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man。 He stepped briskly along behind his superiors； but the instant he
saw the corpse he went suddenly pale； and quivered； and dropping his
head stood still。 When the official asked him whether that was the man
who was escaping across the frontier； and at whom he had fired； he was
unable to answer。 His lips trembled； and his face twitched。 〃The ss s
〃 he began； but could not get out the words which he wanted to say。 〃The
same； your excellency。〃 The officials looked at each other and wrote
something down。
〃You see the beneficial results of that same system！〃
In a room of sumptuous vulgarity two men sat drinking wine。 One of
them was old and grey； the other a young Jew。 The young Jew was holding
a roll of bank…notes in his hand； and was bargaining with the old man。
He was buying smuggled goods。
〃You've got 'em cheap；〃 he said； smiling。
〃Yesbut the risk〃
〃This is indeed terrible；〃 said the young Tsar； but it cannot be avoided。
Such proceedings are necessary。〃
His companion made no response； saying merely； 〃Let us move on；〃
and laid his hand again on the head of the Tsar。 When the Tsar recovered
consciousness； he was standing in a small room lit by a shaded lamp。 A
woman was sitting at the table sewing。 A boy of eight was bending over
the table； drawing； with his feet doubled up under him in the armchair。 A
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student was reading aloud。 The father and daughter of the family entered
the room noisily。
〃You signed the order concerning the sale of spirits；〃 said the guide to
the Tsar。
〃Well？〃 said the woman。
〃He's not likely to live。〃
〃What's the matter with him？〃
〃They've kept him drunk all the time。〃
〃It's not possible！〃 exclaimed the wife。
〃It's true。 And the boy's only nine years old； that Vania Moroshkine。〃
〃What did you do to try to save him？〃 asked the wife。
〃I tried everything that could be done。 I gave him an emetic and put
a mustard…plaster on him。 He has every symptom of delirium tremens。〃
〃It's no wonderthe whole family are drunkards。 Annisia is only a
little better than the rest； and even she is generally more or less drunk；〃
said the daughter。
〃And what about your temperance society？〃 the student asked his
sister。
〃What can we do when they are given every opportunity of drinking？
Father tried to have the public…house shut up； but the law is against him。
And； besides； when I was trying to convince Vasily Ermiline that it was
disgraceful to keep a public…house and ruin the people with drink； he
answered very haughtily； and indeed got the better of me before the crowd：
'But I have a license with the Imperial eagle on it。 If there was anything
wrong in my business； the Tsar wouldn't have issued a decree authorising
it。' Isn't it terrible？ The whole village has been drunk for the last three
days。 And as for feast…days； it is simply horrible to think of！ It has been
proved conclusively that alcohol does no good in any case； but invariably
does harm； and it has been demonstrated to be an absolute poison。 Then；
ninety…nine per cent。 of the crimes in the world are committed through its
influence。 We all know how the standard of morality and the general
welfare improved at once in all the countries where drinking has been
suppressedlike Sweden and Finland； and we know that it can be
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suppressed by exercising a moral influence over the masses。 But in our
country the class which could exert that influence the Government； the
Tsar and his officialssimply encourage drink。 Their main revenues are
drawn from the continual drunkenness of the people。 They drink
themselvesthey are always drinking the health of somebody：
'Gentlemen； the Regiment！' The preachers drink； the bishops drink〃
Again the guide touched the head of the young Tsar； who again lost
consciousness。 This time he found himself in a peasant's cottage。 The
peasanta man of forty； with red face and blood…shot eyes was furiously
striking the face of an old man； who tried in vain to protect himself from
the blows。 The younger peasant seized the beard of the old man and held
it fast。
〃For shame！ To strike your father！〃
〃I don't care； I'll kill him！ Let them send me to Siberia； I don't care！〃
The women were screaming。 Drunken officials rushed into the
cottage and separated father and son。 The father had an arm broken and
the son's beard was torn out。 In the doorway a drunken girl was making
violent love to an old besotted peasant。
〃They are beasts！〃 said the young Tsar。 Another touch of his guide's
hand and the young Tsar awoke in a new place。 It was the office of the
justice of the peace。 A fat； bald…headed man； with a double chin and a
chain round his neck； had just risen from his seat； and was reading the
sentence in a loud voice； while a crowd of peasants stood behind the
grating。 There was a woman in rags in the crowd who did not rise。 The
guard gave her a push。
〃Asleep！ I tell you to stand up！〃 The woman rose。
〃According to the decree of his Imperial Majesty〃 the judge began
reading the sentence。 The case concerned that very woman。 She had
taken away half a bundle of oats as she was passing the thrashing…floor of
a landowner。 The justice of the peace sentenced her to two months'
imprisonment。 The landowner whose oats had been stolen was among the
audience。 When the judge adjourned the court the landowner approached；
and shook hands； and the judge entered into conversation with him。 The
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next case was about a stolen samovar。 Then there was a trial about some
timber which had been cut； to the detriment of the landowner。 Some
peasants were being tried for having assaulted the constable of the district。
When the young Tsar again lost consciousness；