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Башкирский Государственный Аграрный Университет
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[НЕСОРТИРОВАННОЕ]
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Русские классики в западноевропейских переводах. Учебное пособие по переводу в хрестоматийном изложении

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entendrait,lescris,etçaluiferaitpeur.Etmoi,pourdirelavérité,jenesuis pastrèscurieusedepareillesinvestigations.Auplaisirdevousrevoir…»
Latortureétaitalorstellementenracinéedansleshabitudesdelajustice, quel’ukasebienfaisantquienavaitprescritl’abolitionrestalongtempssans effet.Oncroyaitquel’aveudel’accuséétaitindispensableàlacondamnation, idéenonseulementdéraisonnable,maiscontraireauplussimplebonsensen matièrejuridique;car,siledénidel’accusénes’acceptepascommepreuve desoninnocence,l’aveuqu’onluiarrachedoitmoinsencoreservirdepreuve desa culpabilité.Àprésentmême,ilm’arriveencored’entendrede vieux jugesregretterl’abolitiondecettecoutumebarbare.Mais,denotretemps, personnenedoutaitdelanécessitédelatorture,nilesjuges,nilesaccusés eux-mêmes.C’estpourquoil’ordreducommandantn’étonnaetn’émutaucun denous.IvanIgnatiitchs’enallachercherleBachkir,quiétaittenusousclef danslegrenierdelacommandante,et,peud’instantsaprès,onl’amenadans l’antichambre.Lecommandantordonnaqu’onl’introduisitensaprésence.
LeBachkir franchitleseuilavecpeine,caril avaitaux piedsdes en­travesenbois.Ilôtasonhautbonnetets’arrêtaprèsdelaporte.Jeleregardai ettressaillisinvolontairement.Jamaisjen’oublieraicethomme:ilparaissait âgédesoixanteetdixansaumoins,etn’avaitninez,nioreilles.Satêteétait rasée;quelquesrares poilsgrisluitenaientlieudebarbe.Ilétaitdepetite taille,maigre,courbé;maissesyeuxàlatatarebrillaientencore.
«Eh!eh!ditlecommandant,quireconnutàcesterriblesindicesundes révoltéspunisen1741,tuesunvieuxloup,àcequejevois;tuasdéjàétépris dansnospièges.Cen’estpaslapremièrefoisquetuterévoltes,puisqueta têteestsibienrabotée.Approche-toi,etdisquit’aenvoyé.»
LevieuxBachkirsetaisaitetregardaitlecommandantavecunairde complèteimbécillité.
«Ehbien,pourquoitetais-tu?continuaIvanKouzmitch;est-cequetune comprendspaslerusse?Ioulaï,demande-luienvotrelanguequil’aenvoyé, dansnotreforteresse.»
Ioulaï répéta en langue tatare la question d’Ivan Kouzmitch. Mais leBachkirleregardaaveclamêmeexpression,etsansrépondreunmot.
«Iachki!s’écria lecommandant;je te feraiparler.Voyons,ôtez-luisa robedechambrerayée,sarobedefou,etmouchetez-luilesépaules.Voyons, Ioulaï,houspille-lecommeilfaut.»
DeuxinvalidescommencèrentàdéshabillerleBachkir.Uneviveinquiétude sepeignitalorssurlaguredumalheureux.Ilsemitàregarderdetouscôtés
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commeunpauvrepetitanimalprispardesenfants.Maislorsqu’undesinvalides luisaisitlesmainspourlestournerautourdesoncouetsoulevalevieillardsur sesépaules ensecourbant,lorsque Ioulaïpritles vergesetlevalamainpour frapper,alorsleBachkirpoussaungémissementfaibleetpuissant,et,relevantla tête,ouvritlabouche,où,aulieudelangue,s’agitaituncourttronçon.
Nousfûmestousfrappésd’horreur.
«Eh bien,dit lecommandant,je voisque nous nepourrons rien tirer delui.Ioulaï,ramèneleBachkiraugrenier;etnous,messieurs,nousavons encoreàcauser.»
Nouscontinuionsàdébattrenotreposition,lorsqueVassilissaIégorovna seprécipitadanslachambre,toutehaletante,etavecunaireffaré.
«Quet’est-ilarrivé?demandalecommandantsurpris.
—Malheur!malheur!réponditVassilissaIégorovna:lefortdeNijnéo­sernaétépriscematin;legarçondupèreGarasimvientderevenir.Ilavu commentonl’apris.Lecommandantettouslesofcierssontpendus,tous lessoldatsfaitsprisonniers;lesscélératsvontvenirici.»
Cette nouvelleinattenduetsur moi une impressionprofonde;le com­mandantdelaforteressedeNijnéosern,jeunehommedouxetmodeste,m’était connu.Deuxmoisauparavantilavaitpassé,venantd’Orenbourgavecsajeune femme,et s’était arrêté chezIvanKouzmitch.La Nijnéosernian’étaitsituée qu’àvingt-cinqverstesdenotrefort.D’heureenheureilfallaitnousattendreà uneattaquedePougatcheff.LesortdeMarieIvanovnaseprésentavivementà monimagination,etlecœurmemanquaitenypensant.
«Écoutez,IvanKouzmitch,dis-jeaucommandant,notredevoirestde défendrelaforteressejusqu’auderniersoupir,celas’entend.Maisilfautson­geràlasûretédesfemmes.Envoyez-lesàOrenbourg,silarouteestencore libre,oubiendansuneforteressepluséloignéeetplussûre,oùlesscélérat n’aientpasencoreeuletempsdepénétrer.»
IvanKouzmitch setournavers safemme:«Vois-tubien!ma mère;en effet,nefaudra-t-ilpasvousenvoyerquelquepartplusloin,jusqu’àceque nousayonsréduitlesrebelles?
— Quelle folie! répondit la commandante. Où est la forteresse que lesballesn’aientpas atteinte?Enquoila Bélogorskaïan’est-ellepassûre? GrâceàDieu,voiciplusdevingtetunansquenousyvivons.Nousavonsvu lesBachkirsetlesKirghises;peut-êtreylasserons-nousPougatcheff!
—Ehbien,mapetitemère,répliquaIvanKouzmitch,restesitupeux, puisquetucomptestantsurnotreforteresse.Maisquefaut-ilfairedeMa-
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cha?C’estbiensinouslelassons,ous’ilnousarriveunsecours.Maissiles brigandsprennentlaforteresse?…—Ehbien!alors…»
MaisiciVassilissaIégorovnaneputquebégayeretsetut,étoufféepar l’é mot ion.
«Non,VassilissaIégorovna,repritlacommandant,quiremarquaquesespa­rolesavaientproduitunegrandeimpressionsursafemme,peut-êtrepourlapre­mièrefoisdesavie;ilneconvientpasqueMacharesteici.Envoyons-laàOren­bourgchezsamarraine.Làilyaassezdesoldatsetdecanons,etlesmurailles sontenpierre.Etmêmeàtoij’auraisconseillédet’enalleraussilà-bas;car,bien quetusoisvieille,penseàcequit’arriverasilaforteresseestprised’assaut.
—C’estbien,c’estbien,ditlacommandante,nousrenverronsMacha; maisnet’avisepasdemeprierdepartir,jen’enferaisrien.Ilnemeconvient pasnonplus,dansmesvieillesannées,demeséparerdetoi,etd’allercher­cheruntombeausolitaireenpaysétranger.Nousavonsvécuensemble,nous mourronsensemble.
—Et tu as raison, ditle commandant.Voyons,il n’y apasde temps àperdre.Vaéquiper Machapourla route;demain nousla feronspartir à lapointedujour,etnousluidonneronsmêmeunconvoi,quoique,àvraidire, nousn’ayonspasicidegenssuperus.Maisoùdoncest-elle?
— Chez Akoulina Pamphilovna, répondit la commandante; elle s’est trouvéemalenapprenantlaprisedeNijnéosern!jecrainsqu’ellenetombe malade.ÔDieuSeigneur!jusqu’oùavons-nousvécu?»
VassilissaIégorovnaallafairelesapprêtsdudépartdesalle.L’entretien chezlecommandantcontinuaencore;maisjen’yprisplusaucunepart.Marie Ivanovnareparutpourlesouper,pâleetlesyeuxrougis.Noussoupâmesen silence,etnousnouslevâmesdetableplustôtqued’ordinaire.Chacundenous regagnasonlogisaprèsavoirditadieuàtoutelafamille.J’avaisoubliémon épéeetrevinslaprendre;jetrouvaisMariesouslaporte;ellemelaprésenta.
«Adieu, Piôtr Andréitch, me dit-elle en pleurant; on m’envoie à Oren­bourg.Soyezbienportantetheureux.Peut-êtrequeDieupermettraquenous nousrevoyions;sinon…»
Ellesemitàsangloter.
«Adieu,luidis-je,adieu,machèreMarie!Quoiqu’ilm’arrive,soissûre quemadernièrepenséeetmadernièreprièreserontpourtoi.»
Machacontinuaitàpleurer.Jesortisprécipitamment.
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(TraductiondeLouisViardot)



BeforebeginningtorelatethosestrangeeventstowhichIwaswitness, ImustsayafewwordsaboutthestateofaffairsinthedistrictofOrenburg abouttheendoftheyear1773.Thisrichandlargeprovincewaspeopledby acrowdofhalf-savagetribes,whohadlatelyacknowledgedthesovereignty ofthe Russian Tzars.Theirperpetual revolts,their impatience ofallrule andcivilizedlife,theirtreacheryandcruelty,obligedtheauthoritiestokeep asharpwatchupontheminordertoreducethemtosubmission.
Fortshadbeenplacedatsuitablepoints,andinmostofthemtroopshad beenpermanentlyestablished,composedofCossacks,formerlypossessors ofthebanksoftheRiverYaïk.ButeventheseCossacks,whoshouldhave beenaguaranteeforthepeaceandquietofthecountry,had
forsometimeshownadangerousandunrulyspirittowardstheImperial Government.In1772ariottookplaceintheprincipalsettlement.Thisriot wasoccasionedbytheseveremeasurestakenbyGeneral Traubenberg,in ordertoquelltheinsubordinationofthearmy.Theonlyresultwasthebar­barousmurderofTraubenberg,thesubstitutionofnewchiefs,andatlastthe suppressionoftherevoltbyvolleysofgrapeandharshpenalties.
All this befellshortly beforemy coming to Fort Bélogorsk.Then all was,or seemed, quiet.Buttheauthoritieshad toolightlylentfaith tothe pretendedrepentance oftherebels,whowere silentlybroodingovertheir hatred,andonlyawaitingafavourableopportunitytoreopenthestruggle.
Oneevening(itwasearlyinOctober,1773)Iwasaloneinmyquarters, listeningtothewhistlingoftheautumnwindandwatchingthecloudspass­ingrapidlyoverthemoon.AmessagecamefromtheCommandantthathe wishedto seeme atonce athis house.I foundthere Chvabrine, IwánIg­natiitch,andthe"ouriadnik"oftheCossacks.Neitherthewifenordaughter oftheCommandantwasintheroom.Hegreetedmeinanabsentmanner. Then,closingthedoor,hemadeeverybodysitdown,exceptthe"ouriadnik", whoremained standing, drew a letter from his pocket, andsaidto us — "Gentlemen,importantnews.ListentowhattheGeneralwrites."
Heputonhisspectaclesandreadasfollows:—
"TotheCommandantofFortBélogorsk,
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"CaptainMironoff,these.(Secret.)
"IherebyinformyouthatthefugitiveandschismaticDonCossack,Eme­lianPugatchéf,afterbeingguiltyoftheunpardonableinsolenceofusurping thenameofourlateEmperor,PeterIII.,hasassembledagangofrobbers, excitedrisingsinvillagesontheYaïk,andtakenandovendestroyedseveral forts,whilecommittingeverywhererobberiesandmurders.Inconsequence, whenyoushallreceivethis,itwillbeyourdutytotakesuchmeasuresasmay benecessaryagainsttheaforesaidrascallyusurper,and,ifpossible,crush himcompletelyshouldheventuretoattackthefortcondedtoyourcare." "Takesuchmeasuresasmaybenecessary,"saidtheCommandant,taking offhisspectaclesandfoldingupthepaper."Youknowitisveryeasytosay that.The scoundrelseemsinforce,andwehavebutahundredandthirty men,evencountingtheCossacks,onwhomwemustnotcounttoomuch,be itsaid,withoutanyreproachtoyou,Maximitch."The"ouriadnik"smiled.
"Nevertheless,letusdoourduty,gentlemen.Beready,placesentries,let therebenightpatrolsincaseofattack,shutthegates,andturnoutthetroops. You,Maximitch,keepasharpeyeontheCossacks;looktothecannon,and letitbewellcleansed;and,aboveall,leteverythingbekeptsecret.Letno oneinthefortknowanythinguntilthetimecomes."Afterthusgivinghis orders,IvánKouzmitchdismissedus.IwentoutwithChvabrine,speculat­inguponwhatwehadjustheard."Whatdoyouthinkofit?Howwillitall end?"Iaskedhim."Godknows,"saidhe;"weshallsee.Asyetthereisevi­dentlynothingserious.If,however—"Thenhefellintoabrownstudywhile whistlingabsentlyaFrenchair.Inspiteofallourprecautionsthenewsof Pugatchéf'sappearancespreadalloverthefort.Whateverwastherespectin whichIvánKouzmitchheldhiswife,hewouldnothaverevealedtoherfor theworldasecretcondedtohimonmilitarybusiness.Afterreceivingthe General'sletterhehadrathercleverlygotridofVassilissaIgorofnabytelling herthatFatherGarasimhadheardmostextraordinarynewsfromOrenburg, whichhewaskeeping mostprofoundlydark.VassilissaIgorofnainstantly hadagreatwishtogoandseethePope'swife,and,bytheadviceofIván Kouzmitch,shetookMasha,lestsheshouldbedullallalone.Leftmasterof theeld,IvánKouzmitchsenttofetchusatonce,andtookcaretoshutup Polashkainthekitchensothatshemightnotspyuponus.
VassilissaIgorofnacamehomewithouthavingbeenabletowormany­thingoutofthePope'swife;shelearntuponcominginthatduringherab­senceIvánKouzmitchhadheldacouncilofwar,andthatPalashkahadbeen
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lockedup.Shesuspected thatherhusband haddeceivedher,and sheim­mediately began overwhelming him with questions. But Iván Kouzmitch wasreadyforthisonset;hedidnotcareintheleast,andheboldlyanswered his curious better-half — "Look here, little mother, the country-women havetakenitintotheirheadstolightreswithstraw,andasthatmightbe thecauseofa misfortune,Iassembledmyofcers,andI orderedthemto watchthatthewomendonotmakereswithstraw,butratherwithfaggots andbrambles.""AndwhywereyouobligedtoshutupPolashka?"hiswife askedhim."Whywasthepoorgirlobligedtostayinthekitchentillwecame back?"IvánKouzmitchwasnotpreparedforsuchaquestion;hestammered someincoherentwords.
VassilissaIgorofnainstantlyunderstoodthatherhusbandhaddeceived her,butasshecouldnotatthatmomentgetanythingoutofhim,shefore­borequestioninghim,andspokeofsomepickledcucumberswhichAkou­linaPamphilovnaknewhowtoprepareinasuperlativemanner.
All nightlong Vassilissa Igorofnalay awaketrying to thinkwhat her husbandcouldhaveinhisheadthatshe wasnotpermitted to know. The morrow,onherreturnfrommass,shesawIwánIgnatiitchbusyclearingthe cannonoftherags,smallstones,bitsofwood,knuckle-bones,andallkinds ofrubbishthatthelittleboyshadcrammeditwith."Whatcanthesewarlike preparationsmean?"thoughttheCommandant'swife.
"CanitbethattheyareafraidofanattackbytheKirghiz;butthenisit likelythatIvánKouzmitchwouldhidefrommesuchatrie?"ShecalledIwán Ignatiitch,determinedtohaveoutofhimthesecretwhichwasprovokingher femininecuriosity.VassilissaIgorofnabeganbymakingtohimsomeremarks onhouseholdmatters,likeajudgewhobeginsacross-examinationbyques­tionsirrelevanttothesubjectinhand,inordertoreassureandlullthewatch­fulnessoftheaccused.Then,afterafewminutes'silence,shegaveadeepsigh, andsaid,shakingher head—"Oh!goodLord!Justthinkwhat news!What will comeofallthis?""Eh!My littlemother,"repliedIwán Ignatiitch;"the Lordismerciful.Wehavesoldiersenough,andmuch,powder;Ihavecleared thecannon.PerhapswemaybeabletodefeatthisPugatchéf.IfGoddonot forsakeus,thewolfwilleatnoneofushere.""Andwhatmannerofmanisthis Pugatchéf?"questionedtheCommandant'swife.IwánIgnatiitchsawplainly thathehadsaidtoomuch,andbithistongue;butitwastoolate.
VassilissaIgorofnaobligedhimtotellherall,aftergivingherwordthat shewould tellnoone. Shekept her promise, anddidnot breathe a word
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indeedtoanyone,saveonlytothePope'swife,andthatfortheverygood reasonthatthegoodlady'scow,beingstilloutonthesteppe,mightbe"lift­ed"bytherobbers.SooneverybodywastalkingofPugatchéf.Therumours abroadabouthimwereverydiverse.TheCommandantsentthe"ouriadnik" onamissiontolookwellintoallintheneighbouringvillageandlittleforts. The"ouriadnik"camebackafteranabsenceoftwodays,andreportedthat hehadseeninthesteppe,aboutsixtyverstsfromthefort,manyres,and thathehadheardtheBashkirssaythataninnumerableforcewasapproach­ing.Hehadnothingofamoredetailedoraccuratenaturetorelate,having beenafraidofgoingtoofar.Wesoonbegantonoticeacertainstiramong theCossacksinthegarrison.Theygatheredinallthestreetsinlittlegroups, spokeamongthemselvesinlowvoices,anddisperseddirectlytheycaught sightofadragoonoranyotherRussiansoldier.Theywerewatched.Joulaï, abaptizedKalmuck,revealedtotheCommandantsomethingveryserious. Accordingtohimthe"ouriadnik"hadmadeafalsereport.Onhisreturnthe perdiousCossackhadtoldhiscomradesthathehadadvanceduponthereb­els,andthathehadbeenpresentedtotheirchief,andthatthischiefgavehim hishandtokissandhadhadalonginterviewwithhim.AtoncetheCom­mandantputthe"ouriadnik"inarrest,anddeclaredJoulaïhissubstitute.
This change was received by the Cossacks with manifest discontent. Theygrumbledaloud,andIwánIgnatiitch,whoexecutedtheCommandant's orders,heardthemwithhisownearssayprettyclearly—"Onlywaitabit, yougarrisonrat!"TheCommandanthadintendedtocross-examinehispris­onerthatsameday,butthe"ouriadnik"hadescaped,doubtlesswiththecon­nivanceofhisaccomplices.AnotherthingoccurredtoaugmenttheCom­mandant'sdisquiet;aBashkirwastakenbearingseditiousletters.Uponthis occasiontheCommandantdecideduponassemblinghisofcersanew,and inordertodothathewishedagaintogetridofhiswifeundersomeplausible pretext.ButasIvánKouzmitchwasoneofthemostuprightandsincereof menhecouldnotthinkofanyotherwaythanthatwhichhehadalreadyem­ployedonapreviousoccasion."Doyouknow,VassilissaIgorofna,"saidhe toher,whileclearinghisthroatonceortwice,"itissaidthatFatherGarosim has receivedfrom the town—" "Holdyour tongue,"interruptedhis wife; "youwantagaintocallacouncilofwar,andtalkwithoutmeaboutEmelian Pugatchéf;butyouwillnotdeceivemethistime."IvánKouzmitchopened hiseyeswide."Well,littlemother,"saidhe,"ifyouknowall,stay;thereis nothingmoretobedone,wewilltalkbeforeyou.""Yes,youarequiteright,
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mylittlefather,"rejoinedshe;"itisofnouseyourtryingtoplaytheslyfox. Sendfortheofcers."Weagainmet.IvánKouzmitchreadtous,beforehis wife,Pugatchéf'sproclamation,drawnupbysomeilliterateCossack.The robberproclaimedhisintentionofmarchingdirectlyuponourfort,inviting theCossacksandthesoldierstojoinhim,andcounsellingthechiefsnotto withstandhim,threateningthem,shouldtheydoso,withtheutmosttorture. Theproclamationwaswrittenincoarsebutemphaticterms,andwaslikely toproduceagreatimpressiononthemindsofsimplepeople."Whataras­cal,"criedtheCommandant'swife."Justlookwhathedarestoproposetous! Togoouttomeethimandlayourcoloursathisfeet!Oh!thesonofadog! Hedoesn'tthenknowthatwehavebeenfortyyearsintheservice,andthat, thankheaven,wehavehadatasteofallsorts!Isitpossiblethattherecan havebeencommandants baseand cowardlyenoughtoobeythisrobber?" "Suchathingshouldnotbepossible,"rejoinedIvánKouzmitch;"neverthe­less,theysaythescoundrelhasalreadygotpossessionofseveralforts.""It appearsthatheisinstrength,indeed,"observedChvabrine.
"Weshallknowdirectlytheamountofhisstrength,"resumedtheCom­mandant.
"VassilissaIgorofna,givemethekeyofthebarn.IvánIgnatiitch,bring uptheBashkirandtellJoulaïtofetchtherods.""Waitabit,IvánKouzmitch," saidtheCommandant'swife,rising;"letmetakeMashaoutofthehouse. WithoutIdososhewouldhearthecries,andtheywouldfrightenher.And asforme,totellthetruth,Iamnotovercuriousaboutsuchmatters.Sohop­ingtoseeyouagain—"Torturewasthensorootedinthepracticeofjustice thatthebenecialukaseordainingitsabolitionremainedalongtimeofnone effect.Itwasthoughtthattheconfessionoftheaccusedwasindispensableto condemnation,anideanotmerelyunreasonable,butcontrarytothedictates ofthesimplestgoodsenseinlegalmatters,for,ifthedenialoftheaccusedbe notacceptedasproofofhisinnocence,theextortedconfessionshouldstill lessserveasproofofhisguilt.YetevennowIstillhearoldjudgessome­times regret the abolitionofthis barbarous custom. Butinthosedaysno oneeverdoubtedofthenecessityfortorture,neitherthejudgesnortheac­cusedthemselves.ThatiswhytheCommandant'sorderdidnotarouseany surpriseoremotionamongus.IwánIgnatiitchwentofftoseektheBashkir, whowasunderlockandkeyintheCommandant'sbarn,andafewminutes laterhewasbroughtintotheante-room.TheCommandantorderedhimtobe broughtbeforehim.TheBashkircrossedthesillwithdifculty,owingtothe
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woodenshackleshehadonhisfeet.Iglancedathimandinvoluntarilyshud­dered.Heliftedhishighcapandremainednearthedoor.Ishallneverforget thatman;heseemedtobeatleastseventyyearsold,andhehadneithernose norears.Hisheadwasshaven,andhisbeardconsistedofafewgreyhairs. Hewaslittleofstature,thinandbent;buthisTartareyesstillsparkled."Eh! eh!"saidtheCommandant,whorecognizedbytheseterriblemarksoneof therebelspunishedin1741,"youareanoldwolf,bywhatIsee.Youhave alreadybeencaughtinourtraps.'Thisnotthersttimeyouhaverebelled, sinceyouhavebeensowellcropped.Comenearandtellmewhosentyou." TheoldBashkirremainedsilent,andlookedattheCommandantwithalook ofcompleteidiocy."Well,whydon'tyouspeak?"continuedIvánKouzmitch. "Don'tyouunderstandRuss?Joulaï,askhiminyourlanguagewhosenthim to our fort." Joulaï repeated Iván Kouzmitch'squestionin theTartar lan­guage.ButtheBashkirlookedathimwiththesameexpression,andspoke neveraword."Jachki!"theCommandantrappedoutaTartaroath,"I'llmake youspeak.Here,Joulaï,striphimofhisstripeddressing-gown,hisidiot's dress, andstripehisshoulders.Nowthen,Joulaï,touchhim upproperly." TwopensionersbeganundressingtheBashkir.Greatuneasinessthenover­spreadthecountenanceoftheunhappyman.Hebeganlookingallroundlike apoorlittleanimalinthehandsofchildren.Butwhenoneofthepension­ersseizedhishandsinordertotwinethemroundhisneck,and,stooping, upraisedtheoldmanonhisshoulders,whenJoulaïtooktherodsandlifted hishandstostrike,thentheBashkirgavealong,deepmoan,and,throwing backhishead,openedhismouth,wherein,insteadofatongue,wasmoving ashortstump.Wewereallhorried."Well,"saidtheCommandant,"Iseewe cangetnothingoutofhim.Joulaï,taketheBashkirbacktothebarn;andas forus,gentlemen,wehavestilltodeliberate."Wewerecontinuingtodiscuss oursituation,whenVassilissaIgorofnaburstintotheroom,breathless,and lookingaffrighted."Whathashappenedtoyou?"askedtheCommandant, surprised. "Misery!misery!"replied Vassilissa Igorofna."FortNijnéosern wastakenthismorning.FatherGarasim'sboyhasjustcomeback.Hesaw howitwastaken.TheCommandantandalltheofcershavebeenhanged, allthesoldiersareprisoners.Therascalsarecominghere."Thisunexpect­ednewsmadeagreatimpressionuponme.TheCommandantofFortNi­jnéosern,agentleandquietyoungman,wasknowntome.Twomonthspre­viouslyhehadpassedonhiswayfromOrenburgwithhisyoungwife,and hehadstayedwithIvánKouzmitch.TheNijnéosernaiawasonlytwenty-ve
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verstsawayfromourfort.Fromhourtohourwemightexpecttobeattacked byPugatchéf.
TheprobablefateofMaryaIvánofnarosevividlybeforemyimagination, andmyheartfailedmeasIthoughtofit."Listen,IvánKouzmitch,"Isaid totheCommandant,"itisourdutytodefendtheforttothelastgasp,thatis understood.Butwemustthinkofthewomen'ssafety.SendthemtoOren­burg,iftheroadbestillopen,ortosomefortfurtheroffandsafer,whichthe rascalshavenotyethadtimetoreach."IvánKouzmitchturnedtohiswife. "Lookhere,mother,really,hadwenotbettersendyouawaytosomemore distantplacetilltherebelsbeputdown?""Whatnonsense!"repliedhiswife. "Showmethefortressthatbulletscannotreach.InwhatrespectisBélogor­skaianotsafe?Thankheaven,wehavenowlivedheremorethantwenty-one years.WehaveseentheBashkirsandtheKirghiz;perhapswemayweary outPugatchéfhere.""Well,littlemother,"rejoinedIvánKouzmitch,"stayif youlike,sinceyoureckonsomuchonourfort.Butwhatarewetodowith Masha?Itisallrightifwewearyhimoutorifwebesuccoured.Butifthe robberstakethefort?"
"Well, then—" ButhereVassilissaIgorofna couldonlystammer and be­comesilent,chokedbyemotion."No,VassilissaIgorofna,"resumedtheCom­mandant,whoremarkedthathiswordshadmadeagreatimpressiononhiswife, perhapsforthersttimeinherlife;"itisnotproperforMashatostayhere.Let ussendhertoOrenburgtohergodmother.Thereareenoughsoldiersandcan­nonsthere,andthewallsarestone.AndIshouldevenadviseyoutogoaway thither,forthoughyoubeoldyetthinkonwhatwillbefallyouifthefortbetaken byassault.""Well!well!"saidthewife,"wewillsendawayMasha;butdon'task metogoaway,anddon'tthinktopersuademe,forIwilldonosuchthing.Itwill notsuitmeeitherinmyoldagetopartfromyouandgotoseekalonelygravein astrangeland.Wehavelivedtogether;wewilldietogether."
"Andyouareright,"saidtheCommandant."Letussee,thereisnotime tolose.Goand getMashaready forher journey;to-morrowwewill start her offatdaybreak, and we will even give her an escort, though, to tell thetruth,wehavenonetoomanypeoplehere.Butwhereisshe?""AtAkou­linaPamphilovna's,"answeredhiswife."Sheturnedsickwhensheheardof thetakingofNijnéosern;Idreadlestsheshouldfallill.Oh!Godinheaven! thatweshouldhavelivedtoseethis!"VassilissaIgorofnawentawaytomake readyforherdaughter'sdeparture.The councilat theCommandant'sstill continued,butInolongertookanypartinit.
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