"
The banter of Pugatchef in some measure restored me to myself.
The banter of Pugatchef in some measure restored me to myself.
Pushkin - Daughter of the Commandant
"
"Bid me speak a word," broke in Khlopusha, in a hoarse voice. "You were
too hasty in giving Chvabrine command of the fort, and now you are too
hasty in hanging him. You have already offended the Cossacks by giving
them a gentleman as leader--do not, therefore, now affront the gentlemen
by executing them on the first accusation. "
"They need neither be overwhelmed with favours nor be pitied," the
little old man with the blue ribbon now said, in his turn. "There would
be no harm in hanging Chvabrine, neither would there be any harm in
cross-examining this officer. Why has he deigned to pay us a visit? If
he do not recognize you as Tzar, he needs not to ask justice of you; if,
on the other hand, he do recognize you, wherefore, then, has he stayed
in Orenburg until now, in the midst of your enemies. Will you order that
he be tried by fire? [64] It would appear that his lordship is sent to us
by the Generals in Orenburg. "
The logic of the old rascal appeared plausible even to me. An
involuntary shudder thrilled through me as I remembered in whose hands I
was.
Pugatchef saw my disquiet.
"Eh, eh! your lordship," said he, winking, "it appears to me my
field-marshal is right. What do you think of it?
"
The banter of Pugatchef in some measure restored me to myself.
I quietly replied that I was in his power, and that he could do with me
as he listed.
"Very well," said Pugatchef; "now tell me in what state is your town? "
"Thank God," replied I, "all is in good order. "
"In good order! " repeated Pugatchef, "and the people are dying of hunger
there. "
The usurper spoke truth; but, according to the duty imposed on me by my
oath, I assured him it was a false report, and that Orenburg was amply
victualled.
"You see," cried the little old man, "that he is deceiving you. All the
deserters are unanimous in declaring famine and plague are in Orenburg,
that they are eating carrion there as a dish of honour. And his lordship
assures us there is abundance of all. If you wish to hang Chvabrine,
hang on the same gallows this lad, so that they need have naught
wherewith to reproach each other. "
The words of the confounded old man seemed to have shaken Pugatchef.
Happily, Khlopusha began to contradict his companion.
"Hold your tongue, Naumitch," said he; "you only think of hanging and
strangling. It certainly suits you well to play the hero. Already you
have one foot in the grave, and you want to kill others.
"Bid me speak a word," broke in Khlopusha, in a hoarse voice. "You were
too hasty in giving Chvabrine command of the fort, and now you are too
hasty in hanging him. You have already offended the Cossacks by giving
them a gentleman as leader--do not, therefore, now affront the gentlemen
by executing them on the first accusation. "
"They need neither be overwhelmed with favours nor be pitied," the
little old man with the blue ribbon now said, in his turn. "There would
be no harm in hanging Chvabrine, neither would there be any harm in
cross-examining this officer. Why has he deigned to pay us a visit? If
he do not recognize you as Tzar, he needs not to ask justice of you; if,
on the other hand, he do recognize you, wherefore, then, has he stayed
in Orenburg until now, in the midst of your enemies. Will you order that
he be tried by fire? [64] It would appear that his lordship is sent to us
by the Generals in Orenburg. "
The logic of the old rascal appeared plausible even to me. An
involuntary shudder thrilled through me as I remembered in whose hands I
was.
Pugatchef saw my disquiet.
"Eh, eh! your lordship," said he, winking, "it appears to me my
field-marshal is right. What do you think of it?
"
The banter of Pugatchef in some measure restored me to myself.
I quietly replied that I was in his power, and that he could do with me
as he listed.
"Very well," said Pugatchef; "now tell me in what state is your town? "
"Thank God," replied I, "all is in good order. "
"In good order! " repeated Pugatchef, "and the people are dying of hunger
there. "
The usurper spoke truth; but, according to the duty imposed on me by my
oath, I assured him it was a false report, and that Orenburg was amply
victualled.
"You see," cried the little old man, "that he is deceiving you. All the
deserters are unanimous in declaring famine and plague are in Orenburg,
that they are eating carrion there as a dish of honour. And his lordship
assures us there is abundance of all. If you wish to hang Chvabrine,
hang on the same gallows this lad, so that they need have naught
wherewith to reproach each other. "
The words of the confounded old man seemed to have shaken Pugatchef.
Happily, Khlopusha began to contradict his companion.
"Hold your tongue, Naumitch," said he; "you only think of hanging and
strangling. It certainly suits you well to play the hero. Already you
have one foot in the grave, and you want to kill others.
