按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
He thought and thought how to get hold of a large sum of money。 He
remembered his former ways of making small profits whenever he could；
and came to the conclusion that that was altogether wrong。 Occasional
27
… Page 28…
THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
stealing is of no use； he thought。 He must arrange a well…prepared plan；
and after getting all the information he wanted； carry out his purpose so as
to avoid detection。
After the feast of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary； the last crop of
autumn apples was gathered； the master was content with the results； paid
off Vassily； and gave him an extra sum as reward for his faithful service。
Vassily put on his new jacket； and a new hatboth were presents from
his master's sonbut did not make his way homewards。 He hated the very
thought of the vulgar peasants' life。 He went back to Moscow in company
of some drunken soldiers； who had been watchmen in the orchard together
with him。 On his arrival there he at once resolved； under cover of night； to
break into the shop where he had been employed； and beaten； and then
turned out by the proprietor without being paid。 He knew the place well；
and knew where the money was locked up。 So he bade the soldiers； who
helped him； keep watch outside； and forcing the courtyard door entered
the shop and took all the money he could lay his hands on。 All this was
done very cleverly； and no trace was left of the burglary。 The money
Vassily had found in the shop amounted to 370 roubles。 He gave a hundred
roubles to his assistants； and with the rest left for another town where he
gave way to dissipation in company of friends of both sexes。 The police
traced his movements； and when at last he was arrested and put into prison
he had hardly anything left out of the money which he had stolen。
XIV
IVAN MIRONOV had become a very clever； fearless and successful
horse…thief。 Afimia； his wife； who at first used to abuse him for his evil
ways； as she called it； was now quite content and felt proud of her husband；
who possessed a new sheepskin coat； while she also had a warm jacket
and a new fur cloak。
In the village and throughout the whole district every one knew quite
well that Ivan Mironov was at the bottom of all the horse…stealing； but
28
… Page 29…
THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
nobody would give him away； being afraid of the consequences。
Whenever suspicion fell on him； he managed to clear his character。 Once
during the night he stole horses from the pasture ground in the village
Kolotovka。 He generally preferred to steal horses from landowners or
tradespeople。 But this was a harder job； and when he had no chance of
success he did not mind robbing peasants too。 In Kolotovka he drove off
the horses without making sure whose they were。 He did not go himself to
the spot； but sent a young and clever fellow； Gerassim； to do the stealing
for him。 The peasants only got to know of the theft at dawn； they rushed
in all directions to hunt for the robbers。 The horses； meanwhile； were
hidden in a ravine in the forest lands belonging to the state。
Ivan Mironov intended to leave them there till the following night； and
then to transport them with the utmost haste a hundred miles away to a
man he knew。 He visited Gerassim in the forest； to see how he was
getting on； brought him a pie and some vodka； and was returning home by
a side track in the forest where he hoped to meet nobody。 But by ill…luck；
he chanced on the keeper of the forest； a retired soldier。
〃I say！ Have you been looking for mushrooms？〃 asked the soldier。
〃There were none to be found；〃 answered Ivan Mironov； showing the
basket of lime bark he had taken with him in case he might want it。
〃Yes； mushrooms are scarce this summer；〃 said the soldier。 He stood
still for a moment； pondered； and then went his way。 He clearly saw that
something was wrong。 Ivan Mironov had no business whatever to take
early morning walks in that forest。 The soldier went back after a while and
looked round。 Suddenly he heard the snorting of horses in the ravine。 He
made his way cautiously to the place whence the sounds came。 The grass
in the ravine was trodden down； and the marks of horses' hoofs were
clearly to be seen。 A little further he saw Gerassim； who was sitting and
eating his meal； and the horses tied to a tree。
The soldier ran to the village and brought back the bailiff； a police
officer； and two witnesses。 They surrounded on three sides the spot
where Gerassim was sitting and seized the man。 He did not deny anything；
but； being drunk； told them at once how Ivan Mironov had given him
29
… Page 30…
THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
plenty of drink； and induced him to steal the horses； he also said that Ivan
Mironov had promised to come that night in order to take the horses away。
The peasants left the horses and Gerassim in the ravine； and hiding behind
the trees prepared to lie in ambush for Ivan Mironov。 When it grew dark；
they heard a whistle。 Gerassim answered it with a similar sound。 The
moment Ivan Mironov descended the slope； the peasants surrounded him
and brought him back to the village。 The next morning a crowd assembled
in front of the bailiff's cottage。 Ivan Mironov was brought out and
subjected to a close examination。 Stepan Pelageushkine； a tall； stooping
man with long arms； an aquiline nose； and a gloomy face was the first to
put questions to him。 Stepan had terminated his military service； and was
of a solitary turn of mind。 When he had separated from his father； and
started his own home； he had his first experience of losing a horse。 After
that he worked for two years in the mines； and made money enough to buy
two horses。 These two had been stolen by Ivan Mironov。
〃Tell me where my horses are！〃 shouted Stepan； pale with fury；
alternately looking at the ground and at Ivan Mironov's face。
Ivan Mironov denied his guilt。 Then Stepan aimed so violent a blow
at his face that he smashed his nose and the blood spurted ou