- To the inn. Lord helped, We ran straight to the fence. come outside, sir, rather yes Heating.
I came out of the wagon. Buran was still ongoing, albeit with less power of. It was so dark, that even pitch dark. The owner met us at the gate, holding a lantern under the skirt of his coat, and he brought me into the chamber, close, but quite clean; torch lit her. On the wall hung a rifle and a high Cossack cap.
Master, native Yaik Cossacks, He seemed a man of sixty years, still fresh and hearty. Savelich cellaret made for me, for a light, to make tea, who never so did not seem necessary to me. The owner went to petition.
- Where is the counselor? - I asked Savelich.
"Here, Your Honor ", - answered me a voice from above. I looked at the shelf and saw a black beard and two glittering eyes. "What, brother, vegetating?"-" It is not in one slender prozyabnut's coat! I guess it was born, let's be honest? laid vechor in Tselovalnik: Frost seemed not great ". At this moment the owner came in with a boiling samovar; I offered counselor to our cup of tea; the man got down from the shelf. His appearance struck me as remarkable: he was forty years old, growth medium, lean and broad-shouldered. The black beard streaked with gray to show it; live big eyes and ran. His face had an expression rather pleasant, but picaresque. Her hair was in a circle obstrizheny; he wore a ragged Tartar's coat and trousers. I offered him a cup of tea; He tasted and winced. "Your honor, do me this favor, - show a submitted glass of wine; tea is not our cossack drink ". I willingly fulfilled his desire. The owner took out Stavtsev damask and glass, I approached him and, I looked at him: 'resurrection, - he said, - again you are in our land! Chip God brought?"My Counselor winked significantly and answered sayings: "In the garden flew, cannabis pecked; Grandma threw a stone - but by. Well, and that your?»
- What are our! - answered the owner, continuing the allegorical conversation. - They began to call for vespers, but the priest's wife will not allow it: Pop Away, devils in the churchyard. - "Silent, uncle, - objected my tramp, - it will rain, will and fungi; and are fungi, body will. And now (Then he blinked again) shut ax behind her back: forester walks. Your honor! For your health!"- With these words he took the glass, He crossed himself and drank it in one breath. Then he bowed to me and returned to the shelf.
I could not understand anything then from this thieves' conversation; but after already guessed, that it was a question about the affairs of Yaik troops, while the newly pacified after riot 1772 of the year. Savelich listened with great views of displeasure. He looked with suspicion on the host, on the Leader. Inn, or, in tamoshnem, Umet, He was aloof, in the wilderness, further than ever realms, and very much like a predatory marina. But there was nothing. It was impossible to think about the continuation of the path. Savelich concern me very amused. Meanwhile, I placed the night and lay down on the bench. Savelich decided to get out on the stove; host lay on the floor. Soon the whole hut snoring, I slept like a log.
Waking up pretty late in the morning, I saw, the storm subsided. The sun was shining. Snow lay dazzling shroud on the boundless steppes. The horses were harnessed. I paid the owner of, who took us to a modest fee, Savelich even argued with him and did not bargain for was his custom, and yesterday's suspicion completely effaced from his mind. I called the counselor, thanked for their help and told Savelichu give him half a ruble for vodka. Savelich frowned. "Half a ruble for vodka! - he said, - what is it for? for this, you also deigned to give him a ride to the inn? done, sir: We have no extra Poltina. Anyone give a tip, so very soon have to starve ". I could not argue with Savéliitch. Money, according to my promise, They were in full possession of his. I was annoyed but w, I could not thank the person, help me out, if not out of trouble, then at least of a very unpleasant situation. "Good, - I said coolly;- if you do not want to give half a ruble, then take out to him that one of my dresses. He wears too easily. Give him my rabbit coat ".
- have mercy, Father Pyotr Andreyevich! Savelich said. - Why does he need your rabbit sheepskin coat? He his propet, dog, in the first tavern.
- It, starinushka, certainly not your sadness, - said my tramp, - will I drink it or not. His Honor, I bestow the coat from his shoulder: it to the will of lordly, and your lackeys is not to argue and listen.
- Are not you afraid of God, robber! Savelich answered him in an angry voice.. - You see, that the child still does not understand, and you and I'm glad it rob, its simplicity sake. Zachem Tebe Barskij tulupčik? You did not get on it on their cursed plechischa.
- Please do not be clever, - I said to my uncle;- Now here Carry coat.
- Lord lord! - moaned my Savelich. - The hare tulup is almost extraordinary! and welcome to anyone, and the drunkard ogolelomu!
However, the hare sheepskin coat appeared. Little man immediately became his primerivat. Indeed, scaling, from which it could grow and I, It was a bit narrow for him. However, he somehow managed, and put it, thrust at the seams. Savelich nearly howled, hearing, cracked like a thread. The tramp was extremely pleased with my gift. He walked me to the tent and said with a low bow: "Thank, your honor! Lord reward you for your goodness. I will never forget your mercies ". - He went to his side, I went further, ignoring the disappointment Savelich, and soon forgot about yesterday's blizzard, of his counselors and the Hare coat.
Arriving in Orenburg, I just came to General. I saw a man of high growth, but stooped old age. Long hair was completely white. Old faded uniform reminded the warrior era of Anna Ivanovna, and in his speech he spoke much German accent. I handed him a letter from the father. When his name, he looked at me quickly: "After having my! - he said. "Is it dark?", it seems, Andrei Petrovich was your age Yeshe, and now he has a broad molotets! Brother, Frema, Frema!"- He opened the letter and began to read it in a low voice, making comments. "" Sir Andrew Karlovic *, I hope, that Your Excellency "... What is that seremonii? Fuj, as he did not sofestno! Sure: Discipline first case, but is written to an old comrade?.. "Your Excellency has not forgotten" ... um ... "and ... ... when the late Field Marshal Min ... campaign ... also ... Caroline" ... Echo, bruder! Yeshe so he remembers our old pranks? "Now really ... To you my rake" ... um ... "to keep a tight rein on" ... What is eshovy mittens? This should be a Russian proverb ... What is "dershat in eshovyh mittens"?"- he said, turned to me.
- It means, - I answered him with a look as innocent as possible, - get along affectionately, not too hard, will give more, handle without mittens.
"Um, I understand ... "and he will not give" no, seen eshovy mitts not mean ... "When these things ... his passport '... Where is he? BUT, Here ... "unsubscribe in Semenov" Good ..., Good: everything will be done ... "will easily rank hug ... and an old comrade and friend" - a! finally realized ... and other and other ... Well,, father, - he said, I read the letter and put aside my passport, - everything will be done: you will be transferred to the officer *** regiment*, and that you do not lose time, then tomorrow travel to Fort Belogorsk, where you will be in command of Captain Mironov, kind and honest man. There you will be at the service of this, learn discipline. In Orenburg, you have nothing to do; scattering harmful to the young man. And today we ask mercy: dine with me? ".
"Every hour is not easier! - I thought to myself, - what did that serve me for, that even in the womb, I was already a sergeant Guard! Where it has brought me? AT *** Regiment and in the dead of the fortress on the border of the Kirghiz steppes Kaisak!.."I dined with Andrey Karlovich, three of them with his old aide. Strict German economy reigned at his table, and I think, that fear is sometimes too much to see the guest for his bachelor refectory was partly the cause of my hasty removal in the garrison. The next day I took leave of the General and went to my destination.
Chapter IIIKrepost
We live in the fort,
We eat bread and drink water;
And how fierce enemies
Come to us for pies,
Let's give the guests a party:
Load the buckshot cannon.
soldier's song.
Old people, my dear.
Ignoramus. *
The Belogorsk fortress was located forty versts from Orenburg. Road hoses steep coast Yayka. The river has not frozen, and its leaden waves in the sad blackened monotonous shores, covered with white snow. Behind them stretched the Kirghiz Steppes. I'm lost in thought, for the most part sad. Garrison life had little appeal for me. I tried to imagine Captain Mironov, my future chief, and represented his strict, angry old man, I do not know anything, in addition to its service, and ready for any trifle put me under arrest on bread and water. Meanwhile dusk. We rode pretty soon. "Is it far to castles?"- I asked my coachman. «Not far, - he answered. "It's already visible.". - I looked in all directions, expecting to see menacing bastions, the tower and the shaft; but I saw nothing, except village, surrounded by a wooden fence. On the one hand there were three or four stack of hay, semi-covered with snow; on the other a twisted mill, with popular wings, lazily lowered. "Where is the fortress?"- I asked in surprise.. "Yes, here it is", - answered the driver, pointing to the village, and with this word we drove into it. At the gate I saw an old cast iron cannon; the streets were tight and crooked; the huts are low and for the most part covered with thatch. I ordered to go to the commandant, and a minute later the wagon stopped in front of the wooden house, built in a high place, near the wooden church.
No one met me. I went into the hallway and opened the front door. Old invalid, sitting on the table, Sewing a blue patch on the elbow of a green uniform. I told him to report me. "Come in, father, - answered the disabled - our houses ". I entered a clean room, old-fashioned. In the corner was a cupboard with dishes; an officer's diploma hung on the wall behind glass and in a frame; there were popular prints near him, representing the capture of Kistrin and Ochakov *, also the choice of the bride and the burial of the cat. An old woman in a quilted jacket and with a scarf on her head was sitting by the window. She was unwinding the threads, who kept, crucified in his arms, crooked old man in an officer's uniform. "Whatever you want, father?"- she said, continuing my work. I answered, that he came to the service and appeared on his duty to the captain, and with this word he turned to the crooked old man, mistaking him for the commandant; but the hostess interrupted my speech. "Ivan Kuzmich is not at home, - she said;- he went to visit Father Gerasim; yes, it doesn't matter, father, I am his mistress. Please love and respect. Sit down, father ". She called the girl and told her to call the sergeant. The old man looked at me with curiosity with his lonely eye. “I dare to ask, - he said - in which regiment did you deign to serve?"I satisfied his curiosity. “I dare to ask, - he continued, - why did you deign to move from the guard to the garrison?»I answered, that such was the will of the authorities. "Charitably, for indecent acts of the guard to the officer ", - continued the tireless questioner. “Completely lie trifles, - the captain told him;- you see, the young man is tired of the road; he has no time for you ... (keep your hands straighter ...). And you, my dear, - she continued, turned to me, - do not worry, that you were taken to our backwater. Not you first, not you last. can endure, slyubitsya. Shvabrin Alexey Ivanovich it is already the fifth year that he was transferred to us for murder. God knows, what a sin lured him; he, please see, went out of town with one lieutenant, yes they took swords with them, and well, stab at each other; and Alexey Ivanitch and stabbed the lieutenant, and with two witnesses! What will you order to do? There is no master for sin ".
At that moment the sergeant entered, young and handsome Cossack. "Maksimych! - the captain told him. - Take Mr.. the officer's apartment, to clean ». - “I'm listening, Vasilisa Egorovna, - answered the sergeant. - Shouldn't I put his honor to Ivan Polezhaev?"-" You're lying, Maksimych, - said the captain;- Polezhaev is already cramped; he is my godfather and remembers, that we are his bosses. Take Mr.. officer ... what is your name and patronymic, my dear? Petr ANDREIĆ?.. Take Peter Andreich to Semyon Kuzov. is he, swindler, let his horse into my garden. Well, what, Maksimych, is everything all right?»
- All, Heavy, table, - answered the Cossack;- only Corporal Prokhorov had a fight in the bathhouse with Ustinya Negulina for a gang of hot water.
- Ivan Ignatyevich! Said the captain to the crooked old man. - Deal with Prokhorov and Ustinya, who is right, who's guilty. And punish both. Well, Maksimych, means go with god. Petr ANDREIĆ, Maksimych will take you to your apartment.
I took my leave. The sergeant brought me to the hut, standing on the high bank of the river, at the very edge of the fortress. Half of the hut was occupied by the family of Semyon Kuzov, the other was given to me. It consisted of one room, pretty neat, divided in two by a partition. Savelich began to dispose of it; I began to look out the narrow window. A sad steppe stretched before me. Several huts stood obliquely; a few chickens wandered down the street. Old woman, standing on the porch with a trough, called the pigs, who answered her with a friendly grunt. And this is in which direction I was condemned to spend my youth! Longing took me; I walked away from the window and went to bed without supper, despite Savelich's admonitions, which repeated with contrition: "Lord lord! will not deign to eat anything! What will the lady say, when the child becomes weak?»
The next morning I just started getting dressed, the door opened, and a young officer of short stature entered me, with a dark complexion and superbly ugly, but extremely lively. "Excuse me, - he told me in French, - that I come to meet you without ceremony. Yesterday I learned about your arrival; the desire to finally see a human face so possessed me, what i could not stand. You will understand it, when you live here a few more time ". - I guessed, that it was an officer, discharged from the guard for a duel. We met immediately. Shvabrin was not very stupid. His conversation was sharp and entertaining.. With great gaiety he described to me the commandant's family, his society and region, where did fate take me. I laughed with all my heart, how the same disabled person came to me, who was mending the uniform in the front of the commandant, and on behalf of Vasilisa Yegorovna invited me to dine with them. Swabrii volunteered to come with me.
Approaching the commandant's house, we saw on the site about twenty old disabled people with long braids and triangular hats. They were lined up in a frunt. The commandant stood in front, old man vigorous and tall, in a cap and in a Chinese robe. He saw us, he came up to us, said a few gentle words to me and began to command again. We stopped to watch the teaching; but he asked us to go to Vasilisa Yegorovna, promising to be after us. "And here, - he added,, - you have nothing to watch ".
Vasilisa Yegorovna received us easily and cordially and treated me as if she had been familiar for a century. Handicapped and Palashka laid the table. “What is it my Ivan Kuzmich learned so much today?! - said the commandant. - Stick, call the master to dinner. Where is Masha?"- A girl of about eighteen came in here, chubby, ruddy, with light blond hair, smoothly combed over the ears, which burned with her. At first glance, I didn't really like her. I looked at her with prejudice: Shvabrin described Masha to me, captain's daughter, utter fool. Marya Ivanovna sat down in a corner and began to sew. Meanwhile, cabbage soup was served. Vasilisa Egorovna, not seeing my husband, the second time sent for him a stick. “Tell Barinu: guests are waiting, cabbage soup will get cold; Heavy, learning will not go away; will have time to yell ". - The captain appeared soon, accompanied by a crooked old man. "What is it, my dear? - said his wife. - Food served a long time ago, but you will not get it ". - “Do you hear, Vasilisa Egorovna, - answered Ivan Kuzmich, - I was busy with the service: I taught the soldiers ". - "And, full! - objected the captain. - Only glory, what do you teach a soldier: service is not given to them, you don't know much about it. I would sit at home and pray to God; it would be better. Dear guests, welcome to the table ".
We sat down to dinner. Vasilisa Yegorovna did not stop for a minute and showered me with questions: who are my parents, whether they are alive, where do they live and what is their condition? Hearing, that father has three hundred souls of peasants, “Is it easy! - she said, - after all, there are rich people in the world! And we have, my dear, only one shower girl Palashka, that the glory of God, we live little by little. One trouble: Masha; girl on the issue, what is her dowry? frequent comb, to broom, also a gold coin (simple god!), what to go to the bath with. Good, if there is a kind person; otherwise sit yourself in girls as an eternal bride ". - I looked at Marya Ivanovna; she blushed all over, and even tears dripped onto her plate. I felt sorry for her, and I was in a hurry to change the conversation. "I heard, - I said rather inappropriately, - that the Bashkirs are going to attack your fortress ". - "By whom, father, you deign to hear it?"- asked Ivan Kuzmich. "I was told so in Orenburg", - I answered. "Trivia! - said the commandant. - We haven't heard anything for a long time. Bashkir people are scared people, and the Kyrgyz have been taught a lesson. I suppose they won't stick at us; but they will poke, so I will ask such a spite, that I will calm down for ten years ". - "And you are not afraid, - I went, addressing the captain, - stay in the fortress, exposed to such dangers?"-" Habit, my dear, - she replied. - Twenty years old since we were transferred from the regiment here, and god forbid, how I was afraid of these damned infidels! How I envy, happened, lynx hats, how can I hear their screeching, do you believe, my father, my heart will freeze! And now I'm so used to it, that I won't budge, how will they come to tell us, that the villains are prowling around the fortress ".
- Vasilisa Yegorovna brave lady, - noted Shvabrin importantly. - Ivan Kuzmich can testify to this.
- Yes, Hey you, - said Ivan Kuzmich;- a woman is not a timid dozen.
- And Marya Ivanovna? - I asked, - is she as brave, just like you?
- Did Masha dare? - answered her mother. - Not, Masha was shaking. Still can't hear the shot from the gun: and tremble. And how two years ago Ivan Kuzmich invented on my name day to shoot from our cannon, so she, my dear, I almost went to the other world out of fear. Since then, we have not fired from the damned cannon.
We got up from the table. The captain and the captain went to bed; and I went to Shvabrin, with whom I spent the whole evening.
CHAPTER IV THE JOINT
- And please, and stand in the pose.
Look, I will pierce your figure!*
Knyazhnin.
Several weeks have passed, and my life in the Belogorsk fortress became for me not only bearable, but even nice. At the commandant's house I was received as a native. Husband and wife were the most respectable people. Ivan Kuzmich, graduated as an officer from a soldier's children, was an uneducated and simple person, but the most honest and kind. His wife drove him, which was consistent with his carelessness. Vasilisa Yegorovna and looked at the affairs of the service, as their master, and ruled the fortress so precisely, like your house. Marya Ivanovna soon ceased to be shy with me. We met. I found in her a sensible and sensitive girl. In a subtle way I became attached to a kind family, even to Ivan Ignatyich, crooked garrison lieutenant, which Shvabrin invented, as if he was in an impermissible connection with Vasilisa Egorovna, which had no shadow of credibility; but Shvabrin was not worried about that.
I was promoted to officer. The service did not burden me. There were no inspections in the God-saved fortress, no teachings, nor guards. The commandant, on his own hunt, sometimes taught his soldiers; but could not achieve yet, so they all know, which side is right, which is left, although many of them, so as not to be mistaken, before each revolution they put on themselves the sign of the cross. Shvabrin had several French books. I began to read, and a hunt for literature awoke in me. In the morning I read, practiced translations, and sometimes in writing poetry. Dined almost always with the commandant, where he usually spent the rest of the day and where Father Gerasim sometimes appeared in the evening with his wife Akulina Pamfilovna, the first messenger in the whole region. C A. I. Shvabrin, of course, I saw each other every day; but hour by hour his conversation became less pleasant for me. I did not like his usual jokes about the commandant's family., especially sharp remarks about Marya Ivanovna. There was no other society in the fortress, but I didn't want anything else.
Despite the predictions, the Bashkirs were not indignant. Calm reigned around our fortress. But the world was interrupted by an unexpected civil strife.
I already said, that I was engaged in literature. My experiences, for that time, were fair, and Alexander Petrovich Sumarokov, several years after, praised them very much. Once I managed to write a song, which I was pleased with. Known, that writers sometimes, under the guise of demanding advice, looking for a supportive listener. so, rewrote my song, I carried her to Mop, who alone in the entire fortress could appreciate the works of the poet. After a short introduction, I took my notebook out of my pocket and read the following verses to him:
Destroying the thought of love,*
I want to forget the beautiful,
And oh, Avoiding waving,
I think the freedom to receive!
But the eyes, that I was captivated,
Every minute before me;
They confused the spirit in me,
Crushed my peace.
You, knowing my misfortunes,
Take pity, Masha, above me,
In vain me in this cruel part,
And that I am captivated by you.
- How do you find it? - I asked Shvabrin, waiting for praise, how tribute, I definitely follow. But to my great chagrin, Schwabrin, generally condescending, firmly announced, that my song is not good.
- Why is that? - I asked him, hiding your frustration.
- Because, - he answered, - that such verses are worthy of my teacher, Vasily Kirilych Tredyakovsky, and remind me very much of his love couplets.
Then he took a notebook from me and began to mercilessly analyze every verse and every word, mocking me in the most caustic way. I could not stand, tore my notebook out of his hands and said, that I won't show him my compositions. Shvabrin laughed at this threat too. "We'll see, - he said, - will you keep your word: poets need a listener, like Ivan Kuzmich a decanter of vodka before dinner. And who is this Masha, before which you express yourself in tender passion and love misfortune? Not Marya l Ivanovna?»
- None of your business, - I answered with a frown, - whoever this Masha is. I do not ask for your opinion, no your guesses.
