course, be a partial confirmation47; but detection in the fact there must be of the most direct kind, that is, by eyewitnesses48. In fact, if you do me the honor to intrust your confidence to me, you will do well to leave me the choice of the measures to be employed. If one wants the result, one must admit the means."
"If it is so..." Alexey Alexandrovitch began, suddenly turning white; but at that moment the lawyer rose and again went to the door to speak to the intruding49 clerk.
"Tell her we don't haggle50 over fees!" he said, and returned to Alexey Alexandrovitch.
On his way back he caught unobserved another moth. "Nice state my rep curtains will be in by the summer!" he thought, frowning.
"And so you were saying?..." he said.
"I will communicate my decision to you by letter," said Alexey Alexandrovitch, getting up, and he clutched at the table. After standing51 a moment in silence, he said: "From your words I may consequently conclude that a divorce may be obtained? I would ask you to let me know what are your terms."
"It may be obtained if you give me complete liberty of action," said the lawyer, not answering his question. "When can I reckon on receiving information from you?" he asked, moving towards the door, his eyes and his varnished boots shining.
"In a week's time. Your answer as to whether you will undertake to conduct the case, and on what terms, you will be so good as to communicate to me."
"Very good."
The lawyer bowed respectfully, let his client out of the door, and, left alone, gave himself up to his sense of amusement. He felt so mirthful that, contrary to his rules, he made a reduction in his terms to the haggling52 lady, and gave up catching53 moths54, finally deciding that next winter he must have the furniture covered with velvet55, like Sigonin's.
收听单词发音 |
1
celebrated
|
|
| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
severely
|
|
| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
incognito
|
|
| adv.匿名地；n.隐姓埋名；adj.化装的，用假名的，隐匿姓名身份的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
publicity
|
|
| n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
proceedings
|
|
| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
disapprove
|
|
| v.不赞成，不同意，不批准 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
disapproved
|
|
| v.不赞成( disapprove的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
administrative
|
|
| adj.行政的，管理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
disapproval
|
|
| n.反对，不赞成 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
softened
|
|
| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
inevitability
|
|
| n.必然性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
restrictions
|
|
| 约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
solicitor
|
|
| n.初级律师，事务律师 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
squat
|
|
| v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
eyebrows
|
|
| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
attired
|
|
| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
cravat
|
|
| n.领巾，领结；v.使穿有领结的服装，使结领结 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
varnished
|
|
| 浸渍过的，涂漆的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
manly
|
|
| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
ushering
|
|
| v.引，领，陪同( usher的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
moth
|
|
| n.蛾，蛀虫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
strictly
|
|
| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
confided
|
|
| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
shrill
|
|
| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
hesitation
|
|
| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
accentuating
|
|
| v.重读( accentuate的现在分词 )；使突出；使恶化；加重音符号于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
malignant
|
|
| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
precisely
|
|
| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
crooking
|
|
| n.弯曲（木材等的缺陷）v.弯成钩形( crook的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
crook
|
|
| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
subdivided
|
|
| 再分，细分( subdivide的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
precedents
|
|
| 引用单元； 范例( precedent的名词复数 )； 先前出现的事例； 前例； 先例 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
assent
|
|
| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
mutual
|
|
| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
perturbed
|
|
| adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
uncertainty
|
|
| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
scruples
|
|
| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
utterance
|
|
| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
compassionate
|
|
| adj.有同情心的，表示同情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
jurisdiction
|
|
| n.司法权，审判权，管辖权，控制权 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
confirmation
|
|
| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
eyewitnesses
|
|
| 目击者( eyewitness的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
intruding
|
|
| v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的现在分词)；把…强加于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
haggle
|
|
| vi.讨价还价，争论不休 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
haggling
|
|
| v.讨价还价( haggle的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
catching
|
|
| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
moths
|
|
| n.蛾( moth的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
velvet
|
|
| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |