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He called Stepan to him。 〃Farewell； brother；〃 he said。 〃Death has come；
I see。 I was so afraid of it before。 And now I don't mind。 I only wish it
to come quicker。〃
XVI
IN the meanwhile； the affairs of Eugene Mihailovich had grown worse
and worse。 Business was very slack。 There was a new shop in the town；
he was losing his customers； and the interest had to be paid。 He
borrowed again on interest。 At last his shop and his goods were to be sold
up。 Eugene Mihailovich and his wife applied to every one they knew； but
they could not raise the four hundred roubles they needed to save the shop
anywhere。
They had some hope of the merchant Krasnopuzov； Eugene
Mihailovich's wife being on good terms with his mistress。 But news
came that Krasnopuzov had been robbed of a huge sum of money。 Some
said of half a million roubles。 〃And do you know who is said to be the
thief？〃 said Eugene Mihailovich to his wife。 〃Vassily； our former yard…
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porter。 They say he is squandering the money； and the police are bribed by
him。〃
〃I knew he was a villain。 You remember how he did not mind
perjuring himself？ But I did not expect it would go so far。〃
〃I hear he has recently been in the courtyard of our house。 Cook says
she is sure it was he。 She told me he helps poor girls to get married。〃
〃They always invent tales。 I don't believe it。〃
At that moment a strange man； shabbily dressed； entered the shop。
〃What is it you want？〃
〃Here is a letter for you。〃
〃From whom？〃
〃You will see yourself。〃
〃Don't you require an answer？ Wait a moment。〃
〃I cannot。〃 The strange man handed the letter and disappeared。
〃How extraordinary！〃 said Eugene Mihailovich； and tore open the
envelope。 To his great amazement several hundred rouble notes fell out。
〃Four hundred roubles！〃 he exclaimed； hardly believing his eyes。 〃What
does it mean？〃
The envelope also contained a badly…spelt letter； addressed to Eugene
Mihailovich。 〃It is said in the Gospels；〃 ran the letter； 〃do good for evil。
You have done me much harm； and in the coupon case you made me
wrong the peasants greatly。 But I have pity for you。 Here are four
hundred notes。 Take them； and remember your porter Vassily。〃
〃Very extraordinary！〃 said Eugene Mihailovich to his wife and to
himself。 And each time he remembered that incident； or spoke about it to
his wife； tears would come to his eyes。
XVII
FOURTEEN priests were kept in the Suzdal friary prison； chiefly for
having been untrue to the orthodox faith。 Isidor had been sent to that place
also。 Father Missael received him according to the instructions he had
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been given； and without talking to him ordered him to be put into a
separate cell as a serious criminal。 After a fortnight Father Missael；
making a round of the prison； entered Isidor's cell； and asked him whether
there was anything he wished for。
〃There is a great deal I wish for；〃 answered Isidor； 〃but I cannot tell
you what it is in the presence of anybody else。 Let me talk to you
privately。〃
They looked at each other； and Missael saw he had nothing to be afraid
of in remaining alone with Isidor。 He ordered Isidor to be brought into
his own room； and when they were alone； he said；〃Well； now you can
speak。〃
Isidor fell on his knees。
〃Brother；〃 said Isidor。 〃What are you doing to yourself！ Have mercy
on your own soul。 You are the worst villain in the world。 You have
offended against all that is sacred 。 。 。〃
A month after Missael sent a report； asking that Isidor should be
released as he had repented； and he also asked for the release of the rest of
the prisoners。 After which he resigned his post。
XVIII TEN years passed。 Mitia Smokovnikov had finished his
studies in the Technical College； he was now an engineer in the gold
mines in Siberia； and was very highly paid。 One day he was about to make
a round in the district。 The governor offered him a convict； Stepan
Pelageushkine； to accompany him on his journey。
〃A convict； you say？ But is not that dangerous？〃
〃Not if it is this one。 He is a holy man。 You may ask anybody； they
will all tell you so。〃
〃Why has he been sent here？〃
The governor smiled。 〃He had committed six murders； and yet he is
a holy man。 I go bail for him。〃
Mitia Smokovnikov took Stepan； now a bald…headed； lean； tanned man；
with him on his journey。 On their way Stepan took care of Smokovnikov；
like his own child； and told him his story； told him why he had been sent
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here； and what now filled his life。
And； strange to say； Mitia Smokovnikov； who up to that time used to
spend his time drinking； eating； and gambling； began for the first time to
meditate on life。 These thoughts never left him now； and produced a
complete change in his habits。 After a time he was offered a very
advantageous position。 He refused it； and made up his mind to buy an
estate with the money he had； to marry； and to devote himself to the
peasantry； helping them as much as he could。
XIX
HE carried out his intentions。 But before retiring to his estate he
called on his father； with whom he had been on bad terms； and who had
settled apart with his new family。 Mitia Smokovnikov wanted to make it
up。 The old man wondered at first； and laughed at the change he noticed
in his son； but after a while he ceased to find fault with him； and thought
of the many times when it was he who was the guilty one。
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AFTER THE