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But silence reigned。 He climbed out of the win…
dow。 His way of escape was to climb the wall。
An outhouse stood in the corner of the courtyard。
He had to reach its roof； and pass thence to the
top of the wall。 But he would not be able to
reach the roof without the help of the plank； so
he had to go back through the basement window
to fetch it。 A moment later he came out of the
window with the plank in his hands； he stood still
for a while listening to the steps of the sentry。
His expectations were justified。 The sentry was
walking up and down on the other side of the
courtyard。 Vassily came up to the outhouse；
leaned the plank against it； and began climbing。
The plank slipped and fell on the ground。 Vas…
sily had his stockings on； he took them off so that
be could cling with his bare feet in coming down。
Then he leaned the plank again against the house；
and seized the water…pipe with his hands。 If only
this time the plank would hold！ A quick move…
ment up the water…pipe； and his knee rested on
the roof。 The sentry was approaching。 Vassily
lay motionless。 The sentry did not notice him；
and passed on。 Vassily leaped to his feet； the
iron roof cracked under him。 Another step or
two； and he would reach the wall。 He could
touch it with his hand now。 He leaned forward
with one hand； then with the other； stretched out
his body as far as he could； and found himself
on the wall。 Only； not to break his legs in jump…
ing down； Vassily turned round； remained hang…
ing in the air by his hands； stretched himself out；
loosened the grip of one hand； then the other。
〃Help； me； God！〃 He was on the ground。
And the ground was soft。 His legs were not
hurt； and he ran at the top of his speed。 In a
suburb； Malania opened her door； and he crept
under her warm coverlet； made of small pieces
of different colours stitched together。
X
THE wife of Peter Nikolaevich Sventizky； a tall
and handsome woman； as quiet and sleek as a
well…fed heifer； had seen from her window how
her husband had been murdered and dragged away
into the fields。 The horror of such a sight to
Natalia Ivanovna was so intensehow could it
be otherwise？that all her other feelings van…
ished。 No sooner had the crowd disappeared
from view behind the garden fence； and the voices
had become still； no sooner had the bare…footed
Malania； their servant； run in with her eyes start…
ing out of her head； calling out in a voice more
suited to the proclamation of glad tidings the
news that Peter Nikolaevich had been murdered
and thrown into the ravine； than Natalia Ivan…
ovna felt that behind her first sensation of horror；
there was another sensation； a feeling of joy at
her deliverance from the tyrant； who through all
the nineteen years of their married life had made
her work without a moment's rest。 Her joy
made her aghast； she did not confess it to herself；
but hid it the more from those around。 When
his mutilated； yellow and hairy body was being
washed and put into the coffin； she cried with hor…
ror； and wept and sobbed。 When the coroner
a special coroner for serious casescame and
was taking her evidence； she noticed in the room；
where the inquest was taking place； two peasants
in irons； who had been charged as the principal
culprits。 One of them was an old man with a
curly white beard； and a calm and severe coun…
tenance。 The other was rather young； of a gipsy
type； with bright eyes and curly dishevelled hair。
She declared that they were the two men who had
first seized hold of Peter Nikolaevich's hands。
In spite of the gipsy…like peasant looking at her
with his eyes glistening from under his moving
eyebrows； and saying reproachfully： 〃A great
sin； lady； it is。 Remember your death hour！〃
in spite of that； she did not feel at all sorry for
them。 On the contrary； she began to hate them
during the inquest； and wished desperately to
take revenge on her husband's murderers。
A month later； after the case； which was com…
mitted for trial by court…martial； had ended in
eight men being sentenced to hard labour； and in
twothe old man with the white beard； and the
gipsy boy； as she called the otherbeing con…
demned to be hanged； Natalia felt vaguely uneasy。
But unpleasant doubts soon pass away under the
solemnity of a trial。 Since such high authorities
considered that this was the right thing to do； it
must be right。
The execution was to take place in the village
itself。 One Sunday Malania came home from
church in her new dress and her new boots； and
announced to her mistress that the gallows were
being erected； and that the hangman was expected
from Moscow on Wednesday。 She also an…
nounced that the families of the convicts were
raging； and that their cries could be heard all over
the village。
Natalia Ivanovna did not go out of her house；
she did not wish to see the gallows and the people
in the village； she only wanted what had to hap…
pen to be over quickly。 She only considered her
own feelings； and did not care for the convicts
and their families。
On Tuesday the village constable called on
Natalia Ivanovna。 He was a friend； and she of…
fered him vodka and preserved mushrooms of her
own making。 The constable； after eating a little；
told her that the execution was not to take place
the next day。
〃Why？〃
〃A very strange thing has happened。 There
is no hangman to be found。 They had one in
Moscow； my son told me； but he has been reading
the Gospels a good deal and says： 'I will not
commit a murder。' He had himself been sen…
tenced to hard labour for having committed a mur…
der； and now he objects to hang when the law or…
ders him。 He was threatened with flogging。
'You may flog me；' he said； 'but I won't do it。'〃
Natalia Ivanovna grew red and hot at the
thought which suddenly came into her head。
〃Could not the death sentence be commuted
now？〃
〃How so； since the judges have passed it？
The Czar alone has the right of amnesty。〃
〃But how would he know？〃
〃They have the right of appealing to him。〃
〃But it is on my account they are to die；〃 said
that stupid woman； Natalia Ivanovna。 〃And I
forgive them。〃
The constable laughed。 〃Wellsend a pe…
tition to the Czar。〃
〃May I do it？〃
〃Of course you may。〃
〃But is it not too late？〃
〃Send it by telegram。〃
〃To the Czar himself？〃
〃To the Czar； if you like。〃
The story of the hangman having refused to
do his duty； and preferring to take the flogging
instead； suddenly changed the soul of Natalia
Ivanovna。 The pity and the horror she felt the
moment she heard that the peasants were sen…
tenced to death； could not be stifled now； but
filled her whole soul。
〃Filip Vassilievich； my friend。 Write that tel…
egram for me。 I want to appeal to the Czar to
pardon them。〃
The constable shook his head。 〃I wonder
whether that would not involve us in trouble？〃
〃I do it upon my own responsibility。 I will
not mention your name。〃
〃Is not she a kind woman；〃 thought the con…
stable。 〃Very kind…hearted； to be sure。 If my
wife had such a heart； our life would be a para…
dise； instead of what it is now 〃 And he wrote
the telegram；
〃