Zhivoy trup Page #6

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That is all untrue.

Well then, allow me to put

a few questions.

Did you send him 1,200 roubles

in July of last year?

It was his own money, the proceeds

of the sale of some things of his.

When I parted from him and expecting

a divorce, I did send him the money.

Just so! Very well.

That money was sent

on the 17th of July

So, two days before his disappearance?

I think it was on the 17th,

but I don't remember.

And why was the application to

the Consistorium for a divorce withdrawn,

just at that time and the lawyer

told not to proceed with the case?

I don't know.

Well, and when the police asked you

to identify the body,

how was it you recognized it

as your husband's?

I was so excited that

I did not look

at the body, and I felt

so sure it was he,

that when they asked me, I answered,

"I think it is he".

Yes, you did not see well,

in consequence of a natural excitement.

Well Very well.

Only allow me to remark, madam,

the fact of being servants of the law

does not prevent our being men;

and believe me, I quite understand

your position and sympathize with you.

You were tied to a man who squandered

your property, was unfaithful

In short, brought misfortune

I loved him.

Yes; but still the desire to free

yourself was natural,

and you chose this simpler way,

without realizing

that it would lead you into

what is considered a crime bigamy.

I quite understand it.

The judges will understand too;

and therefore I advise you

to confess everything.

I've nothing to conceal. I've never lied.

Do you want me any longer?

I must ask you to remain here.

I won't I will not trouble you

with any more questions.

Only kindly read this over and sign it.

It is your deposition.

See whether your answers

have been correctly taken down.

Please take that seat.

Ask Mr. Karenin to come in.

Please take a seat.

Thank you.

What do you want of me?

I have to take your deposition.

In what capacity?

I am, in the capacity

of Examining Magistrate,

obliged to question you in the capacity

of an accused person.

Indeed! Accused of what?

Of marrying a married woman.

However, allow me to question you

properly. Kindly sit down.

Thank you.

Your name?

Victor Karenin.

Your calling?

Chamberlain and Member of Council.

Age thirty-four. Orthodox religion?

Orthodox; never was tried

or convicted before. Well?

Did you know that Fyodor Vasilyevich

Protasov was alive

when you married his wife?

I did not know it.

Very well. Why did you send money

1,200 roubles

to Mr. Protasov just before

his pretended death on 17th July?

That money was given to me by my wife.

By Mrs. Protasova?

By my wife, to send to her husband.

She considered that money to be his and,

having severed all connections with him,

considered it unfair to keep it.

One more question why did you withdraw

the application for divorce?

Because he applied for a divorce,

and wrote me about it.

Have you got his letter?

It has been lost.

It is strange that everything

which might convince the Court

of the truth of your evidence

should either be lost or non-existent.

Do you want anything more?

I want nothing, except to do my duty;

but you'll have to exonerate yourselves,

and I have just advised Mrs. Protasova,

and I advise you also,

not to try to hide what everyone can see,

but to say what really happened.

Especially as Mr. Protasov is

in such a condition

that he has already told everything

just as it happened,

and will probably do the same in Court.

I should advise

I request you to keep

within the limits of your duty,

and not to give me your advice.

May we go?

I am very sorry to be obliged

to detain you

Oh, I don't mean that I arrest you.

Though that would make it easier

to get at the truth,

I shall not resort to such a measure.

I only want to take Protasov's

deposition in your presence,

and to confront him with you,

yes, to confront him

which will make it easier for you

to detect any falsehood in what he says.

Please take a seat.

Call in Mr. Protasov!

Please answer my questions.

Ask, then.

Ask, then.

Your name?

Why, you know it!

Please answer.

Well then, Fyodor Protasov.

Your calling, age and religion?

Aren't you ashamed to ask such nonsense?

Ask what you want to know,

and not such rubbish!

I beg you to be more careful in your

expressions, and to answer my questions.

Well, if you're not ashamed of it,

here you are:

Calling, graduate; age, forty;

religion, Orthodox. What next?

Did Mr. Karenin and your wife know

that you were alive

when you left your clothes

on the river bank and disappeared?

Certainly not! I wished really to commit

suicide, but afterwards

But there's no need to go into that.

The thing is, they knew nothing about it.

How is it that you gave a different

account to the police officer?

Liza!

Yelizaveta Andreyevna, Victor.

I am not guilty. I meant for the best.

But if I am guilty, forgive me!

Forgive me.

I understand your wish to be magnanimous,

but the law demands the truth.

Why, you gave a different account

to the police officer.

What police officer?

Oh, when he came to see me

at the dosshouse?

I was drunk and romancing

don't know what. All that was rubbish.

May I have this

Now I'm not drunk and telling the truth!

They knew nothing.

They believed that I was no longer alive,

and I was glad of it.

Everything would have gone on as it was,

but for that rascal, Kouzin.

If anyone is guilty,

it's no one but myself.

Why was money sent to you?

Why don't you answer?

It'll go down on record that the accused

refused to answer these questions,

and this may harm you and them very much.

Well then, how was it?

Oh, Mr. Magistrate, how is it

you are not ashamed!

Why do you pry into other people's lives?

You're glad to have power, and to show it,

you torment not physically,

but morally people a thousand times

better than yourself!

I beg you

You've nothing to beg!

I shall say what I think.

And you keep writing it down, please.

At least for once there will be

sensible human words in a police report.

There are three people: I, he, and she.

Our relations are complex a spiritual

struggle such as you know nothing of,

a struggle between good and evil goes on.

That struggle ends in a manner which

sets them free. They were all at peace.

They were happy,

and remembered me with affection.

I, fallen as I was, was glad that I,

a good-for-nothing, had acted as I ought,

had gone out, not to stand in the way

of people who had life before them.

And so we were all living.

Suddenly a scoundrel appears

who demands that I should take a hand

in a blackmailing scheme.

Who wants to put the lug on them

with my help,

otherwise threatening to blow the gaff.

I send him about his business.

Then he comes to you, to the champion

of Justice. The guardian of Morality.

And you, who receive each month

a few coins for doing your dirty work,

put on your uniform,

and calmly bully these people

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