Dubrovsky

Chapter XVI
Matchmaking Prince Verey was no longer a mystery to the Neighborhood. Kiril Petrovich received congratulations, preparing a wedding. Masha every day deposited decisive Ads. Meanwhile, her appeal to the old groom was cold and forced. that did not care about the prince. It's about love, not fussed, pleased with her silent consent.
But as time passed. Mary finally decided to act, and wrote a letter to Prince Vereisky; she tried to excite in his heart the feeling of generosity, I own up, that did not have him the slightest affection, I begged him to give up its arms and to protect her from the power of the parent. She quietly handed a letter to Prince Vereisky, he read it in private, and the least was not touched by the revelation of his bride. in front of, he saw the need to speed up the wedding and thought it necessary to show the letter to future tests.
Cyril P. vzbesylsya; Prince could hardly persuade him not to show Masha and mind, he informed her letter. Kiril Petrovich agreed that it does not speak, but I decided not to waste time and be appointed a wedding the next day. Prince found these things very prudent, I went to his bride, told her, that the letter saddened him very much, but he hopes to eventually earn her affection, that the thought of losing her too hard and that he could not agree to a death sentence for him. Behind this, he respectfully kissed her hand and left, without telling her anything about the decision Kiril Petrovich words.
But he barely had time to leave the yard, how her father came in and bluntly told her to be ready for tomorrow. Maria Kirilovna, already excited explanation Prince of Vereya, I burst into tears and threw herself at the feet of his father.
- Papa, - she cried with a lamentable voice, - papa, do not kill me, I do not like Duke, I do not want to be his wife ...
- What does it mean, - said Kirill Petrovich Terrible, - still you remained silent and was willing, and now, when everything is decided, you are taken in head capricious and renounce. Do not be fooled if you please; that you did not win with me.
- Do not ruin me, - repeated poor Masha, - what drive me away from myself and give a man unloved? Am I bothered you? I want to stay with you still. papa, you will be sad without me, even sadder, when I say, I'm not happy, papa: do not force me, I do not want to go get married ...
Kiril Petrovitch was touched, but he concealed his embarrassment and, pushed her, He said sternly:
- All this is nonsense, Do you hear. I know better than yours, that is necessary for your happiness. Tears will not help you, the day after tomorrow is your wedding.
- The Day After Tomorrow! - I cried Masha, - Oh my God! Not, not, impossible, this not be. papa, look here, If you already decided to destroy me, I will find a defender, which you do not think, you will see, you will be terrified, to which you have driven me.
- What? what? - said Troyekurov, - threats! me threat, sassy Girl! Yes, do you know, I will do with thee, What you did not fancy. I dare you frighten defender. Let's see, who is the defender.
- Vladimir Dubrovsky, - Masha answered in despair.
Kirill Petrovich thought, that she had gone mad, and I looked at her with amazement.
- Good, - he said to her,, after a pause. - Wait for Me who want to saviors, and meanwhile sit in this room, you do not come out of it until the wedding. - With these words Kiril Petrovitch went out and locked the door behind him.
I wept the poor girl, imagining all, what awaited her, but stormy eased her soul, and she could calmly talk about his fate and that, that ought to do it. The main thing was for her: get rid of the hated marriage; the fate of the couple robber seemed to her a paradise compared with the lot, it ugotovlennoy. She looked at the ring, left her Dubrovsky. She ardently wished to see him alone, and again before the decisive moment for a long time to consult. Premonition affects her, that night she finds Dubrovsky in the garden near the gazebo; she decided to wait for him there, as soon as it get dark. dusk. Masha prepared, but her door was locked with a key. The maid answered her from behind the door, that Kiril Petrovitch had not ordered her release. She was arrested. deeply offended, She sat under a window and his clothes sat deep into the night, still looking at the dark sky. At dawn she fell asleep, but her thin sleep was disturbed by the sad visions, and the rising sun has woken her.
Chapter XVII
She woke up, and the first thought she had the full horror of her situation. she called, the maid came in and answered the questions of its, that evening Kiril Petrovitch went to Arbatov and returned later, he gave strict orders not to let her out of her room and watching to see, so that no one with her did not say, what, however, I do not see any special preparations for the wedding, Moreover, that the priest was ordered not to leave the village under any pretext. After these news maid left Maria Kirillovna and again locked the door.
Her words hardened the young recluse, her head was boiling, blood worried, she decided to let him know everything Dubrovsky and began looking for ways to send the ring in the hollow oak treasured; at this time a pebble struck her window, glass ringing, Maria Kirilovna and looked out into the yard and saw little Sasha, making her the secret signs. She knew his affection and delighted him. She opened the window.
- Hello, Sasha, - she said, - Why did you call me?
- I came, sister, hear from you, if you seek anything. My father angry and rebuked you listen around the house, but tell me to do, What is your pleasure, and I'll do anything for you.
- Thank, my dear Sashenka, listen: You know the old oak tree with a hollow, that the arbor?
- I know, sister.
- So if you love me, Run down there as quickly as possible and put it in the hollow of this ring, Now mind, so no one you have not seen.
With these words she left it and shut the window ring.
The boy picked up the ring, at full speed and began to run in three minutes found himself in a treasured tree. He stopped panting, I looked in all directions and put the ring in the hollow. After graduating from business safely, he wanted to bring the same hour that Mary Kirilovna, when suddenly a ragged boy, red and oblique, He flashed from behind the arbor, He threw himself to the oak tree and plunged his hand into the hollow. Sasha faster proteins rushed to him and caught on with both hands.
- What are you doing here? - he said sternly.
- You work out? - answered the boy, trying to get rid of him.
- Leave it to the ring, rufous hare, - shouted Sasha, - or I have studied you in my own way.
Instead of answering, he punched him in the face, Sasha but he was not released and shouted in all throat: "The thieves, the thieves, here, here…"
The boy struggled to get rid of him. He was, apparently, two years older than Sasha and his much stronger, but Sasha was shifty. They fought a few minutes, red-haired boy finally defeated. He knocked Sasha down and grabbed him by the throat.
But this time, a strong hand grabbed his red hair and bristly, and the gardener Stepan lifted it on a yard from the ground floor ...
- Oh you, Red beast, - said the gardener, - How dare you hit the little master ...
Sasha managed to jump and bounce.
- You grabbed me under the snare, - he said, - but it would never let me threw. Give me the ring and get out now!.
- It is not so, - red and answered, suddenly turned over in one place, freed from their bristle Stepanova hands.
Then he let it run, but Sasha overtook him, He pushed back, and the boy fell to the feet of all. Gardener again grabbed him and tied the sash.
- Give ring! - shouted Sasha.
- Weather, his, - said Stepan, - we reduce it to the clerk to the massacre.
The gardener took the prisoner of a courtyard, and he was accompanied by Sasha, anxiously looking at his trousers, torn and dirtied greens. Suddenly, all three found themselves before Kiril Petrovitch, going to inspect his stables.
- What's this? - he asked Stepan.
Stepan in a few words to describe all the incident. Kiril Petrovich listened attentively.
- You, povesa, - he said, turning to Sasha, - for that you get in touch with him?
- He stole from a hollow ring, papa, tell them to give a ring.
- What ring, from kakogo double?
- Yes, I ... yes Maria Kirilovna the ring ...
Sasha was confused, I got mixed up. Kiril Petrovitch frowned and said,, shake their heads:
- Here I mixed up Maria Kirilovna. Recognized all over, or so with the rod, you otderu, that you and your never know.
- Honestly, papa, I, Papa ... I'm Maria Kirilovna nothing ordered, papa.
- Stepan, go-ka da srezh me pretty, fresh birch rod ...
- Wait, papa, I'll tell you everything. Today, I ran across the yard, and sister Maria Kirilovna opened window, and I ran, and sister not deliberately dropped ring, and I hid it in the hollow, and ... and ... the red-haired boy wanted to steal the ring ...
- Do not deliberately dropped, and you wanted to hide ... Stepan, stupa for rozgami.
- Papa, guess what, I will tell all. Sister Maria Kirilovna told me to run to the oak and put the ring in the hollow, I ran and put the ring, and this bad boy ...
Kiril Petrovitch turned to the boy, and the abominable, asked him sternly: "Whose are you?»
- I serf masters Dubrovskikh, - red-haired boy answered,.
Face of Cyril Petrovich omrachylos.
- You, it seems, I do not recognize Mr., good, - he answered. - What were you doing in my garden?
- Malin stole, - answered the boy with great indifference.
- To her, a lady servant, Q: What pop, and the arrival of such a, and perhaps growing raspberries on my oaks?
The boy did not answer.
- Papa, order him to give a ring, - Sasha said.
- Silent, Alexander, - answered Kiril Petrovitch, - Do not forget, I'm going to settle accounts with you. Go to your room. You, oblique, you seem to me not a fool. Give me the ring and go home.
Boy opened his fist and showed, that there was nothing in his hand.
- If you tell me to confess, so I'm not carving, and I give another penny to nuts. Not that I am with you will do, What you do not expect. Well!
The boy was not a word and did not answer, She lowered her head and taking on the appearance of the Fool.
- Good, - said Cyril P., - lock him up somewhere so watch, that he did not run away, or from all over the skin deflated home.
Stepan took the boy to a dovecote, I locked him up there and put a watch over him an old attendant Agathius.
- Now go to the city for police officer, - said Cyril P., after seeing the boy's eyes, - yes as soon as possible.
"There's no doubt about it. It has maintained relations with the accursed Dubrovsky. But it possible that in fact she called him for help? - thought Cyril P., pacing the room and angrily whistling 'Thunder of victory ". - May be, I finally found it on the hot tracks, and it will not avoid us. We will use this opportunity. Chu! bell, Heavy, This police captain ".
- Gay, bring here the boy caught.
Meanwhile trolley pulled into the yard, and already familiar to us of police entered the room, all covered with dust.
- The glorious news, - I said to him, Kiril Petrovich, - I caught Dubrovsky.
- Thank God, Your Excellency, - he said the police captain overlooking overjoyed, - where is he?
- That is not Dubrovsky, and one of his gang. Now his lead. He benefits us catch of Ataman. Here it also led.
The police captain, expecting a formidable brigand, I was amazed, seeing the 13-year-old boy, rather weak appearance. He puzzled turned to Kiril Petrovitch and waited explanation. Kiril Petrovich began immediately to tell the morning incident, without mentioning however xo Mary Kirilovna.
The superintendent listened attentively, constantly glancing at the little rascal, which the, pretending to be a fool, it seemed, not paying any attention at all, what was going on around him.
- Let, Your Excellency, talk to you alone, - finally said the police captain.
Kiril Petrovitch led him into another room and locked the door behind him.
Half an hour later they came back into the room, where the slave expected decision of his fate.
- The gentleman wanted, - he said the police captain, - to put you in the city jail, quilt with lashes and be exiled later to settle, but I stood up for you and begged you forgiveness. untie it.
boy unleashed.
- Thanks gf barium, - the police captain said. The boy went up to Kiril Petrovitch and kissed his hand.
- Go home, - I said to him, Kiril Petrovich, - yes steal no more raspberries on the hollows.
The boy went, fun jumped off the porch and began to run, not looking back, through the field in Kistenevka. When he reached the village, He stopped at a ramshackle hut, the first from the edge, and I knocked on the window; rose window, and the old woman seemed.
- Grandmother, of bread, - the boy said, - I am not eating anything, I am famished.
- Brother, it's you, Mitya, But where have you been, imp, - said the old woman.
- After talk, grandmother, God love bread.
- Yes Well, Go into the house.
- Once, grandmother, I need to run more in one place. Of bread, like Christ, of bread.
- Ekoji Neposeda, - grumbled the old woman, - on, Here you lomotik, - and I put her in the box a loaf of black bread. The boy eagerly biting and chewing it instantly went further.
getting dark. Mitya made his way to the barn and gardens Kistenevka grove. Come down to two pines, standing watch of trees, he stopped, I looked around in all directions, He whistled shrill whistle and abruptly and listened; lightweight and long whistle sounded in reply, someone came out of the woods and approached him.
Chapter XVIII
Kiril Petrovich paced up and down the hall, louder than usual whistling your song; the whole house was in motion, the servant ran, maids bustled, coachman in a barn laying carriage, the yard was crowded. The ladies restroom, in front of a mirror lady, surrounded by maids, He cleaned the pale, stationary Maria Kirillovna, her head wearily drooped under the weight of diamonds, She shuddered slightly, when reckless prick her hand, but silent, pointless looking in the mirror.
- Soon? - I heard a voice at the door Kiril Petrovich.
- Right away, - replied the lady. - Maria Kirilovna, Arise, Look, well if?
Maria Kirilovna got up and did not answer anything. the door opened.
- The bride is ready, - said Kirill Petrovich lady, - tell them to sit in the carriage.
- With God, - answered Kiril Petrovitch, taking off the table image, - come to me, Masha, - he said to her voice touched, - bless you ... - The poor girl fell at his feet and sobbed.
- Papa ... Papa ... - she said in tears, and her voice died away. Cyril P. speshyl ee bless, it raised almost suffered the carriage. With her mother and sat planted one of the maids. They went to church. There's the groom's their expected. He went to the bride's meeting and was struck by her pallor and strange views. Together they entered the cold, empty church; They locked the doors behind them. The priest came out from the altar, and immediately began. Maria Kirilovna not seen nothing, I heard nothing, thought one, in the morning she was waiting for Dubrovsky, Hope for a minute it would not leave, but when the priest turned to her with the usual questions, She shuddered and froze, but still slow, still awaited; a priest, without waiting for an answer, He uttered irrevocable words.
The rite was over. She felt the cold kiss of favor spouse, she heard cheerful greetings present and still could not believe, that her life was forever bound with, that Dubrovsky did not come to free her. Prince turned to her with sweet words, she did not understand them, they came out of church, the porch crowded with peasants of the Intercession. Her glance ran them quickly and again had a previous insensitivity. Young sat down together in the carriage and drove to Arbatov; there already left Kiril Petrovich, in order to meet there the young. Alone with his young wife in the least prince was not embarrassed by her cold view. He did not bother her luscious izyasneniyami and comical delights, His words were simple and did not require answers. Thus they traveled about ten miles, horse swept quickly over bumps country road, and the carriage almost rocked on its English springs. Suddenly heard screams chase, the carriage stopped, a crowd of armed men surrounded her, and a man in half mask, opened the side door, where he sat a young Princess, told her: "You are free, go ». - "What does it mean, - I cried the prince, - who are you?.."-" It is Dubrovsky ", - said Princess. prince, without losing his presence of mind, He pulled out of a side pocket road pistol and fired at the masked robber. The Princess screamed and covered her face in horror with both hands. Dubrovsky was wounded in the shoulder, blood seemed. prince, without losing a moment, He pulled another gun, but he was not given time to shoot, door melted, and a few strong hands pulled him out of the carriage and pulled out his gun. Above it flashed knives.
- Do not touch it! - cried Dubrovsky, and his accomplices gloomy retreat.
- You are free, - continued Dubrovsky, referring to the pale Princess.
- Not, - she replied. - Late, I wed, I am the wife of Prince Vereisky.
- What are you saying, - I cried in despair Dubrovsky, - not, you are not his wife, you were prinevoleny, you could never agree ...
- I agreed, I gave an oath, - she replied with firmness, - Prince, my husband, tell them to release him and leave me with him. I did not cheat. I waited for you till the last minute ... But now,, I tell you, it's too late. Let us.
But Dubrovsky no longer heard her, wound pain and the strong emotion of the soul deprived of its power. He fell at the Wheel, robbers surrounded him. He managed to say a few words, They put him on horseback, Two of them supported him, the third took the horse by the bridle, and all went in the direction, Leave a carriage road posredy, people connected, horses unharnessed, but not looted anything without spilling a single drop of blood in revenge for the blood of their chieftain.
Chapter XIX
In the midst of a dense forest on a narrow lawn stood a small earthwork, consisting of a shaft and moat, for wherewith were several tents and huts.
In the yard a lot of people, whom Ironing diversity and the general arming could immediately recognize the robbers, dined, sitting bareheaded, about brotherly boiler. On the shaft beside a small cannon sat guard, cross-legged; he inserted a patch into some of his clothes, wielding a needle with art, rebuking experienced tailor, and constantly looked in all directions.
Although some scoop several times passed from hand to hand, strange silence reigned in this crowd; robbers dined, one after another stood up and prayed to God, some went to a hut, while others wandered through the woods or lay down for a nap Russian custom.
Watchman had finished its work, He shook his junk, admired pay, pinned to the sleeve of the needle, I sat on top of the gun and began to sing in all throat melancholy old song: No forest, zelenaya have dubrovushka,* Do not bother me dashing Duma dumate.
At this time, the door of one of the huts opened, and an old woman in a white cap, neatly and primly dressed, He appeared at the threshold. "Enough to you, Stepan, - she said angrily,, - Barrine pochivaet, and you know yell; there have no conscience, no sorrow ". - "I'm sorry, Egorovna, - replied Stepan, - okay, will no longer, let himself, our father, resting but is recovering ". The old woman went, Stepan and began pacing the shaft.
The tent, from which came the old woman, Behind the partition wounded Dubrovsky lay on a camp bed. In front of him on the table lay his pistols, and a saber hung at the head. The dugout was strewn and hung with rich carpets, in the corner was a woman's silver toilet and vanity. Dubrovsky held an open book in his hand, but his eyes were closed. And the old woman, I glance at him from behind the partition, I could not know, whether he was asleep or just thinking.
Suddenly Dubrovsky trembled: strengthening make trouble, Stepan and stuck to it's head out of the window. "Father, Vladimir A., - he cried, - a sign of our serving, We are looking for ". Dubrovsky jumped out of bed, He grabbed the gun and walked out of the hut. Robbers noisily thronged the courtyard; when it appears, it is a deep silence. "Is everything here?"- said Dubrovsky. "All, except sentinel ", - answered him. "In places!"- cried Dubrovsky. And the robbers took a certain place. At that time, three patrol rushed to the gate. Dubrovsky went to meet them. "What?"- he asked them,. "Soldiers in the forest, - they answered, - surround us ". Dubrovsky ordered to lock the gate and went himself examine cannon. The forest was heard several voices, and began to approach; robbers waited in silence. Suddenly three or four soldiers appeared out of the forest and immediately fell back, giving shots to know fellow. "Prepare for battle", - said Dubrovsky, and between the robbers became rustling, everything was quiet again. Then we heard the sound of the approaching Team, Weapons flashed between the trees, one hundred and fifty soldiers poured out of the forest and with a cry rushed to the shaft. Dubrovsky put a wick, the shot was successful: one decapitated, two others were wounded. There was confusion between soldiers, but the officer rushed forward, soldiers followed him and ran into the ditch; robbers fired at them from pistols and rifles and steel axes in hand to protect the shaft, which climbed frenzied soldiers, Leaving twenty wounded comrades in the ditch people. Dogfight ensued, the soldiers were already on the shaft, robbers began to give way, but Dubrovsky, podoshed to the officer, I put a gun to his chest and fired, officer struck his back. Several soldiers picked him up and hurried to carry out in the woods, other, Head lyshas, stopped. Encouraged by the robbers took advantage of that moment of bewilderment, crushed them, narrowed in ditch, besiegers ran, robbers rushed shouting after them. The victory was sealed. Dubrovsky, relying on the perfect the enemy disorder, He stopped her and locked himself in the fortress, ordered to collect the wounded, doubling the guards and no telling absent.

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