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Ivan Mironov denied his guilt。 Then Stepan aimed so violent a blow
at his face that he smashed his nose and the blood spurted out。
〃Tell the truth； I say； or I'll kill you！〃
Ivan Mironov kept silent； trying to avoid the blows by stooping。
Stepan hit him twice more with his long arm。 Ivan Mironov remained
silent； turning his head backwards and forwards。
〃Beat him； all of you！〃 cried the bailiff； and the whole crowd rushed
upon Ivan Mironov。 He fell without a word to the ground； and then
shouted；〃Devils； wild beasts； kill me if that's what you want！ I am not
afraid of you！〃
Stepan seized a stone out of those that had been collected for the
purpose； and with a heavy blow smashed Ivan Mironov's head。
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XV
IVAN MIRONOV'S murderers were brought to trial； Stepan
Pelageushkine among them。 He had a heavier charge to answer than the
others； all the witnesses having stated that it was he who had smashed Ivan
Mironov's head with a stone。 Stepan concealed nothing when in court。
He contented himself with explaining that； having been robbed of his two
last horses； he had informed the police。 Now it was comparatively easy at
that time to trace the horses with the help of professional thieves among
the gipsies。 But the police officer would not even permit him； and no
search had been ordered。
〃Nothing else could be done with such a man。 He has ruined us all。〃
〃But why did not the others attack him。 It was you alone who broke
his head open。〃
〃That is false。 We all fell upon him。 The village agreed to kill him。
I only gave the final stroke。 What is the use of inflicting unnecessary
sufferings on a man？〃
The judges were astonished at Stepan's wonderful coolness in
narrating the story of his crimehow the peasants fell upon Ivan Mironov；
and how he had given the final stroke。 Stepan actually did not see
anything particularly revolting in this murder。 During his military service
he had been ordered on one occasion to shoot a soldier； and； now with
regard to Ivan Mironov； he saw nothing loathsome in it。 〃A man shot is a
dead manthat's all。 It was him to…day； it might be me to…morrow；〃 he
thought。 Stepan was only sentenced to one year's imprisonment； which
was a mild punishment for what he had done。 His peasant's dress was
taken away from him and put in the prison stores； and he had a prison suit
and felt boots given to him instead。 Stepan had never had much respect for
the authorities； but now he became quite convinced that all the chiefs； all
the fine folk； all except the Czarwho alone had pity on the peasants and
was justall were robbers who suck blood out of the people。 All he heard
from the deported convicts； and those sentenced to hard labour； with
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whom he had made friends in prisons； confirmed him in his views。 One
man had been sentenced to hard labour for having convicted his superiors
of a theft； another for having struck an official who had unjustly
confiscated the property of a peasant； a third because he forged bank notes。
The well…to…do…people； the merchants； might do whatever they chose and
come to no harm； but a poor peasant； for a trumpery reason or for none at
all； was sent to prison to become food for vermin。
He had visits from his wife while in prison。 Her life without him was
miserable enough； when； to make it worse； her cottage was destroyed by
fire。 She was completely ruined； and had to take to begging with her
children。 His wife's misery embittered Stepan still more。 He got on very
badly with all the people in the prison； was rude to every one； and one day
he nearly killed the cook with an axe； and therefore got an additional year
in prison。 In the course of that year he received the news that his wife was
dead； and that he had no longer a home。
When Stepan had finished his time in prison； he was taken to the
prison stores； and his own dress was taken down from the shelf and
handed to him。
〃Where am I to go now？〃 he asked the prison officer； putting on his
old dress。
〃Why； home。〃
〃I have no home。 I shall have to go on the road。 Robbery will not be
a pleasant occupation。〃
〃In that case you will soon be back here。〃
〃I am not so sure of that。〃
And Stepan left the prison。 Nevertheless he took the road to his own
place。 He had nowhere else to turn。
On his way he stopped for a night's rest in an inn that had a public bar
attached to it。 The inn was kept by a fat man from the town； Vladimir；
and he knew Stepan。 He knew that Stepan had been put into prison
through ill luck； and did not mind giving him shelter for the night。 He was
a rich man； and had persuaded his neighbour's wife to leave her husband
and come to live with him。 She lived in his house as his wife； and helped
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him in his business as well。
Stepan knew all about the innkeeper's affairshow he had wronged the
peasant； and how the woman who was living with him had left her
husband。 He saw her now sitting at the table in a rich dress； and looking
very hot as she drank her tea。 With great condescension she asked
Stepan to have tea with her。 No other travellers were stopping in the inn
that night。 Stepan was given a place in the kitchen where he might sleep。
Matrenathat was the woman's namecleared the table and went to her
room。 Stepan went to lie down on the large stove in the kitchen； but he
could not sleep； and the wood splinters put on the stove to dry were
crackling under him； as he tossed from side to side。 He could not help
thinking of his host's fat paunch protruding under the belt of his shirt；
which had lost its colour from having been washed ever so many times。
Would not it