1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:06,559 Speaker 1: The Safety Match by Anton Tchehov, Part one. On the 2 00:00:06,599 --> 00:00:10,199 morning of October sixth, eighteen eighty five, in the office 3 00:00:10,199 --> 00:00:14,119 of Inspector of Police of the second Division of s District, 4 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:18,160 there appeared a respectably dressed young man who announced that 5 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:23,359 his master, Marcus Ivanovitch Klausov, a retired officer of the 6 00:00:23,399 --> 00:00:28,920 horse Guards, separated from his wife, had been murdered. While 7 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:33,399 making this announcement, the young man was white and terribly agitated. 8 00:00:34,079 --> 00:00:36,719 His hands trembled and his eyes were full of terror. 9 00:00:38,439 --> 00:00:43,719 Whom have I the honor of addressing, asked the Inspector Psaikov, 10 00:00:44,399 --> 00:00:51,920 Lieutenant Klausov's agent, agriculturist and mechanician. The inspector and his deputy, 11 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:55,280 on visiting the scene of the occurrence in company with Psaikov, 12 00:00:56,119 --> 00:00:59,640 found the following. Near the wing in which Klausov had lived, 13 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:03,439 was gathered a dense crowd. The news of the murder 14 00:01:03,479 --> 00:01:07,079 had sped swift as lightnings for the neighborhood and the peasantry, 15 00:01:07,239 --> 00:01:09,319 thanks to the fact that the day was a holiday, 16 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:14,239 had hurried together from all the neighboring villages. There was 17 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:18,719 much commotion and talk here and there. Pale tear stained 18 00:01:18,719 --> 00:01:24,400 faces were seen. The door of Klasov's bedroom was found locked. 19 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:29,159 The key was inside. It is quite clear that the 20 00:01:29,159 --> 00:01:33,239 scoundrels got in by the window, said Psaikoff. As they 21 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:37,200 examined the door. They went to the garden into which 22 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:40,799 the bedroom window opened. The window looked dark and ominous. 23 00:01:41,359 --> 00:01:44,959 It was covered by a faded green curtain. One corner 24 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:47,879 of the curtain was slightly turned up, which made it 25 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:52,079 possible to look into the bedroom. Did any of you 26 00:01:52,159 --> 00:01:57,040 look into the window, asked the inspector. Certainly not, your worship, 27 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:01,280 answered Ephraim. The gardener, a little, gray haired old man 28 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:05,799 who looked like a retired sergeant. Who's going to look 29 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:12,319 in if all their bones are shaking? Ah, markus Ivanovitch. 30 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:16,919 Markus Ivanovitch sighed the inspector, looking at the window. I 31 00:02:17,039 --> 00:02:19,560 told you you would come to a bad end, I 32 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:23,360 told the dear man, but he wouldn't listen. Dissipation doesn't 33 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:29,879 bring any good. Thanks to Ephraim, said Psikov. But for 34 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,919 him we would never have guessed. He was the first 35 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:35,479 to guess that something was wrong. He comes to me 36 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:38,039 this morning and says, why is the master so long? 37 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:41,000 Getting up? He hasn't left his bedroom for a whole week. 38 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:44,719 The moment he said that, it was just as if 39 00:02:44,719 --> 00:02:47,319 some one had hit me with an axe, the thought 40 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,159 flashed through my mind. We haven't had a sight of 41 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:54,280 him since last Saturday, and to day is Sunday, seven 42 00:02:54,319 --> 00:03:00,439 whole days. Not a doubt of it. Ay, poor fellow, again, 43 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:04,560 sighed the Inspector. He was a clever fellow, finely educated 44 00:03:04,599 --> 00:03:08,520 and kind hearted to that, and in society nobody could 45 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,199 touch him. But he was a oyster. God rest his soul. 46 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:15,560 I was prepared for anything since he refused to live 47 00:03:15,599 --> 00:03:19,840 with Olga Petrovna, poor thing, a good wife, but a 48 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:25,560 sharp tongue. Stephen, the Inspector called to one of his deputies, 49 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:30,400 go over to my house this minute, and send Andrew 50 00:03:30,439 --> 00:03:33,319 to the captain to lodge an information with him. Tell 51 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:36,960 him that Markus Ivanovitch has been murdered and run over 52 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:40,400 to the orderly. Why should he sit there kicking his heels. 53 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,439 Let him come here and go as fast as you 54 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:48,080 can to the examining magistrate Nikolas Yamulayevitch. Tell him to 55 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:52,680 come over here. Wait, I'll write him a note. The 56 00:03:52,719 --> 00:03:56,000 Inspector posted sentinels around the wing, wrote a letter to 57 00:03:56,039 --> 00:03:59,000 the examining magistrate, and then went over to the director's 58 00:03:59,039 --> 00:04:02,120 for a glass of tea. Ten minutes later, he was 59 00:04:02,159 --> 00:04:04,919 sitting on a stool, carefully nibbling a lump of sugar 60 00:04:05,319 --> 00:04:10,039 and swallowing the scalding tea. There you are, he was 61 00:04:10,039 --> 00:04:13,439 saying to Psikov. There you are, a noble by birth, 62 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:16,399 a rich man, a favorite of the gods. You may say, 63 00:04:16,879 --> 00:04:19,519 as Pushkin has it. And what did he come to? 64 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:24,079 He drank and dissipated, And there you are. He is murdered. 65 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:29,279 After a couple of hours, the examining magistrate drove up 66 00:04:29,959 --> 00:04:35,120 Nicholas Yemulayevitch Chubikov, for that was the magistrate's name, was 67 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:37,879 a tall, fleshy old man of sixty who had been 68 00:04:37,879 --> 00:04:40,079 wrestling with the duties of his office for a quarter 69 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:43,160 of a century. Every one in the district knew him 70 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:46,319 as an honest man, wise, energetic, and in love with 71 00:04:46,399 --> 00:04:49,240 his work. He was accompanied to the scene of the 72 00:04:49,319 --> 00:04:54,000 murder by his inveterate companion, fellow worker and secretary Dukovsky, 73 00:04:54,439 --> 00:04:59,279 a tall young fellow of twenty six. Is it possible, gentlemen, 74 00:05:00,519 --> 00:05:05,000 cried Chubikov, entering Psakov's room and quickly shaking hands with 75 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:10,399 every one. Is it possible, marko Ivanovitch murdered, No, it 76 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:18,160 is impossible, Im pass soboul go in there, sighed the inspector. Lord, 77 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:20,920 have mercy on us. Only last Friday I saw him 78 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:23,639 at the fair and Farubankov I had a drink of 79 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:29,959 vodka with him. Save the mark, Go in there, again, 80 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:35,480 sighed the inspector. They sighed, uttered exclamations of horror, drank 81 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:37,639 a glass of tea each and went to the wing. 82 00:05:39,759 --> 00:05:44,240 Get back, the orderly, cried to the peasants. Going to 83 00:05:44,319 --> 00:05:47,800 the wing, the examining magistrate began his work by examining 84 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:50,920 the bedroom door. The door proved to be of pine, 85 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:54,800 painted yellow, and was uninjured. Nothing was found which could 86 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:57,600 serve as a clew. They had to break in the door. 87 00:05:59,279 --> 00:06:02,079 Every One not here on business as requested to keep away, 88 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:05,959 said the magistrate, When after much hammering and shaking, the 89 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:09,519 door yielded to axe and chisel, I request this in 90 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:15,399 the interest of the investigation. Orderly, don't let any one in. Chrubykov, 91 00:06:15,519 --> 00:06:19,160 his assistant and the inspector opened the door, and hesitatingly 92 00:06:19,319 --> 00:06:22,959 one after the other entered the room, their eyes met 93 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:26,600 the following sight. Beside the single window stood the big 94 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:30,639 wooden bed with a huge feather mattress. On the crumpled 95 00:06:30,639 --> 00:06:35,079 feather bed lay a tumbled, crumpled quilt. The pillow in 96 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:38,800 a cotton pillow case, also much crumpled, was dragging on 97 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:41,839 the floor. On the table beside the bed lay a 98 00:06:41,879 --> 00:06:46,199 silver watch and a silver twenty copeck piece. Beside them 99 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:50,319 lay himself a mattress. Beside the bed, the little table 100 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:53,160 and the single chair. There was no furniture in the room. 101 00:06:54,079 --> 00:06:56,439 Looking under the bed, the inspector saw a couple of 102 00:06:56,439 --> 00:06:59,800 dozen empty bottles, an old straw hat, and a quart 103 00:06:59,839 --> 00:07:04,680 of vodka. Under the table lay one top boot covered 104 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:08,439 with dust. Casting a glance around the room, the magistrate 105 00:07:08,519 --> 00:07:13,560 frowned and grew red in the face. Scoundrels, he muttered, 106 00:07:13,639 --> 00:07:19,639 clenching his fists. And where is markus Ivanovitch asked Dukovsky 107 00:07:19,639 --> 00:07:24,279 in a low voice. Mind your own business. Chubikov answered roughly, 108 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:27,480 be good enough to examine the floor. This is not 109 00:07:27,519 --> 00:07:29,199 the first case of the kind I have had to 110 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:33,920 deal with, yugov Kuzmitch, he said, turning to the inspector 111 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:37,319 and lowering his voice. In eighteen seventy, I had another 112 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:40,360 case like this, but you must remember it, the murder 113 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:44,079 of the merchant Putrietov. It was just the same there. 114 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:47,279 The scoundrels murdered him and dragged the corpse out through 115 00:07:47,319 --> 00:07:51,160 the window. Chubikov went up to the window, pulled the 116 00:07:51,199 --> 00:07:54,399 curtain to one side, and carefully pushed the window. The 117 00:07:54,439 --> 00:08:00,000 window opened. It opens. You see it wasn't fastened. Mum. 118 00:08:00,199 --> 00:08:03,279 There are tracks under the window. Look, there is the 119 00:08:03,319 --> 00:08:06,759 track of a knee. Somebody got in there. We must 120 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:11,519 examine the windows thoroughly. There is nothing special to be 121 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:15,680 found on the floor, said Dukovsky. No stains are scratches. 122 00:08:16,279 --> 00:08:19,240 The only thing I found was a struck safety match here. 123 00:08:19,279 --> 00:08:22,959 It is so far as I remember. Marko Ivanovitch did 124 00:08:22,959 --> 00:08:27,160 not smoke, and he always used sulfur matches, never safety matches. 125 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:31,920 Perhaps this safety match may serve as a clue. Oh 126 00:08:32,000 --> 00:08:36,840 do shut up, cried the magistrate deprecatingly. You go on 127 00:08:36,919 --> 00:08:40,639 about your match. I can't buy these dreamers. Instead of 128 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:45,480 chasing matches, you had better examine the bed. After a 129 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:49,519 thorough examination of the bed, Dukovsky reported there are no 130 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:52,399 spots either of blood or of anything else. There are 131 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:55,720 likewise no new torn places on the pillar. There are 132 00:08:55,759 --> 00:08:59,759 signs of teeth. The quilt is stained with something which 133 00:08:59,799 --> 00:09:03,679 looked like beer and smells like beer. The general aspect 134 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:05,960 of the bed gives grounds for thinking that a struggle 135 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:09,720 took place on it. I know there was a struggle 136 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:13,039 without your telling me. You are not being asked about 137 00:09:13,039 --> 00:09:16,039 his struggle. Instead of looking for struggles, you had better. 138 00:09:16,879 --> 00:09:19,440 Here is one top boot, but there is no sign 139 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:24,080 of the other. Well, and what of that? It proves 140 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:26,919 that they strangled him while he was taking his boots off. 141 00:09:27,399 --> 00:09:29,759 He hadn't time to take the second boot off. When 142 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:33,600 there you go, And how do you know they strangled him? 143 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:36,960 There are marks of teeth on the pillow. The pillow 144 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,039 itself is badly crumpled and thrown a couple of yards 145 00:09:40,039 --> 00:09:44,919 from the bed. Listen to his foolishness. Better come into 146 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:48,000 the garden. You would be better employed examining the garden 147 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:51,120 than digging around here. I can do that without you. 148 00:09:52,759 --> 00:09:55,679 When they reached the garden, they began by examining the grass. 149 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:59,320 The grass under the window was crushed and trampled a 150 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:02,159 bushy bird growing under the window close to the wall, 151 00:10:02,279 --> 00:10:06,000 was also trampled. Dukovsky succeeded in finding on it some 152 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:09,960 broken twigs and a piece of cotton wool. On the 153 00:10:10,039 --> 00:10:13,200 upper branches were found some fine hairs of dark blue wool. 154 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:22,200 What color was his last suit, Dukovsky asked, Psaikov yellow crash. Excellent, 155 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:25,840 you see they wore blue. A few twigs of the 156 00:10:25,879 --> 00:10:29,000 burdock were cut off and carefully wrapped in paper by 157 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:34,279 the investigators. At this point, please, Captain Atsuybashev, Svistakovski and 158 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:38,559 doctor Tyutyev arrived. The captain bade them good day and 159 00:10:38,639 --> 00:10:42,919 immediately began to satisfy his curiosity. The doctor, a tall, 160 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:46,039 very lean man with dull eyes, a long nose and 161 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:49,759 a pointed chin, without greeting anyone or asking about anything, 162 00:10:50,159 --> 00:10:54,200 sat down on a log, sighed and began the servians 163 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:56,879 are at war again. What in Heaven's name can they 164 00:10:56,919 --> 00:11:02,440 want now, Austria, it's all you're doing. The examination of 165 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:05,840 the window from the outside did not supply any conclusive data. 166 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:09,039 The examination of the grass and the bush's nearest to 167 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:12,919 the window yielded a series of useful clues. For example, 168 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:16,600 Dukovski succeeded in discovering a long, dark streak made up 169 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:19,879 of spots on the grass, which led some distance into 170 00:11:19,919 --> 00:11:22,879 the center of the garden. The streak ended under one 171 00:11:22,879 --> 00:11:27,039 of the lilac bushes in a dark browzed stain. Under 172 00:11:27,080 --> 00:11:30,679 this same lilac bush was found the top boot, which 173 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:32,879 turned out to be the fellow of the boot already 174 00:11:32,919 --> 00:11:36,639 found in the bedroom. That is a blood stain made 175 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:41,519 some time ago, said Dukovski, examining the spot. At the 176 00:11:41,519 --> 00:11:44,840 word blood, the doctor rose and going over lazily looked 177 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:49,720 at the spot. Yes, it is blood, he muttered. That 178 00:11:49,879 --> 00:11:53,759 shows he wasn't strangled. If there was blood, said Chubikov, 179 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:58,679 looking sarcastically at Dukovsky. They strangled him in the bedroom, 180 00:11:58,799 --> 00:12:01,879 and here, fearing him come round again, they struck him 181 00:12:01,879 --> 00:12:05,559 a blow with some sharp pointed instrument. The stain under 182 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:08,200 the bush proves that he lay there a considerable time 183 00:12:08,639 --> 00:12:10,720 while they were looking about for some way of carrying 184 00:12:10,799 --> 00:12:14,120 him out of the garden. Well, and how about the boot. 185 00:12:15,519 --> 00:12:18,480 The boot confirms completely my idea that they murdered him 186 00:12:18,639 --> 00:12:21,039 while he was taking his boots off before going to bed. 187 00:12:21,799 --> 00:12:24,240 He had already taken off one boot and the other 188 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:26,759 this one here he had only had time to take 189 00:12:26,799 --> 00:12:30,399 half off. The half off boot came off of itself 190 00:12:30,799 --> 00:12:33,960 while the body was dragged over and fell. There's a 191 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:38,559 lively imagination for you, laughed Chubekov. He goes on and 192 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:41,440 on like that. When will you learn enough to drop 193 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:45,080 your deductions? Instead of arguing and deducing, it would be 194 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:47,080 much better if you took some of the blood stained 195 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:52,039 grass for analysis. When they had finished their examination and 196 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:55,200 drawn a plan of the locality, the investigators went to 197 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:58,000 the director's office to write their report and have breakfast. 198 00:12:58,759 --> 00:13:02,559 While they were breakfasting, there went on talking the watch, 199 00:13:02,759 --> 00:13:07,320 the money, and so on, all untouched. Tchubykov began leading 200 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:10,080 off the talk show. As clearly as two and two 201 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:12,519 are four that the murder was not committed for the 202 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:17,240 purpose of robbery. The murder was committed by an educated man, 203 00:13:17,879 --> 00:13:22,840 insisted Dukovsky. What evidence have you of that the safety 204 00:13:22,879 --> 00:13:26,039 match proves that to me? For the peasants hereabouts are 205 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:30,120 not yet acquainted with safety matches. Only the landowners use them, 206 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:32,600 and by no means all of them. And it is 207 00:13:32,639 --> 00:13:35,360 evident that there was not one murderer, but at least three, 208 00:13:36,039 --> 00:13:39,799 two held him while one killed him. Klasov was strong, 209 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:43,759 and the murderers must have known it. What good would 210 00:13:43,799 --> 00:13:47,879 his strength be Supposing he was asleep? The murderers came 211 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:50,720 on him while he was taking off his boots. If 212 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:53,600 he was taking off his boots, that proves he wasn't asleep. 213 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:59,919 Stop inventing your deductions. Better eat, in my opinion, your worship, 214 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:03,720 said the gardener Ephraim, setting the samovar on the table. 215 00:14:04,399 --> 00:14:06,960 It was nobody but Nicholas who did this dirty trick? 216 00:14:07,759 --> 00:14:14,080 Quite possible, said Psykov. And who is Nicholas the Master's valid, 217 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:18,039 your worship, answered Ephraim. Who else could it be? He 218 00:14:18,159 --> 00:14:20,600 is a rascal, your worship. He is a drunkard and 219 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:23,440 a blackguard, the like of which Heaven should not permit. 220 00:14:24,159 --> 00:14:26,679 He always took the Master his vodka and put the 221 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:30,639 Master to bed. Who else could it be? And I 222 00:14:30,679 --> 00:14:33,200 also ventured to point out to your worship he once 223 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:36,159 boasted at the public house that he would kill the Master. 224 00:14:36,799 --> 00:14:39,200 It happened on account of Aquilina, the woman you know 225 00:14:39,799 --> 00:14:42,840 he was making up to his soldier's widow. She pleased 226 00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:46,399 the Master. The Master made friends with her himself, and Nicholas. 227 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:49,559 Naturally he was mad. He is rolling about drunk in 228 00:14:49,559 --> 00:14:53,159 the kitchen. Now he is crying and telling lies, saying 229 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:57,679 he is sorry for the master. The examining magistrate ordered 230 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:01,600 Nicholas to be brought. Nicholas, a lanky young fellow with 231 00:15:01,679 --> 00:15:04,440 a long freckled nose, narrow chested, and wearing an old 232 00:15:04,519 --> 00:15:08,559 jacket of his master's, entered Psikov's room and bowed low 233 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:12,159 before the magistrate. His face was sleepy and tear stained. 234 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:16,080 He was tipsy and could hardly keep his feet. Where 235 00:15:16,159 --> 00:15:21,799 is your master, Tchubikov asked him, murdered you, worship. As 236 00:15:21,799 --> 00:15:25,320 he said this, Nicholas blinked and began to weep. We 237 00:15:25,519 --> 00:15:28,480 know he was murdered, but where is he now? Where 238 00:15:28,559 --> 00:15:31,639 is his body? They say he was dragged out of 239 00:15:31,679 --> 00:15:36,320 the window and buried in the garden. Hum The results 240 00:15:36,320 --> 00:15:39,440 of the investigation are known in the kitchen already. That's bad. 241 00:15:40,639 --> 00:15:42,840 Where were you, my good fellow, the night the master 242 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:48,600 was murdered Saturday night? That is? Nicholas raised his head, 243 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:52,639 stretched his neck and began to think. I don't know you, worship, 244 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:56,840 He said, I was drunk and don't remember. An alibi 245 00:15:57,639 --> 00:16:03,679 whispered Dukovsky, smiling and rubbing his hands. So and why 246 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:07,480 is there blood under the master's window. Nicholas jerked his 247 00:16:07,559 --> 00:16:11,200 head up and considered. Hurry up, said the Captain of 248 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:16,720 police right away. That blood doesn't amount to anything, you worship. 249 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:19,879 I was cutting a chicken's throat. I was doing it 250 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:22,399 quite simply in the usual way, when all of a 251 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:25,320 sudden it broke away and started to run. That is 252 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:29,919 where the blood came from. Iphraim declared that Nicholas did 253 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,000 kill a chicken every evening, and always in some new place, 254 00:16:33,519 --> 00:16:35,720 but that nobody ever heard of a half killed chicken 255 00:16:35,799 --> 00:16:38,799 running about the garden, though of course it wasn't impossible. 256 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:45,720 An alibi, sneered Dukovsky. And what an assenine alibi? Did 257 00:16:45,799 --> 00:16:50,519 ye know? Aquilina? Yes, your worship, I know her, and 258 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:53,600 the Master cut you out with her, not at all, 259 00:16:54,039 --> 00:16:58,480 he cut me out, mister Psaikoff. Here Ivan Mikhailovitch, and 260 00:16:58,559 --> 00:17:02,360 the Master cut Ivan mikhailov That is how it was. 261 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:06,720 Psakov grew confused and began to scratch his left eye. 262 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:10,960 Dukovsky looked at him attentively, noted his confusion, and started. 263 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:15,160 He noticed that the director had dark blue trousers, which 264 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:18,319 he had not observed before. The trousers reminded him of 265 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:22,039 the dark blue threads found on the burdock Troubikov, in 266 00:17:22,079 --> 00:17:28,000 his turn, glanced suspiciously at Psykov Go, he said to Nicholas, 267 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:30,319 and now permit me to put a question to you, 268 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:35,079 mister Psikoff. Of course you were here last Saturday evening. Yes, 269 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:43,319 I had supper with markouz Ivanovitch about ten o'clock and afterwards, afterwards, afterwards, Really, 270 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:47,480 I do not remember, stammered Psiko. I had a good 271 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:50,119 deal to drink at supper. I don't remember when or 272 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:52,799 where I went to sleep. Why are you all looking 273 00:17:52,839 --> 00:17:55,240 at me like that, as if I was the murderer? 274 00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:59,240 Where were you when you woke up? I was in 275 00:17:59,279 --> 00:18:02,440 the servants kitch, lying behind the stove. They can all 276 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:05,599 confirm it. How I got behind the stove, I don't know. 277 00:18:06,559 --> 00:18:10,359 Do not get agitated. Do you know, Aquilina, there is 278 00:18:10,440 --> 00:18:14,400 nothing extraordinary about that. She first liked you and then 279 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:20,160 preferred Klausov. Yes, Iphraim, give us some more mushrooms? Do 280 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:25,680 you want some more tea? Yugrovkuzmitch a heavy oppressive silence 281 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:29,759 began and lasted fully five minutes. Dukovsky silently kept his 282 00:18:29,920 --> 00:18:33,920 piercing eyes fixed on Psaikov's pale face. The silence was 283 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:38,000 finally broken by the examining magistrate. We must go to 284 00:18:38,039 --> 00:18:41,160 the house and talk with Marya Ivanovna, the sister of 285 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:44,359 the deceased. Perhaps she may be able to supply some clues. 286 00:18:46,079 --> 00:18:49,640 Tchubikov and his assistant expressed their thanks for the breakfast 287 00:18:49,759 --> 00:18:55,119 and went toward the house. They found Klausov's sister, marya Ivanovna, 288 00:18:55,559 --> 00:18:59,119 an old maid of forty five, at prayer before the 289 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:03,240 big case of ikons. When she saw the porfolios in 290 00:19:03,319 --> 00:19:08,000 her guest's hands and their official caps, she grew pale. 291 00:19:08,599 --> 00:19:11,640 Let me begin by apologizing for disturbing, so to speak, 292 00:19:11,799 --> 00:19:17,200 your devotions, began the gallant tobikough, bowing and scraping. We 293 00:19:17,279 --> 00:19:19,920 have come to you with a request. Of course, you 294 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:22,839 have heard already. There is a suspicion that your dear brother, 295 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:26,519 in some way or other, has been murdered the will 296 00:19:26,559 --> 00:19:29,559 of God. You know no one can escape death, neither 297 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:34,200 tsar nor plowmen. Could you not help us with some clue, 298 00:19:34,319 --> 00:19:40,119 some explanation? Oh, don't ask me, said marya Ivanovna, growing 299 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:43,119 still paler and covering her face with her hands. I 300 00:19:43,119 --> 00:19:46,079 can tell you nothing, nothing. I beg you, I know nothing. 301 00:19:46,519 --> 00:19:49,559 What can I do? Oh no, no, not a word 302 00:19:49,599 --> 00:19:52,440 about my brother. If I die, I won't say anything. 303 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:58,160 Marya Ivanovna began to weep and left the room. The 304 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:00,920 investigators looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders, and beat 305 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:05,599 a retreat. Confound the woman, scolded Dukovsky, going out of 306 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:08,279 the house. It is clear she knows something and is 307 00:20:08,319 --> 00:20:13,000 concealing it, and the chambermaid has a queer expression too. Wait, 308 00:20:13,079 --> 00:20:18,079 you wretches, we'll ferret it all out. In the evening, 309 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:21,039 Chubikov and his deputy lit on their road by the 310 00:20:21,079 --> 00:20:24,559 pale moon, wended their way homeward. They sat in their 311 00:20:24,559 --> 00:20:27,799 carriage and sought over the results of the day. Both 312 00:20:27,799 --> 00:20:31,720 were tired and kept silent. Chubikov was always unwilling to 313 00:20:31,799 --> 00:20:35,559 talk while traveling, and the talkative Dukovsky remained silent to 314 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:38,799 fall in with the elder man's humor. But at the 315 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:41,119 end of their journey, the deputy could hold in no 316 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:45,640 longer and said, it is quite certain. He said that 317 00:20:45,759 --> 00:20:49,319 Nicholas had something to do with the matter non dubitandum. 318 00:20:49,519 --> 00:20:52,359 Est you can see by his face what sort of 319 00:20:52,359 --> 00:20:56,359 a case he is. His alibi betrays him body and bones. 320 00:20:57,279 --> 00:20:59,440 But it is also certain that he did not see 321 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:02,920 the thing going. He was only the stupid hired tool. 322 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:07,599 Do you agree? And the humble Psikov was not without 323 00:21:07,599 --> 00:21:10,640 some slight share in the matter. His dark blue breeches, 324 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:14,319 his agitation, his lying behind the stove in terror after 325 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:20,160 the murder, his alibi, and Aquilina grind away million. It's 326 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:24,519 your week. So according to you, whoever knew Aquilina is 327 00:21:24,519 --> 00:21:27,640 the murderer, hot head, you ought to be sucking a 328 00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:30,920 bottle and not handling affairs. You were one of Aquilina's 329 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:34,039 admirers yourself. Does it follow that you are implicated too? 330 00:21:35,319 --> 00:21:38,359 Aquilina was cooking your house for a month. I am 331 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:41,559 saying nothing about that. The night before that Saturday, I 332 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:44,559 was playing cards with you and saw you. Otherwise I 333 00:21:44,559 --> 00:21:47,720 should be after you too. It isn't the woman that matters, 334 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:51,359 old Chap. It is the mean, nasty, low spirit of 335 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:55,400 jealousy that matters. The retiring young man was not pleased 336 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:57,960 when they got the better of him. You see his 337 00:21:58,079 --> 00:22:03,160 vanity don't you see he wanted rever then those thick 338 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:06,279 lips of his suggest passion. So there you have it 339 00:22:06,839 --> 00:22:10,200 wound itself, love and passion. That is quite enough motive 340 00:22:10,279 --> 00:22:13,640 for a murder. We have two of them in our hands. 341 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:16,880 But who is the third? Nicholas and Psakov held him. 342 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:20,680 But who smothered him? Psikov is shy, timid and all 343 00:22:20,759 --> 00:22:24,000 round coward, and Nicholas would not know how to smother 344 00:22:24,039 --> 00:22:27,200 with a pillow his sort use an axe or a club. 345 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:30,799 Some third person did the smothering. But who was it? 346 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:35,680 Draukovski crambed his hat down over his eyes and pondered. 347 00:22:36,319 --> 00:22:38,680 He remained silent until the carriage rolled up to the 348 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:44,000 magistrate's door. Eureka, he said, entering the little house and 349 00:22:44,039 --> 00:22:49,200 throwing off his overcoat. Eureka, Nikolas Yamulayevitch. The only thing 350 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:51,599 I can't understand is how it did not occur to 351 00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:55,839 me sooner? Do you know who the third person was? Oh, 352 00:22:55,839 --> 00:22:59,480 for goodness sake, shut up, There is supper. Sit down 353 00:22:59,519 --> 00:23:03,720 to y evening meal. The magistrate on Dukovsky sat down 354 00:23:03,759 --> 00:23:07,400 to supper. Dukovsky poured himself out a glass of vodka. 355 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:12,599 Rose drew himself up and said with sparkling eyes, Well, 356 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:15,359 learn that the third person who acted in concert with 357 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:20,480 that scoundrel Psaikhov and did the smothering was a woman. Yes, 358 00:23:21,799 --> 00:23:27,839 I'm in The murdered man's sister, marya Ivanovna Chubikov choked 359 00:23:27,839 --> 00:23:32,000 over his vodka and fixed his eyes on Dukovsky. If 360 00:23:32,039 --> 00:23:34,960 you aren't what's its name? Your head isn't what you 361 00:23:35,039 --> 00:23:38,359 call it, You haven't a pain in it? I am 362 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:42,039 perfectly well, very well, let us say I am crazy. 363 00:23:42,319 --> 00:23:44,880 But how do you explain her confusion when we appeared? 364 00:23:45,319 --> 00:23:48,119 How do you explain her unwillingness to give us any information? 365 00:23:49,039 --> 00:23:51,960 Let us admit that these are trifles. Very well, all right, 366 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:56,519 but remember their relations. She detested her brother. She never 367 00:23:56,559 --> 00:23:59,440 forgave him for living apart from his wife. She is 368 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:02,160 of the old while in her eyes he is a 369 00:24:02,160 --> 00:24:05,759 godless profligate. There is where the germ of her hate 370 00:24:05,839 --> 00:24:08,720 was hatched. They say he succeeded in making her believe 371 00:24:08,759 --> 00:24:11,279 that he was an angel of Satan. He even went 372 00:24:11,319 --> 00:24:15,519 in for spiritualism in her presence. Well, what of that? 373 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:20,400 Ye don't understand? She as a member of the old faith, 374 00:24:20,759 --> 00:24:24,119 murdered him through fanaticism. It was not only that she 375 00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:27,079 was putting to death a weed, a profligate. She was 376 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:30,720 freeing the world of an antichrist. And there, in her 377 00:24:30,759 --> 00:24:35,400 opinion was her service, her religious achievement. Oh you don't 378 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:39,240 know those old maids of the old faith? Read Dostoyevsky, 379 00:24:40,039 --> 00:24:44,000 and what does Lyskov say about them? Or Pocchersky. It 380 00:24:44,119 --> 00:24:46,920 was she and nobody else. Even if you cut me open, 381 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:50,799 she smothered him. Oh, treacherous woman. Wasn't that the reason 382 00:24:50,799 --> 00:24:53,240 why she was kneeling before the icons when we came in, 383 00:24:53,759 --> 00:24:56,839 just to take our attention away. Let me kneel down 384 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,200 and pray, she said to herself, and they will think 385 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:02,319 I am tranquil in did not expect them. That is 386 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:07,000 the plan of all novices in crime. Nicholas Yamulayevitch, Old pal, my, dear, 387 00:25:07,039 --> 00:25:09,759 old man. Won't you entrust this business to me? Let 388 00:25:09,759 --> 00:25:12,759 me personally bring it through. Friend, I began it and 389 00:25:12,799 --> 00:25:16,920 I will finish it. Chubikov shook his head and frowned. 390 00:25:17,839 --> 00:25:21,200 We know how to manage difficult matters ourselves, he said, 391 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:23,759 And your business is not to push yourself in where 392 00:25:23,799 --> 00:25:27,039 ye don't belong. Write from dictation. When you are dictated 393 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:32,400 to that is your job. Dukovsky flared up, banged the 394 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:39,079 door and disappeared. Clever Rascal, muttered Chubikov, glancing after him. 395 00:25:39,359 --> 00:25:42,359 Awfully clever, but too much of a hot head. I 396 00:25:42,440 --> 00:25:44,680 must buy him a cigar case at the fair as 397 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:48,839 at present. The next day, early in the morning, a 398 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:51,240 young man with a big head and a pursed up 399 00:25:51,279 --> 00:25:54,519 mouth who came from Klasov's place, was introduced to the 400 00:25:54,519 --> 00:25:58,240 magistrate's office. He said he was the shepherd Daniel and 401 00:25:58,359 --> 00:26:01,640 brought a very interesting piece of information. I was a 402 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:05,000 bit drunk, he said. I was with my pal till midnight. 403 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:08,359 On my way home. As I was drunk, I went 404 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:10,839 into the river for a bath. I was taking a 405 00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:13,680 bath when I looked up. Two men were walking along 406 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:17,759 the dam carrying something black show. I cried at them. 407 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:20,680 They got scared and went off like the wind toward 408 00:26:20,759 --> 00:26:24,400 Makareff's cabbage garden. Strike me dead if they weren't carrying 409 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:29,880 away the master. That same day, toward evening, Psakov and 410 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:33,240 Nicholas were arrested and brought under guard to the district town. 411 00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:35,799 In the town, they were committed to the cells of 412 00:26:35,839 --> 00:26:43,799 the prison. Part two. A fortnight passed, it was morning. 413 00:26:44,519 --> 00:26:48,359 The magistrate Nicholas Yamalayevitch was sitting in his office before 414 00:26:48,359 --> 00:26:52,480 a green table, turning over the papers of the Klausov case. 415 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:56,079 Taukovsky was striding restlessly up and down, like a wolf 416 00:26:56,079 --> 00:26:59,640 in a cage. You are convinced of the guilt of 417 00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:03,680 Nikola Psykov, he said, nervously, plucking at his young beard. 418 00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:07,240 Why will you not believe in the guilt of marya Ivanovna. 419 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:11,960 Are there not proofs enough for you? I don't say 420 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:14,720 I am not convinced. I am convinced, but somehow I 421 00:27:14,759 --> 00:27:17,680 don't believe it. There are no real proofs, but just 422 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:23,640 a kind of philosophizing fanaticism. This and that you can't 423 00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:27,559 do without an axe and blood stained sheets. Those jurists 424 00:27:28,519 --> 00:27:30,440 very well, I'll prove it to you. You will stop 425 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:34,000 sneering at the psychological side of the affair to Siberia 426 00:27:34,039 --> 00:27:38,319 with your marya Ivanovna. I will prove it. If philosophy 427 00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:41,200 is not enough for you, I have something substantial for you. 428 00:27:41,960 --> 00:27:45,160 It will show you how correct my philosophy is. Just 429 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:49,559 give me permission. What are you going on about about 430 00:27:49,559 --> 00:27:53,279 the safety match. Have you forgotten it? I haven't. I 431 00:27:53,279 --> 00:27:55,000 am going to find out who struck it in the 432 00:27:55,079 --> 00:27:59,000 murdered man's room. It was not Nicholas that struck it. 433 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:01,519 It was not Psykov, for neither of them had any 434 00:28:01,519 --> 00:28:04,440 matches when they were examined. It was the third person, 435 00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:08,359 marya Ivanovna. I will prove it to you. Just give 436 00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:10,680 me permission to go through the district to find out. 437 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:15,440 That's enough, Sit down, Let's go on with the examination. 438 00:28:17,359 --> 00:28:20,160 Dukovsky sat down at a little table and plunged his 439 00:28:20,240 --> 00:28:25,039 long nose in a bundle of papers. Bring in Nicholas, Tetakov, 440 00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:29,839 cried the examining magistrate. They brought Nicholas in. Nicholas was 441 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:35,359 pale and thin as a rail. He was trembling. Tetakov 442 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:39,480 began Tchubikov. In eighteen seventy nine, you were tried in 443 00:28:39,519 --> 00:28:42,440 the court of the first Division, convicted of theft and 444 00:28:42,519 --> 00:28:46,240 sentenced to imprisonment. In eighteen eighty two you would tried 445 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:49,240 a second time for theft and were again imprisoned. We 446 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:55,079 know all astonishment was depicted in Nicholas's face. The examining 447 00:28:55,119 --> 00:28:59,519 magistrate's omniscience startled him, but soon His expression of astonishment 448 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:03,279 changed wish to extreme indignation. He began to cry and 449 00:29:03,319 --> 00:29:06,319 requested permission to go and wash his face and quiet down. 450 00:29:07,039 --> 00:29:13,119 They led him away. Bring in Psikov, ordered the examining magistrate. 451 00:29:14,039 --> 00:29:17,519 They brought in Psikov. The young man had changed greatly 452 00:29:17,599 --> 00:29:20,240 during the last few days. He had grown thin and 453 00:29:20,279 --> 00:29:23,920 pale and looked haggard. His eyes had an apathetic expression. 454 00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:29,440 Sit down, Psychov said, Chubikov, I hope that to day 455 00:29:29,480 --> 00:29:31,480 you are going to be reasonable and will not tell 456 00:29:31,599 --> 00:29:34,720 lies as you did before. All these days you have 457 00:29:34,799 --> 00:29:36,839 denied that you had anything to do with the murder 458 00:29:36,839 --> 00:29:39,759 of Klausov, in spite of all the proofs that testify 459 00:29:39,799 --> 00:29:44,000 against you. That is foolish. Confession will lighten your guilt. 460 00:29:44,559 --> 00:29:46,200 This is the last time I am going to talk 461 00:29:46,240 --> 00:29:48,759 to you. If you do not confess to day, to morrow, 462 00:29:48,839 --> 00:29:52,880 it will be too late. Come tell me all. I 463 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:56,599 know nothing about it. I know nothing about your proofs, 464 00:29:57,119 --> 00:30:03,000 answered Psikov, almost inaudibly. It's no use. Well, let me 465 00:30:03,079 --> 00:30:06,119 relate to you how the matter took place. On Saturday evening, 466 00:30:06,160 --> 00:30:09,279 you were sitting in Klausov's sleeping room and drinking vodka. 467 00:30:09,319 --> 00:30:13,400 And beer with him. Dukovsky fixed his eyes on Psakov's 468 00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:18,559 face and kept them there all through the examination. Nicholas 469 00:30:18,599 --> 00:30:22,880 was waiting on you. At one o'clock, Marko Ivanovitch announced 470 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:25,480 his attention of going to bed. He always went to 471 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:28,160 bed at one o'clock. When he was taking off his 472 00:30:28,240 --> 00:30:31,359 boots and was giving you directions about details of management. 473 00:30:31,880 --> 00:30:34,759 You and Nicholas, at a given signal, seized your drunken 474 00:30:34,799 --> 00:30:37,079 master and threw him on the bed. One of you 475 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:39,960 sat on his legs, the other on his head. Then 476 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:42,799 a third person came in from the passage, a woman 477 00:30:42,839 --> 00:30:45,440 in a black dress, whom ye know well, and who 478 00:30:45,519 --> 00:30:48,440 had previously arranged with you as to her share in 479 00:30:48,519 --> 00:30:51,319 your criminal deed. She seized a pillow and began to 480 00:30:51,319 --> 00:30:54,720 smother him. While the struggle was going on, the candle 481 00:30:54,759 --> 00:30:57,240 went out. The woman took a box of safety matches 482 00:30:57,279 --> 00:31:00,759 from her pocket and lit the candle. Was it not 483 00:31:00,880 --> 00:31:03,440 so I see by your face that I am speaking 484 00:31:03,480 --> 00:31:06,880 the truth? But to go on? After you had smothered 485 00:31:06,920 --> 00:31:09,200 him and saw that you had ceased breathing, Hugh and 486 00:31:09,319 --> 00:31:11,680 Nicholas pulled him through the window and laid him down 487 00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:14,640 near the burdock. Fearing that you might come round again, 488 00:31:14,880 --> 00:31:18,119 you struck him with something sharp. Then you carried him 489 00:31:18,119 --> 00:31:20,359 away and laid him down under a lilac bush for 490 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:23,799 a short time. After resting a while and considering, you 491 00:31:23,920 --> 00:31:26,839 carried him across the fence. Then you entered the road. 492 00:31:27,440 --> 00:31:31,160 After that comes the dam. Near the dam, a peasant 493 00:31:31,200 --> 00:31:36,079 frightened you. Well, what is the matter with you? I 494 00:31:36,160 --> 00:31:40,440 am suffocating, replied Psikov. Very well, have it so? Only 495 00:31:40,519 --> 00:31:45,599 let me go out, please. They led Psikov away. At last, 496 00:31:45,640 --> 00:31:50,640 he has confessed, cried Chubikov, stretching himself luxuriously. He has 497 00:31:50,680 --> 00:31:55,039 betrayed himself, and didn't I get round him cleverly, regularly 498 00:31:55,119 --> 00:31:58,599 caught him napping, and he doesn't deny the woman in 499 00:31:58,640 --> 00:32:02,279 the black dress out to Dukovsky. But all the same, 500 00:32:02,440 --> 00:32:05,839 that safety match is tormenting me. Frightfully. I can't stand 501 00:32:05,839 --> 00:32:10,480 it any longer. Good Bye, I am off. Dukovski put 502 00:32:10,519 --> 00:32:14,799 on his cap and drove Offchubikov began to examine Aquilina. 503 00:32:15,119 --> 00:32:19,880 Aquilina declared that she knew nothing whatever about it. At 504 00:32:19,920 --> 00:32:23,559 six that evening, Dukovski returned. He was more agitated than 505 00:32:23,559 --> 00:32:26,359 he had ever been before. His hands trembled so that 506 00:32:26,400 --> 00:32:29,759 he could not even unbutton his greatcoat. His cheeks glowed. 507 00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:32,319 It was clear that he did not come empty handed. 508 00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:38,359 Vinny Vidyevitchy, he cried, rushing into Chubikov's room and falling 509 00:32:38,400 --> 00:32:41,160 into an arm chair. I swear to you, my honor, 510 00:32:41,200 --> 00:32:44,440 I begin to believe that I am a genius. Listen, devil, 511 00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:47,359 take us all. It is funny and it is sad. 512 00:32:47,680 --> 00:32:50,839 We have caught three already. Isn't that so well? I 513 00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:53,799 have found the fourth, and a woman at that He 514 00:32:53,920 --> 00:32:57,400 will never believe who it is. But listen. I went 515 00:32:57,440 --> 00:33:00,480 to Klasov's village and began to make a spiral round it. 516 00:33:00,960 --> 00:33:03,960 I visited all the little shops, public houses, dram shops, 517 00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:07,880 on the road, everywhere, asking for safety matches. Everywhere they 518 00:33:07,920 --> 00:33:11,799 said there hadn't any. I made a wide round. Twenty 519 00:33:11,799 --> 00:33:14,319 times I lost faith, and twenty times I got back again. 520 00:33:14,839 --> 00:33:17,200 I knocked about the whole day, and only an hour 521 00:33:17,200 --> 00:33:20,160 ago I got on the track three versts from here. 522 00:33:21,519 --> 00:33:24,559 They gave me a packet of ten boxes. One box 523 00:33:24,640 --> 00:33:28,960 was missing. Immediately who bought the other box? Such a one? 524 00:33:29,079 --> 00:33:34,599 She was pleased with them Old man Nicholas Yamalayevitch. See 525 00:33:34,640 --> 00:33:37,160 what a fellow who was expelled from the seminary and 526 00:33:37,160 --> 00:33:40,960 who has read Garboryo can do. From to day on, 527 00:33:41,079 --> 00:33:46,279 I begin to respect myself. Oof, Well, come, come where 528 00:33:47,480 --> 00:33:51,480 to HER's Noumber four? We must hurry otherwise otherwise I'll 529 00:33:51,519 --> 00:33:54,680 burst with impatience. Do you know who she is? You'll 530 00:33:54,680 --> 00:34:00,480 never guess. Olga Petrovna markus Ivanovitch's wife, his own wife, 531 00:34:00,799 --> 00:34:03,200 That's who it is. She is the person who bought 532 00:34:03,240 --> 00:34:07,279 the match box. You you, you are out of your mind. 533 00:34:08,400 --> 00:34:12,880 It's quite simple to begin with. She smokes. Secondly, she 534 00:34:13,039 --> 00:34:15,719 was head and ears in love with Klausov, even after 535 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:17,679 he refused to live in the same house with her 536 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:21,360 because she was always scolding his head off. Why they 537 00:34:21,400 --> 00:34:23,280 say she used to beat him because she loved him 538 00:34:23,280 --> 00:34:26,719 so much, and then he positively refused to stay in 539 00:34:26,760 --> 00:34:30,880 the same house. Love tan souer hell hath no fury 540 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:34,000 like a woman scorned. But come along quick or it 541 00:34:34,039 --> 00:34:38,800 will be dark. Come. I am not yet sufficiently crazy 542 00:34:38,840 --> 00:34:42,079 to go and disturb a respectable, honorable woman in the 543 00:34:42,079 --> 00:34:46,840 middle of the night for a crazy boy. Respectable honorable 544 00:34:47,320 --> 00:34:51,159 do honorable women murder their husbands. After that, you are 545 00:34:51,199 --> 00:34:54,960 a rag and not an examining magistrate. I never ventured 546 00:34:54,960 --> 00:34:57,559 to call your names before, but now you compel me 547 00:34:57,639 --> 00:35:02,480 to rag dressing gown. Dear, Nicholas Yamulakovitch, do come, I 548 00:35:02,519 --> 00:35:06,719 beg of you. The magistrate made a deprecating motion with 549 00:35:06,800 --> 00:35:11,599 his hand. I beg of you. I ask not for myself, 550 00:35:11,679 --> 00:35:14,800 but in the interests of justice. I beg you. I 551 00:35:14,800 --> 00:35:20,679 implore you do what ask kitty. Just this. Once Dukovsky 552 00:35:20,719 --> 00:35:26,159 went down on his knees. Nicholas Yamulakovitch, be kind, call 553 00:35:26,199 --> 00:35:29,039 me a blackguard, and ne'er do well if I am 554 00:35:29,079 --> 00:35:32,440 mistaken about this woman. You see what an affair it is, 555 00:35:32,519 --> 00:35:36,159 What a case? It is a romance, a woman murdering 556 00:35:36,159 --> 00:35:39,280 her own husband for love. The fame of it will 557 00:35:39,320 --> 00:35:43,119 go all over Russia. They will make investigator in all 558 00:35:43,119 --> 00:35:50,159 important cases. Understand O, foolish old man. The magistrate frowned 559 00:35:50,199 --> 00:35:54,320 and undecidedly stretched his hand towards his cap. Oh the 560 00:35:54,400 --> 00:35:59,079 devil take you, he said, let us go. It was 561 00:35:59,199 --> 00:36:01,800 dark when the magist Tred's carriage rolled up to the 562 00:36:01,840 --> 00:36:04,559 porch of the old country house, in which all Gopetrovna 563 00:36:04,599 --> 00:36:08,039 had taken refuge with her brother. What pigs we are, 564 00:36:08,360 --> 00:36:11,800 said Tchubikov, taking hold of the bell to disturb a 565 00:36:11,840 --> 00:36:14,920 poor woman like this. It's all right, it's all right, 566 00:36:15,199 --> 00:36:17,880 don't get frightened. We can say that we have broken 567 00:36:17,880 --> 00:36:22,480 a spring. Chubikov and Dukovsky were met at the threshold 568 00:36:22,559 --> 00:36:25,599 by a tall, buxom woman of three and twenty with 569 00:36:25,719 --> 00:36:30,400 pitch black brows and juicy red lips. It was all Gopetrovna, herself, 570 00:36:30,960 --> 00:36:35,239 apparently not in the least distressed by the recent tragedy. Oh, 571 00:36:35,239 --> 00:36:39,159 what a pleasant surprise, she said, smiling broadly. You are 572 00:36:39,239 --> 00:36:42,639 just in time for supper. Kosmar Petrovitch is not at home. 573 00:36:43,039 --> 00:36:46,199 He is visiting the priest and has stayed late. But 574 00:36:46,280 --> 00:36:49,480 we'll get on without him. Be seated. You have come 575 00:36:49,480 --> 00:36:53,719 from the examination. Yes, we broke a spring, you know, 576 00:36:54,039 --> 00:36:57,400 began Tchubikov, entering the sitting room and sinking into an 577 00:36:57,480 --> 00:37:02,119 arm chair. Take her unawares at once, whispered Dukovsky. Take 578 00:37:02,119 --> 00:37:06,639 her unawares a spring. Hum, Yes, so we came in. 579 00:37:07,920 --> 00:37:10,480 Take her unawares. I tell you, she will guess what 580 00:37:10,559 --> 00:37:12,679 the matter is. If you drag things out like that. 581 00:37:14,440 --> 00:37:16,679 We'll do it yourself as you want, but let me 582 00:37:16,760 --> 00:37:20,639 get out of it, muttered to muttered Chubikov, rising and 583 00:37:20,719 --> 00:37:25,079 going to the window. Yes, a spring began Dukovsky, going 584 00:37:25,079 --> 00:37:28,239 close to Olga Petrovna and wrinkling his long nose. We 585 00:37:28,320 --> 00:37:30,800 did not drive over here to take supper with you 586 00:37:31,039 --> 00:37:34,960 or to see Cosmo Petrovitch. We came here to ask you, 587 00:37:35,119 --> 00:37:40,519 respected madame, where Markus Ivanovitch is whom you murdered? What 588 00:37:41,960 --> 00:37:46,679 Markus Ivanovitch murdered? Stammered Olga Petrovna, and her broad face 589 00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:53,280 suddenly and instantaneously flushed bright scarlet. I don't understand. I 590 00:37:53,400 --> 00:37:56,360 ask you, in the name of the law. Where is Klausov? 591 00:37:56,840 --> 00:38:01,880 We know all? Who told you? Olga Petrovna asked in 592 00:38:01,880 --> 00:38:05,960 a low voice, unable to endure Dukovsky's glance. Be so 593 00:38:06,079 --> 00:38:08,760 good as to show us where he is. But how 594 00:38:08,760 --> 00:38:11,840 did you find out who told you? We know all? 595 00:38:12,320 --> 00:38:15,480 I demand it in the name of the law. The 596 00:38:15,519 --> 00:38:19,000 examining magistrate, emboldened by her confusion, came forward and said, 597 00:38:19,360 --> 00:38:22,320 show us and we will go away. Otherwise we what 598 00:38:22,400 --> 00:38:25,239 do you want with him? Madam? What is the use 599 00:38:25,239 --> 00:38:28,320 of these questions. We ask you to show us you tremble. 600 00:38:28,360 --> 00:38:31,480 You are agitated. Yes, he has been murdered, and if 601 00:38:31,480 --> 00:38:34,280 you must have it murdered by you, your accomplices have 602 00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:40,760 betrayed you. Olga Petrovna grew pale. Come, she said, in 603 00:38:40,800 --> 00:38:44,119 a low voice, wringing her hands. I have him hid 604 00:38:44,280 --> 00:38:47,280 in the bath house only for Heaven's sake. Do not 605 00:38:47,320 --> 00:38:50,400 tell Kouzmar Petrovitch. I beg and implore you. He will 606 00:38:50,440 --> 00:38:54,719 never forgive me. Olga Petrovna took down a big key 607 00:38:54,760 --> 00:38:57,320 from the wall and led her guests through the kitchen 608 00:38:57,360 --> 00:39:00,920 and passage to the courtyard. The courtyard was on darkness, 609 00:39:01,400 --> 00:39:06,239 fine rain was falling. Olga Petrovna walked in advance of them. 610 00:39:06,880 --> 00:39:10,719 Chubikoff and Dukovski strode behind her through the long grass 611 00:39:10,880 --> 00:39:13,760 as the odor of wild hem and dishwater splushing under 612 00:39:13,800 --> 00:39:17,679 their feet reached them. The courtyard was wide. Soon the 613 00:39:17,719 --> 00:39:21,280 dishwater ceased, and they felt freshly broken earth under their feet. 614 00:39:22,280 --> 00:39:25,440 In the darkness appeared the shadowy outlines of trees, and 615 00:39:25,519 --> 00:39:28,079 among the trees a little house with a crooked chimney. 616 00:39:29,840 --> 00:39:33,320 That is the bath house, said Olga Petrovna. But I 617 00:39:33,320 --> 00:39:35,760 implore you do not tell my brother. If ye do, 618 00:39:35,840 --> 00:39:39,159 I'll never hear the end of it. Going up to 619 00:39:39,199 --> 00:39:42,400 the bath house, Chubikov and Dukovsky saw a huge padlock 620 00:39:42,440 --> 00:39:46,559 on the door. Get your candle and matches ready, whispered 621 00:39:46,559 --> 00:39:52,079 the examining magistrate to his deputy. Olga Petrovna unfastened the 622 00:39:52,079 --> 00:39:56,000 padlock and let her guests into the bath house. Tukowski 623 00:39:56,039 --> 00:39:58,760 struck a match and lit up the ante room. In 624 00:39:58,800 --> 00:40:01,400 the middle of the ante room stood table. On the 625 00:40:01,400 --> 00:40:05,000 table Beside the sturdy little Samovar stood a soup tureen 626 00:40:05,119 --> 00:40:07,760 with old cabbage soup and a plate with the remnants 627 00:40:07,800 --> 00:40:12,119 of some sauce. Forward, they went into the next room, 628 00:40:12,159 --> 00:40:14,880 where the bath was, there was a table there. Also 629 00:40:15,639 --> 00:40:17,960 on the table was a dish with some ham, a 630 00:40:17,960 --> 00:40:22,760 bottle of vodka, plaits, knives forks. But where is it? 631 00:40:22,880 --> 00:40:27,480 Where is the murdered man, asked the examining magistrate. On 632 00:40:27,559 --> 00:40:32,000 the top tier, whispered Olga Petrovna, still pale and trembling, 633 00:40:33,199 --> 00:40:36,079 Dukovski took the candle in his hand and climbed up 634 00:40:36,119 --> 00:40:39,079 to the top tier of the sweating frame. There he 635 00:40:39,119 --> 00:40:41,920 saw a long human body lying motionless, on a large 636 00:40:41,960 --> 00:40:46,280 feather bed. A slight snow came from the body. You 637 00:40:46,320 --> 00:40:49,880 are making fun of us, devil, take it, cried Dukovski. 638 00:40:50,159 --> 00:40:53,039 That is not the murdered man. Some live fool is 639 00:40:53,119 --> 00:40:56,360 lying here here. Whoever you are the devil, take you. 640 00:40:58,360 --> 00:41:02,039 The body drew in a quick breath, stirred. Teukovsky stuck 641 00:41:02,079 --> 00:41:05,119 his elbow into it. It raised a hand, stretched itself 642 00:41:05,119 --> 00:41:09,199 and lifted its head. Who is sneaking in here? He asked, 643 00:41:09,239 --> 00:41:13,320 in a hoarse, heavy bass, what do you want? Teukovsky 644 00:41:13,440 --> 00:41:15,920 raised the candle to the face of the unknown and 645 00:41:16,079 --> 00:41:19,840 cried out in the red nose, disheveled, unkempt hair, the 646 00:41:19,880 --> 00:41:23,480 pitch black mustaches, one of which was jauntily twisted and 647 00:41:23,519 --> 00:41:27,679 pointed insolently toward the ceiling. He recognized the gallant cavalryman 648 00:41:27,920 --> 00:41:35,400 Klausov You markus Ivanovitch. Is it possible? The examining magistrate 649 00:41:35,440 --> 00:41:39,480 glanced sharply up at him and stood spellbound. Yes, it 650 00:41:39,599 --> 00:41:43,039 is I. That's you, Dukovsky. What the devil do you 651 00:41:43,119 --> 00:41:47,239 want here? And who's that other mug down there? Great snakes, 652 00:41:47,280 --> 00:41:50,800 it's the examining magistrate. What fate has brought him here? 653 00:41:52,719 --> 00:41:55,599 Klasov rushed down and threw his arms round Chubikov in 654 00:41:55,599 --> 00:42:00,159 a cordial embrace. Olga Petrovna slipped through the door. How 655 00:42:00,199 --> 00:42:02,719 did you come here? Let's have a drink, devil take it. 656 00:42:03,880 --> 00:42:08,480 Tratati tutum, tratati tutum. Let us drink? But who brought 657 00:42:08,480 --> 00:42:11,039 you here? How did you find out that I was here? 658 00:42:11,639 --> 00:42:15,000 But it doesn't matter. Let's have a drink. Klasov lit 659 00:42:15,039 --> 00:42:18,719 the lamp and poured out three glasses of vodka. That 660 00:42:18,920 --> 00:42:22,679 is I don't understand you, said the examining magistrate, running 661 00:42:22,719 --> 00:42:26,639 his hands over him. Is this you or not you? Oh? 662 00:42:26,679 --> 00:42:29,679 Shut up? You want to preach me a sermon. Don't 663 00:42:29,719 --> 00:42:34,119 trouble yourself, young Dukovsky. Empty your glass, friends, let us 664 00:42:34,119 --> 00:42:39,559 bring this What are you looking at? Drink all the same? 665 00:42:39,599 --> 00:42:43,559 I do not understand, said the examining magistrate, mechanically drinking 666 00:42:43,559 --> 00:42:48,360 off the vodka. What are you here for? Why shouldn't 667 00:42:48,360 --> 00:42:51,559 I be here? If I am all right here, Klasov 668 00:42:51,639 --> 00:42:54,639 drained his glass and took a bite of ham. I 669 00:42:54,679 --> 00:42:57,639 am in captivity here, as you see, in solitude in 670 00:42:57,639 --> 00:43:02,000 a cavern, like a ghost or a bogy drink. She 671 00:43:02,119 --> 00:43:04,639 carried me off and locked me up. And well, I 672 00:43:04,679 --> 00:43:07,360 am living here in the deserted bath house like a hermit. 673 00:43:07,800 --> 00:43:10,199 I am fed. Next week I think I'll try to 674 00:43:10,199 --> 00:43:16,599 get out. I'm tired of it here incomprehensible, said Tukovski. 675 00:43:18,159 --> 00:43:23,599 What is incomprehensible about it? Incomprehensible? For heaven's sake, how 676 00:43:23,639 --> 00:43:28,039 did your boot get into the garden? What boot? We 677 00:43:28,119 --> 00:43:30,079 found one boot in the sleeping room and the other 678 00:43:30,119 --> 00:43:33,039 in the garden. And what you want to know that for? 679 00:43:33,239 --> 00:43:36,159 It's none of your business. Why didn't you drink? Devil 680 00:43:36,199 --> 00:43:38,800 take you? If you wakened me, then drink with me. 681 00:43:39,639 --> 00:43:41,920 It is an interesting tale, brother, that of the boot. 682 00:43:42,519 --> 00:43:44,960 I didn't want to go with Olga. I don't like 683 00:43:45,039 --> 00:43:47,679 to be bossed. She came under the window and began 684 00:43:47,719 --> 00:43:52,480 to abuse me. She always was a termagant. You know 685 00:43:52,559 --> 00:43:54,960 what women are, like all of them. I was a 686 00:43:55,000 --> 00:43:57,039 bit drunk, so I took a boot and heaved it 687 00:43:57,079 --> 00:44:00,559 at her. Ha ha tita not a scold enough time. 688 00:44:01,280 --> 00:44:03,719 But it didn't, not a bit of it. She climbed 689 00:44:03,760 --> 00:44:05,599 in at the window, lit the lamp and began to 690 00:44:05,639 --> 00:44:08,920 hammer poor tipsy me. She thrushed me dragged me over 691 00:44:08,960 --> 00:44:11,960 here and locked me in. She feeds me now on love, 692 00:44:12,119 --> 00:44:15,400 vodka and ham. But where are you off to, Chubikov, 693 00:44:15,679 --> 00:44:19,760 Where are you going? The examining magistrates swore and left 694 00:44:19,760 --> 00:44:24,800 the bath house. Teukoski followed him, crest fallen. They silently 695 00:44:24,840 --> 00:44:28,039 took their seats in the carriage and drove off. The 696 00:44:28,119 --> 00:44:30,920 road never seemed to them so long and disagreeable as 697 00:44:30,920 --> 00:44:35,440 it did that time. Both remained silent. Chubikov trembled with 698 00:44:35,599 --> 00:44:38,199 rage all the way. Teukovski hid his nose in the 699 00:44:38,239 --> 00:44:40,679 collar of his overcoat, as if he was afraid that 700 00:44:40,760 --> 00:44:43,440 the darkness and the drizzling rain might read the shame 701 00:44:43,480 --> 00:44:48,199 in his face. When they reached home, the examining magistrate 702 00:44:48,239 --> 00:44:51,760 found doctor Tyutyev awaiting him. The doctor was sitting at 703 00:44:51,760 --> 00:44:55,119 the table and, sighing deeply, was turning over the pages 704 00:44:55,159 --> 00:44:59,079 of the Never such goings on there are in the world, 705 00:44:59,159 --> 00:45:02,679 he said, meeting the examining magistrate with a sad smile. 706 00:45:03,199 --> 00:45:06,880 Austria is at it again, and Gladstone also to some extent. 707 00:45:08,000 --> 00:45:10,880 Chubikov threw his cap under the table and shook himself 708 00:45:11,719 --> 00:45:15,320 devil's skeletons don't you plague me A thousand times. I 709 00:45:15,320 --> 00:45:17,400 have told you not to bother me with your politics. 710 00:45:18,159 --> 00:45:22,400 This is no question of politics, and you, said Tchubikov, 711 00:45:22,480 --> 00:45:25,800 turning to Dukovsky and shaking his fist. I won't forget 712 00:45:25,840 --> 00:45:30,039 this in a thousand years. But the safety match, how 713 00:45:30,039 --> 00:45:34,039 could I know? Choke yourself with your safety match. Get 714 00:45:34,079 --> 00:45:36,280 out of my way. Don't make me mad or the 715 00:45:36,320 --> 00:45:40,320 devil only knows what I'll do to you. Dukovsky sighed, 716 00:45:40,519 --> 00:45:44,079 took his hat and went out. I'll go and get drunk, 717 00:45:44,320 --> 00:45:47,519 he decided, going through the door and gloomily wending his 718 00:45:47,599 --> 00:45:52,559 way to the public house. End of the Safety Match 719 00:45:52,960 --> 00:45:53,960 by Anton Tchekhov