crime and punishment(罪与罚)-第59章
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AN ELEGANT carriage stood in the middle of the road with a pair of
spirited grey horses； there was no one in it； and the coachman had got
off his box and stood by； the horses were being held by the
bridle。。。 A mass of people had gathered round； the police standing
in front。 One of them held a lighted lantern which he was turning on
something lying close to the wheels。 Every one was talking；
shouting； exclaiming； the coachman seemed at a loss and kept
repeating：
〃What a misfortune！ Good Lord； what a misfortune！〃
Raskolnikov pushed his way in as far as he could； and succeeded at
last in seeing the object of the commotion and interest。 On the ground
a man who had been run over lay apparently unconscious； and covered
with blood； he was very badly dressed； but not like a workman。 Blood
was flowing from his head and face； his face was crushed； mutilated
and disfigured。 He was evidently badly injured。
〃Merciful heaven！〃 wailed the coachman； 〃what more could I do？ If
I'd been driving fast or had not shouted to him； but I was going
quietly； not in a hurry。 Every one could see I was going along just
like everybody else。 A drunken man can't walk straight； we all
know。。。。 I saw him crossing the street； staggering and almost falling。
I shouted again and a second and a third time； then I held the
horses in； but he fell straight under their feet！ Either he did it
on purpose or he was very tipsy。。。。 The horses are young and ready
to take fright。。。 they started； he screamed。。。 that made them worse。
That's how it happened！〃
〃That's just how it was；〃 a voice in the crowd confirmed。
〃He shouted； that's true； he shouted three times；〃 another voice
declared。
〃Three times it was； we all heard it；〃 shouted a third。
But the coachman was not very much distressed and frightened。 It was
evident that the carriage belonged to a rich and important person
who was awaiting it somewhere； the police； of course； were in no
little anxiety to avoid upsetting his arrangements。 All they had to do
was to take the injured man to the police station and the hospital。 No
one knew his name。
Meanwhile Raskolnikov had squeezed in and stooped closer over him。
The lantern suddenly lighted up the unfortunate man's face。 He
recognised him。
〃I know him！ I know him！〃 he shouted； pushing to the front。 〃It's
a government clerk retired from the service； Marmeladov。 He lives
close by in Kozel's house。。。。 Make haste for a doctor！ I will pay；
see。〃 He pulled money out of his pocket and showed it to the
policeman。 He was in violent agitation。
The police were glad that they had found out who the man was。
Raskolnikov gave his own name and address； and； as earnestly as if
it had been his father； he besought the police to carry the
unconscious Marmeladov to his lodging at once。
〃Just here； three houses away；〃 he said eagerly； 〃the house
belongs to Kozel； a rich German。 He was going home； no doubt drunk。
I know him； he is a drunkard。 He has a family there； a wife； children；
he has one daughter。。。。 It will take time to take him to the hospital；
and there is sure to be a doctor in the house。 I'll pay； I'll pay！
At least he will be looked after at home。。。 they will help him at
once。 But he'll die before you get him to the hospital。〃 He managed to
slip something unseen into the policeman's hand。 But the thing was
straightforward and legitimate； and in any case help was closer
here。 They raised the injured man； people volunteered to help。
Kozel's house was thirty yards away。 Raskolnikov walked behind；
carefully holding Marmeladov's head and showing the way。
〃This way； this way！ We must take him upstairs head foremost。 Turn
round！ I'll pay； I'll make it worth your while；〃 he muttered。
Katerina Ivanovna had just begun； as she always did at every free
moment； walking to and fro in her little room from window to stove and
back again； with her arms folded across her chest； talking to
herself and coughing。 Of late she had begun to talk more than ever
to her eldest girl； Polenka； a child of ten； who； though there was
much she did not understand； understood very well that her mother
needed her； and so always watched her with her big clever eyes and
strove her utmost to appear to understand。 This time Polenka was
undressing her little brother； who had been unwell all day and was
going to bed。 The boy was waiting for her to take off his shirt； which
had to be washed at night。 He was sitting straight and motionless on a
chair； with a silent； serious face； with his legs stretched out
straight before him… heels together and toes turned out。
He was listening to what his mother was saying to his sister；
sitting perfectly still with pouting lips and wide…open eyes； just
as all good little boys have to sit when they are undressed to go to
bed。 A little girl； still younger； dressed literally in rags； stood at
the screen； waiting for her turn。 The door on to the stairs was open
to relieve them a little from the clouds of tobacco smoke which
floated in from the other rooms and brought on long terrible fits of
coughing in the poor； consumptive woman。 Katerina Ivanovna seemed to
have grown even thinner during that week and the hectic flush on her
face was brighter than ever。
〃You wouldn't believe； you can't imagine； Polenka；〃 she said；
walking about the room； 〃what a happy luxurious life we had in my
papa's house and how this drunkard has brought me； and will bring
you all； to ruin！ Papa was a civil colonel and only a step from
being a governor； so that every one who came to see him said； 'We look
upon you； Ivan Mihailovitch； as our governor！' When I。。。 when。。。〃
she coughed violently； 〃oh； cursed life；〃 she cried； clearing her
throat and pressing her hands to her breast； 〃when I。。。 when at the
last ball。。。 at the marshal's。。。 Princess Bezzemelny saw me… who
gave me the blessing when your father and I were married； Polenka… she
asked at once 'Isn't that the pretty girl who donced the shawl dance
at the breaking up？' （You must mend that tear； you must take your
needle and darn it as I showed you； or to…morrow… cough； cough； cough…
he will make the hole bigger；〃 she articulated with effort。） 〃Prince
Schegolskoy； a kammerjunker； had just come from Petersburg then。。。
he danced the mazurka with me and wanted to make me an offer next day；
but I thanked him in flattering expressions and told him that my heart
had long been another's。 That other was your father； Polya； papa was
fearfully angry。。。。 Is the water ready？ Give me the shirt； and the
stockings！ Lida；〃 said she to the youngest one； 〃you must manage
without your chemise to…night。。。 and lay your stockings out with it。。。
I'll wash them together。。。
