Мертві душі
Chapter 4
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“What,AthanasiVassilievitch?ThefellowhadinfringedoneoftheFundamentalLaws!Hehadbeenfoundguiltyoftreason!”
“Iamnotseekingtojustifyhim;Iamonlyaskingyouwhetheryouthinkitrightthataninexperiencedyouthwhohadbeentemptedandledawaybyothersshouldhavereceivedthesamesentenceasthemanwhohadtakenthechiefpartintheaffair.Thatistosay,althoughDierpiennikovandthemanVoron-Driannireceivedanequalmeasureofpunishment,theirCRIMINALITYwasnotequal.”
“If,”exclaimedthePrinceexcitedly,“youknowanythingfurtherconcerningthecase,forGod’ssaketellitmeatonce.OnlytheotherdaydidIforwardarecommendationthatSt.Petersburgshouldremitaportionofthesentence.”
“YourHighness,”repliedMurazov,“IdonotmeanthatIknowofanythingwhichdoesnotliealsowithinyourowncognisance,thoughonecircumstancetherewaswhichmighthavetoldinthelad’sfavourhadhenotrefusedtoadmitit,lestanothershouldsufferinjury.AllthatIhaveinmymindisthis.Onthatoccasionwereyounotalittleover-hastyincomingtoaconclusion?Youwillunderstand,ofcourse,thatIamjudgingonlyaccordingtomyownpoorlights,andforthereasonthatonmorethanoneoccasionyouhaveurgedmetobefrank.
