A Reckless Character | Page 9

with Mísha. I felt conscience-stricken that I had let him go in
so unsympathetic a manner.--At last I proceeded on my journey, and
after driving half a verst from the posting-station I observed, ahead of

me on the road, a crowd of people moving along with a strange and as
it were measured tread. I overtook this crowd,--and what did I
see?--Twelve beggars, with wallets on their shoulders, were walking by
twos, singing and skipping as they went,---and at their head danced
Mísha, stamping time with his feet and saying: "Natchiki-tchikaldi,
tchuk-tchuk-tchuk! Natchiki-tchikaldi, tchuk-tchuk-tchuk!"
As soon as my calash came on a level with him, and he caught sight of
me, he immediately began to shout, "Hurrah! Halt, draw up in line!
Eyes front, my guard of the road!"
The beggars took up his cry and halted,--while he, with his habitual
laugh, sprang upon the carriage-step, and again yelled: "Hurrah!"
"What is the meaning of this?" I asked, with involuntary amazement.
"This? This is my squad, my army; all beggars, God's people, my
friends! Each one of them, thanks to your kindness, has quaffed a cup
of liquor: and now we are all rejoicing and making merry!... Uncle! 'Tis
only with the beggars and God's poor that one can live in the world,
you know ... by God, that's so!"
I made him no reply ... but this time he seemed to me such a
good-natured soul, his face expressed such childlike ingenuousness ... a
light suddenly seemed to dawn upon me, and there came a prick at my
heart....
"Get into the calash with me," I said to him.
He was amazed....
"What? Get into the calash?"
"Get in, get in!" I repeated. "I want to make thee a proposition. Get in!...
Drive on with me."
"Well, you command."--He got in.--"Come, and as for you, my dear
friends, respected comrades," he added to the beggars: "good-bye!
Until we meet again!"--Mísha took off his kazák cap and made a low
bow.--The beggars all seemed to be dumbfounded.... I ordered the
coachman to whip up the horses, and the calash rolled on.
This is what I wished to propose to Mísha: the idea had suddenly
occurred to me to take him into my establishment, into my
country-house, which was situated about thirty versts from that
posting-station,--to save him, or, at least, to make an effort to save him.
"Hearken, Mísha," said I; "wilt thou settle down with me?... Thou shalt
have everything provided for thee, clothes and under-linen shall be

made for thee, thou shalt be properly fitted out, and thou shalt receive
money for tobacco and so forth, only on one condition: not to drink
liquor!... Dost thou accept?"
Mísha was even frightened with joy. He opened his eyes very wide,
turned crimson, and suddenly falling on my shoulder, he began to kiss
me and to repeat in a spasmodic voice:--"Uncle ... benefactor.... May
God reward you!..." He melted into tears at last, and doffing his kazák
cap, began to wipe his eyes, his nose, and his lips with it.
"Look out," I said to him. "Remember the condition--not to drink
liquor!"
"Why, damn it!" he exclaimed, flourishing both hands, and as a result
of that energetic movement I was still more strongly flooded with that
spirituous odour wherewith he was thoroughly impregnated.... "You see,
dear uncle, if you only knew my life.... If it were not for grief, cruel
Fate, you know.... But now I swear,--I swear that I will reform, and will
prove.... Uncle, I have never lied--ask any one you like if I have.... I am
an honourable, but an unhappy man, uncle; I have never known
kindness from any one...."
At this point he finally dissolved in sobs. I tried to soothe him and
succeeded, for when we drove up to my house Mísha had long been
sleeping the sleep of the dead, with his head resting on my knees.

VII
He was immediately allotted a special room, and also immediately, as
the first measure, taken to the bath, which was absolutely indispensable.
All his garments, and his dagger and tall kazák cap and hole-ridden
shoes, were carefully laid away in the storehouse; clean linen was put
on him, slippers, and some of my clothing, which, as is always the case
with paupers, exactly fitted his build and stature. When he came to the
table, washed, neat, fresh, he seemed so much touched, and so happy,
he was beaming all over with such joyful gratitude, that I felt emotion
and joy.... His face was completely transfigured. Little boys of twelve
wear such faces at Easter, after the Communion, when, thickly
pomaded, clad in new round-jackets and starched collars, they go to
exchange the Easter greeting with their parents. Mísha kept feeling of
himself cautiously and incredulously, and