When the reading of the indictment was over, the president, after
having consulted the members, turned to Kartinkin, with an
expression that plainly said: Now we shall find out the whole
truth down to the minutest detail.
"Peasant Simeon Kartinkin," he said, stooping to the left.
Simeon Kartinkin got up, stretched his arms down his sides, and
leaning forward with his whole body, continued moving his cheeks
inaudibly.
"You are accused of having on the 17th January, 188--, together
with Euphemia Botchkova and Katerina Maslova, stolen money from a
portmanteau belonging to the merchant Smelkoff, and then, having
procured some arsenic, persuaded Katerina Maslova to give it to
the merchant Smelkoff in a glass of brandy, which was the cause
of Smelkoff's death. Do you plead guilty?" said the president,
stooping to the right.
"Not nohow, because our business is to attend on the lodgers,
and--"
"You'll tell us that afterwards. Do you plead guilty?"
"Oh, no, sir. I only,--"
"You'll tell us that afterwards. Do you plead guilty?" quietly
and firmly asked the president.
"Can't do such a thing, because that--"
The usher again rushed up to Simeon Kartinkin, and stopped him
in a tragic whisper.
The president moved the hand with which he held the paper and
placed the elbow in a different position with an air that said:
"This is finished," and turned to Euphemia Botchkova.
"Euphemia Botchkova, you are accused of having, on the 17th of
January, 188-, in the lodging-house Mauritania, together with
Simeon Kartinkin and Katerina Maslova, stolen some money and a
ring out of the merchant Smelkoff's portmanteau, and having
shared the money among yourselves, given poison to the merchant
Smelkoff, thereby causing his death. Do you plead guilty?"
"I am not guilty of anything," boldly and firmly replied the
prisoner. "I never went near the room, but when this baggage went
in she did the whole business."
"You will say all this afterwards," the president again said,
quietly and firmly. "So you do not plead guilty?"
"I did not take the money nor give the drink, nor go into the
room. Had I gone in I should have kicked her out."
"So you do not plead guilty?"
"Never."
"Very well."
"Katerina Maslova," the president began, turning to the third
prisoner, "you are accused of having come from the brothel with
the key of the merchant Smelkoff's portmanteau, money, and a
ring." He said all this like a lesson learned by heart, leaning
towards the member on his left, who was whispering into his ear
that a bottle mentioned in the list of the material evidence was
missing. "Of having stolen out of the portmanteau money and a
ring," he repeated, "and shared it. Then, returning to the
lodging house Mauritania with Smelkoff, of giving him poison in
his drink, and thereby causing his death. Do you plead guilty?"