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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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THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
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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THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
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 be a good thing to make a good clean incision in that paunch。
And that woman； too； he thought。
One moment he would say to himself； 〃I had better go from here to…
morrow； bother them all！〃 But then again Ivan Mironov came back to his
mind； and he went on thinking of the innkeeper's paunch and Matrena's
white throat bathed in perspiration。 〃Kill I must； and it must be both！〃
He heard the cock crow for the second time。
〃I must do it at once； or dawn will be here。〃 He had seen in the
evening before he went to bed a knife and an axe。 He crawled down
from the stove； took the knife and axe； and went out of the kitchen door。
At that very moment he heard the lock of the entrance door open。 The
innkeeper was going out of the house to the courtyard。 It all turned out
contrary to what Stepan desired。 He had no opportunity of using the
knife； he just swung the axe and split the innkeeper's head in two。 The
man tumbled down on the threshold of the door； then on the ground。
Stepan stepped into the bedroom。 Matrena jumped out of bed； and
remained standing by its side。 With the same axe Stepan killed her also。
Then he lighted the candle； took the money out of the desk； and left
the house。
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THE FORGED COUPONAnd Other Stories
XVI
IN a small district town； some distance away from the other buildings；
an old man； a former official； who had taken to drink； lived in his own
house with his two daughters and his son…in…law。 The married daughter
was also addicted to drink and led a bad life； and it was the elder daughter；
the widow Maria Semenovna； a wrinkled woman of fifty； who supported
the whole family。 She had a pension of two hundred and fifty roubles a
year； and the family lived on this。 Maria Semenovna did all the work in
the house； looked after the drunken old father； who was very weak；
attended to her sister's child； and managed all the cooking and the washing
of the family。 And； as is always the case； whatever there was to do； she
was expected to do it； and was； moreover； continually scolded by all the
three people in the house； her brother…in…law used even to beat her when
he was drunk。 She bore it all patiently； and as is also always the case； the
more work she had to face； the quicker she managed to get through it。
She helped the poor； sacrificing her own wants； she gave them her clothes；
and was a ministering angel to the sick。
Once the lame； crippled village tailor was working in Maria
Semenovna's house。 He had to mend her old father's coat； and to mend
and repair Maria Semenovna's fur…jacket for her to wear in winter when
she went to market。
The lame tailor was a clever man； and a keen observer： he had seen
many different people owing to his profession； and was fond of reflection；
condemned as he was to a sedentary life。
Having worked a week at Maria Semenovna's； he wondered greatly
about her life。 One day she came to the kitchen； where he was sitting
with his work； to wash a towel； and began to ask him how he was getting
on。 He told her of the wrong he had suffered from his brother； and how he
now lived on his own allotment of land； separated from that of his brother。
〃I thought I should have been better off that way；〃 he said。 〃But I am
now just as poor as before。〃
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