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The minister； a good…natured man at heart； was sincerely sorry for the
pretty girl。 But he said to himself that he was bound to consider his high
state duties imposed upon him； even though they did not imply much work
and trouble。 So； when his former colleague； a chamberlain and a friend
of the Turins； met him at a court ball and tried to rouse his pity for Turin
and the girl Turchaninova； he shrugged his shoulders； stretching the red
ribbon on his white waistcoat； and said： 〃Je ne demanderais pas mieux
que de relacher cette pauvre fillette； mais vous savez le devoir。〃 And in the
meantime Katia Turchaninova was kept in prison。 She was at times in a
quiet mood； communicated with her fellow…prisoners by knocking on the
walls； and read the books that were sent to her。 But then came days when
she had fits of desperate fury； knocking with her fists against the wall；
screaming and laughing like a mad…woman。
XXIII
ONE day Maria Semenovna came home from the treasurer's office；
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where she had received her pension。 On her way she met a schoolmaster；
a friend of hers。
〃Good day； Maria Semenovna！ Have you received your money？〃 the
schoolmaster asked； in a loud voice from the other side of the street。
〃I have；〃 answered Maria Semenovna。 〃But it was not much； just
enough to fill the holes。〃
〃Oh； there must be some tidy pickings out of such a lot of money；〃
said the schoolmaster； and passed on； after having said good…bye。
〃Good…bye；〃 said Maria Semenovna。 While she was looking at her
friend； she met a tall man face to face； who had very long arms and a stern
look in his eyes。 Coming to her house； she was very startled on again
seeing the same man with the long arms； who had evidently followed her。
He remained standing another moment after she had gone in； then turned
and walked away。
Maria Semenovna felt somewhat frightened at first。 But when she had
entered the house； and had given her father and her nephew Fedia the
presents she had brought for them； and she had patted the dog Treasure；
who whined with joy； she forgot her fears。 She gave the money to her
father and began to work； as there was always plenty for her to do。
The man she met face to face was Stepan。
After he had killed the innkeeper； he did not return to town。 Strange to
say； he was not sorry to have committed that murder。 His mind went back
to the murdered man over and over again during the following day； and he
liked the recollection of having done the thing so skilfully； so cleverly； that
nobody…would ever discover it； and he would not therefore be prevented
from murdering other people in the same way。 Sitting in the public…house
and having his tea； he looked at the people around him with the same
thought how he should murder them。 In the evening he called at a carter's；
a man from his village； to spend the night at his house。 The carter was
not in。 He said he would wait for him； and in the meanwhile began talking
to the carter's wife。 But when she moved to the stove； with her back
turned to him； the idea entered his mind to kill her。 He marvelled at
himself at first； and shook his head； but the next moment he seized the
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knife he had hidden in his boot； knocked the woman down on the floor；
and cut her throat。 When the children began to scream； he killed them also
and went away。 He did not look out for another place to spend the night；
but at once left the town。 In a village some distance away he went to the
inn and slept there。 The next day he returned to the district town； and
there he overheard in the street Maria Semenovna's talk with the
schoolmaster。 Her look frightened him； but yet he made up his mind to
creep into her house； and rob her of the money she had received。 When the
night came he broke the lock and entered the house。 The first person who
heard his steps was the younger daughter； the married one。 She screamed。
Stepan stabbed her immediately with his knife。 Her husband woke up
and fell upon Stepan； seized him by his throat； and struggled with him
desperately。 But Stepan was the stronger man and overpowered him。 After
murdering him； Stepan； excited by the long fight； stepped into the next
room behind a partition。 That was Maria Semenovna's bedroom。 She
rose in her bed； looked at Stepan with her mild frightened eyes； and
crossed herself。
Once more her look scared Stepan。 He dropped his eyes。
〃Where is your money？〃 he asked； without raising his face。
She did not answer。
〃Where is the money？〃 asked Stepan again； showing her his knife。
〃How can you 。 。 。〃 she said。
〃You will see how。〃
Stepan came close to her； in order to seize her hands and prevent her
struggling with him； but she did not even try to lift her arms or offer any
resistance； she pressed her hands to her chest； and sighed heavily。
〃Oh； what a great sin！〃 she cried。 〃How can you！ Have mercy on
yourself。 To destroy somebody's soul 。 。 。 and worse； your own！ 。 。 。〃
Stepan could not stand her voice any longer； and drew his knife
sharply across her throat。 〃Stop that talk！〃 he said。 She fell back with a
hoarse cry； and the pillow was stained with blood。 He turned away； and
went round the rooms in order to collect all he thought worth taking。
Having made a bundle of the most valuable things； he lighted a cigarette；
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sat down for a while； brushed his clothes； and left the house。 He thought
this murder would not matter to him more than those he had committed
before； but before he got a night's lodging； he felt suddenly so exhausted
that he could not walk any farther。 He stepped down into the gutter and
remained lying there the rest of the night； and the next day and the next
night。
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