IX. THE SEPARATION.
The drum awoke me early the next morning. I went out on the square.Pougatcheff's troops were there, falling into rank, around the gibbet,to which still hung the victims of yesterday. The Cossacks were mounted;the infantry and artillery, with our single gun, were accoutred readyfor the march. The inhabitants were also assembled there awaiting theusurper. Before the steps of the Commandant's house a Cossack held bythe bridle a magnificent white horse. My eyes sought the body of ourgood Basilia. It had been dragged aside and covered with an old barkmat. At last Pougatcheff came out on the steps, and saluted the crowd.All heads were bared. One of the chiefs handed him a bag of copper coin,which he threw by the handful among the people. Perceiving me in thecrowd, he signed to me to approach.
"Listen," said he, "go at once to Orenbourg, and say from me, to theGovernor and all the Generals, that I shall be there in a week. Counselthem to receive me with submission and filial love, otherwise they shallnot escape the direst torture. A pleasant journey to you." The principalfollowers of Pougatcheff surrounded him, Alexis amongst others. Theusurper turned to the people, and pointing to Alexis, said: "Behold yournew Commandant; obey him in every thing; he is responsible for you andfor the fortress."
The words made me shudder. What would become of Marie? Pougatcheffdescended the steps and vaulted quickly into his saddle without the aidof his attendant Cossacks. At that moment Saveliitch came out of thecrowd, approached the usurper, and presented him a sheet of paper.
"What is this?" asked Pougatcheff, with dignity.
"Read, you will deign to see," replied the serf.
Pougatcheff examined the paper. "You write very illegibly; where is mySecretary?"
A boy in corporal's uniform came running to the brigand. "Read aloud,"said he. I was curious to know for what purpose the old man had writtento Pougatcheff. The Secretary began to spell out in a loud voice whatfollows:
"Two dressing-gowns, one in percale, the other in striped silk, sixroubles."
"What does this mean?" said Pougatcheff, frowning.
"Command him to read on," replied Saveliitch, with perfect calmness.
The Secretary continued: "One uniform in fine green cloth, sevenroubles; one pair of white cloth pantaloons, five roubles; twelveshirts of Holland linen, with cuffs, ten roubles; one case containing atea-service, two roubles."
"What nonsense is this?" said Pougatcheff.
"What have I to do with tea-sets and Holland cuffs?"
Saveliitch coughed to clear his voice, and began to explain: "That, mylord, deign to understand, is the bill of my master's goods carried offby the thieves."
"What thieves?" asked Pougatcheff, with a terrible air.
"Pardon me," said Saveliitch. "Thieves? No, they were not thieves; mytongue slipped; yet your boys went through everything and carried offplenty. That can not be denied. Do not be angry. The horse has four legsand yet he stumbles. Command that he read to the end."
"Well, read," said Pougatcheff.
"One Persian blanket, one quilt of wadded silk, four roubles; onepelisse of fox-skin, covered with red ratine, forty roubles; one smalltouloup of hare-skin left with your grace, on the steppe, fifteenroubles."
"What?" cried Pougatcheff, with flashing eyes.
I must say I feared for the old man, who was beginning new explanations,when the brigand interrupted him:
"How dare you annoy me with these trifles?" said he, snatching the paperfrom the Secretary and throwing it in the old man's face. "You have beendespoiled! old fool! great harm! You ought to thank God that you are nothanging up there, with the other rebels, both you and your master. I'llgive you a hare-skin touloup! Do you know that I will have you flayedalive, that touloups may be made of you?"
"As you please," replied Saveliitch; "but I am not a free man, and I amresponsible for my master's goods."
Pougatcheff, who was evidently playing the magnanimous, turned his headand set off without a word. Alexis and the other chiefs followed him.The whole army left the fortress in good order, the people forming anescort. I stayed alone on the square with Saveliitch, who held in hishand the bill and considered it with deep regret. I could not helplaughing.
"Laugh, my lord, laugh, but when the household is to be furnished again,we shall see if it be a laughing matter."
I went to learn of Marie Mironoff. Accoulina met me and told me a sadpiece of news. During the night a burning fever had seized the poorgirl. Accoulina took me into her chamber. The invalid was delirious anddid not recognize me. I was shocked by the change in her countenance.The position of this sorrowing orphan, without defenders, alarmed me asmuch as my inability to protect grieved me. Alexis, above all, was tobe feared. Chief, invested with the usurper's authority, in the fortresswith this unhappy girl, he was capable of any crime. What ought I todo to deliver her? To set out at once for Orenbourg, to hasten thedeliverance of Belogorsk, and to co-operate in it, if possible. I tookleave of Father Garasim and Accoulina, recommending to them Marie, who Ialready looked upon as my wife. I kissed the young girl's hand, and leftthe room.
"Adieu, Peter Grineff," said Accoulina. "Do not forget us. Except you,Marie has no support or consolation." Choked by emotion, I did notreply. Out on the square, I stopped an instant before the gibbet. Withbare head I reverently saluted the loyal dead, and took the road toOrenbourg, accompanied by Saveliitch, who would not abandon me. Thusplunged in thought, I walked on. Hearing horses galloping behind me, Iturned my head and saw a Cossack from the fortress leading a horse, andmaking signs to me that I should wait. I recognized our Corporal. Havingcaught up with us, he dismounted from his own horse, and giving me thebridle of the other, said: "Our Czar makes you a gift of a horse, anda pelisse from his own shoulder." To the saddle was tied a sheep-skintouloup. I put it on, mounted the horse, taking Saveliitch up behind me."You see, my lord," said my serf, "that my petition to the bandit wasnot useless! And although this old hack and this peasant's touloup arenot worth half what the rascals stole, yet they are better than nothing.'A worthless dog yields even a handful of hair.'"