The cobwebs get on their faces, and they
puff and snort. They are bored and ashamed. That's why they put
on the appearance of being very wicked and very mad with us. It's
dirty work, and they understand it, of course they do! Once they
turned everything topsy-turvy in my place, and went away abashed,
that's all. Another time they took me along with them. Well, they
put me in prison, and I stayed there with them for about four months.
You sit and sit, then you're called out, taken to the street under
an escort of soldiers, and you're asked certain questions. They're
stupid people, they talk such incoherent stuff. When they're done
with you, they tell the soldiers to take you back to prison. So
they lead you here, and they lead you there--they've got to justify
their salaries somehow. And then they let you go free. That's all."
"How you always do speak, Andriusha!" exclaimed the mother involuntarily.
Kneeling before the samovar he diligently blew into the pipe; but
presently he turned his face, red with exertion, toward her, and
smoothing his mustache with both hands inquired:
"And how do I speak, pray?"
"As if nobody had ever done you any wrong.
Pages:
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91