Война и мир

Chapter 13

           

           Havingputupataninntheybothwenttosleep,andnextmorninghiscompanionwasfoundrobbedandwithhisthroatcut.Abloodstainedknifewasfoundundertheoldmerchant’spillow.Hewastried,knouted,andhisnostrilshavingbeentornoff,“allindueform”asKaratáevputit,hewassenttohardlaborinSiberia.

           “Andso,brother”(itwasatthispointthatPierrecameup),“tenyearsormorepassedby.Theoldmanwaslivingasaconvict,submittingasheshouldanddoingnowrong.OnlyheprayedtoGodfordeath.Well,onenighttheconvictsweregatheredjustasweare,withtheoldmanamongthem.Andtheybegantellingwhateachwassufferingfor,andhowtheyhadsinnedagainstGod.Onetoldhowhehadtakenalife,anotherhadtakentwo,athirdhadsetahouseonfire,whileanotherhadsimplybeenavagrantandhaddonenothing.Sotheyaskedtheoldman:‘Whatareyoubeingpunishedfor,Daddy?’—‘I,mydearbrothers,’saidhe,‘ambeingpunishedformyownandothermen’ssins.ButIhavenotkilledanyoneortakenanythingthatwasnotmine,buthaveonlyhelpedmypoorerbrothers.Iwasamerchant,mydearbrothers,andhadmuchproperty.‘Andhewentontotellthemallaboutitindueorder.‘Idon’tgrieveformyself,’hesays,‘God,itseems,haschastenedme.OnlyIamsorryformyoldwifeandthechildren,’andtheoldmanbegantoweep.Nowithappenedthatinthegroupwastheverymanwhohadkilledtheothermerchant.‘Wheredidithappen,Daddy?’hesaid.‘When,andinwhatmonth?’Heaskedallaboutitandhisheartbegantoache.

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