Captain's daughter chapter 14 summary. "The Captain's Daughter" (Chapters IX - XIV). Captain's daughter audiobook listen

[Our short retelling of The Captain's Daughter can be used for a reader's diary. On our website you can read the full text of The Captain's Daughter by chapter, as well as an analysis of this story and a biography of A. S. Pushkin.]

Together with his faithful serf tutor Savelyich, Petrusha went to Orenburg. On the way, in one of the taverns in Simbirsk, the impudent captain Zurin beat the inexperienced young man for a hundred rubles in billiards.

Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter", Chapter 2 "Counselor" - summary

Leaving Simbirsk with a coachman, Petrusha and Savelich fell into a strong snowstorm. They were almost covered in snow. Salvation was brought only by an unexpected meeting in an open field with a strange man who showed the way to the inn. On the way to the court, Grinev dozed off in a wagon and saw a mysterious dream about how a black-bearded man affectionately called him to himself, calling himself an imprisoned father, but mercilessly chopped everyone who stood around with an ax.

Having spent the night in the hut, Petrusha in the morning, to celebrate, presented his hare sheepskin coat to the savior, for which he sincerely thanked him. The leader met in the field and the owner of the inn were talking to each other in some strange, understandable phrases only to them.

Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter", Chapter 3 "Fortress" - summary

Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter", Chapter 4 "Duel" - summary

The caustic and impudent Shvabrin spoke of all the inhabitants of the fortress caustically and dismissively. Grinev soon began to dislike him. Petrusha especially did not like Shvabrin's greasy jokes about the captain's daughter Masha. Grinev entered into a quarrel with Shvabrin, and he challenged him to a duel. The reason for Shvabrin's irritation was also revealed: he had previously unsuccessfully wooed Masha and now saw Grinev as his rival.

During the duel with swords, the strong and courageous Petrusha almost drove Shvabrin into the river, but he was suddenly distracted by the cry of Savelich, who ran up. Taking advantage of the fact that Grinev turned away for a moment, Shvabrin wounded him below the right shoulder.

Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter", Chapter 5 "Love" - ​​a summary

For five days the wounded Petrusha lay unconscious. He was courted not only by the faithful Savelich, but also by Masha. Grinev fell in love with the captain's daughter, and generously reconciled with Shvabrin.

Petrusha wrote to his father, asking him for his blessing to marry Masha. But the parent responded with a sharp refusal. He already knew about the filial duel. Petrusha suspected that the perfidious Shvabrin had informed his father about her. Grinev offered Masha to get married against the will of his parents, but she said that she could not go for it. Petrusha took the refusal of his beloved as a heavy blow and fell into a gloomy mood of the spirit, until unexpected events suddenly brought him out of anguish. (See Masha Mironova and Grinev in The Captain's Daughter.)

Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter", Chapter 6 "Pugachevshchina" - summary

At the beginning of October 1773, Captain Mironov called the officers to his place and read to them the notice that had come from the higher authorities. It reported that a certain rebel Emelyan Pugachev had gathered a villainous gang, raised a rebellion in the surrounding areas and had already taken several fortresses.

The captain was very worried. The garrison of Belogorskaya was small, its fortifications were weak, and the hope for local Cossacks was very doubtful. Soon a Bashkir with outrageous sheets was captured nearby, and then the news came that Pugachev had taken the neighboring Nizhneozernaya fortress. The rebels hanged all the officers there.

Captain Mironov and his wife Vasilisa Egorovna decided to take their daughter Masha to Orenburg. Masha said goodbye to Grinev, sobbing into his chest.

Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter", Chapter 7 "Attack" - a summary

But Masha did not have time to leave. The very next morning, Belogorskaya was surrounded by Pugachev's gangs. The defenders of the fortress tried to defend themselves, but the forces were too unequal. After a hot attack, crowds of rebels burst behind the ramparts.

Pugachev jumped up, sitting in armchairs, began to administer his court. Captain Ivan Kuzmich and his assistant Ivan Ignatich were hanged on a gallows built right there. Grinev was surprised to see that Shvabrin had already managed to put on a Cossack caftan and was sitting next to Pugachev. The rebels dragged Petrusha to the gallows. He was already saying goodbye to life when Savelich threw himself at the feet of Pugachev, begging him to pardon his master. Emelyan gave a sign, and Grinev was released. (See Pugachev's image in The Captain's Daughter and Pugachev's Characteristics in The Captain's Daughter.)

The rebels began to rob houses. Masha's mother, Vasilisa Yegorovna, ran out onto the porch of one of them, screaming, and immediately fell dead from the blow of a Cossack saber.

Pugachev's court. Artist V. Perov, 1870s

Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter", Chapter 8 "The Uninvited Guest" - a summary

Grinev learned that Masha was hidden at Akulina Pamfilovna's priest's place in order to protect her from violence. But just in this house Pugachev came to feast with his comrades. Popadya hid the captain's daughter in the next room, passing her off as a sick relative.

Savelyich, who approached Grinev, asked if he recognized Pugachev. It turned out that the rebellious leader was the same “leader” who once led them out of the snowstorm to the inn, having received a rabbit coat for this. Grinev realized that Pugachev pardoned him in gratitude for this gift.

A Cossack ran up and said that Pugachev was demanding Grinev to his table. Petrusha was given a place at the feast of the robber leaders, who, after a drunken conversation, sang the song "Don't make noise, mother green oak tree."

When everyone dispersed, Emelyan reminded Grinev of the incident at the inn and invited him to his service, promising to "produce field marshals." Grinev refused. Pugachev was almost angry, but the sincerity and courage of the nobleman made an impression on him. Patting Grinev on the shoulder, he allowed him to leave the fortress wherever he wished.

Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter", Chapter 9 "Separation" - summary

On the morning of the next day, Pugachev with his crowds set out from the Belogorsk fortress, leaving Shvabrin as its new chief. Masha, whose hand Shvabrin once harassed, was in his power! It was not possible to take her out of the fortress: from shocks, the captain's daughter had a fever at night, and she lay unconscious.

Grinev could only rush to Orenburg and beg the local military authorities to send a detachment to liberate Belogorskaya. On the way, he was overtaken by a Cossack with a horse and a sheepskin coat, which Pugachev “granted” to him.

Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter", Chapter 10 "The Siege of the City" - a summary

Arriving in Orenburg, Grinev told the general about what had happened in Belogorskaya, and at the military council advocated decisive action. But the opinion of cautious adherents of defensive tactics prevailed. The authorities preferred to sit behind the strong walls of Orenburg. Pugachev soon approached the city and began its siege.

Famine has opened in Orenburg. The brave Grinev daily participated in sorties, fighting with the rebels. In one battle, he accidentally met with a familiar Cossack from Belogorskaya, who gave him a letter from Masha. She reported that Shvabrin was forcibly forcing her to marry him, threatening otherwise to send her as a concubine to Pugachev.

Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter", chapter 11 "Rebellious Sloboda" - summary

Mad with grief, Grinev decided to go alone to Masha in order to save her. The devoted Savelich insisted that he would follow the journey with him. Passing on the exit from Orenburg the settlement where Pugachev's headquarters was located, they were captured by a patrol of five men with clubs.

Grinev was brought to the hut to Pugachev, who immediately recognized him. When questioned, Petrusha explained that he was going to Belogorskaya to save his bride, whom Shvabrin offends there. In a fit of generosity, Pugachev said that tomorrow he would go to Belogorskaya with Grinev and marry him himself to Masha.

In the morning they left. Grinev, sitting with Pugachev in the same wagon, persuaded him to stop the hopeless rebellion. The rebel leader, in response, told a tale about a raven that feeds on carrion and lives for 300 years, and an eagle that dies at 33, but drinks fresh blood.

Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter", Chapter 12 "The Orphan" - a summary

In the Belogorsk fortress, at first Shvabrin did not want to give Masha away, but under the threats of Pugachev, he involuntarily conceded. It turned out that he kept Masha locked up, feeding her only bread and water.

Pugachev allowed Grinev and the captain's daughter to go wherever they wished. The next day their wagon left Belogorskaya.

A. S. Pushkin. Captain's daughter. audiobook

Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter", Chapter 13 "Arrest" - a summary

Not far from the fortress, the wagon was stopped by government soldiers who had arrived to pacify the Pugachev rebellion. The head of this unit was Ivan Zurin, who had once beaten Grinev in a Simbirsk tavern and now recognized him. Petrusha joined his unit as an officer, and sent Masha with Savelich to his parents' estate.

Pugachev's uprising was soon crushed. Grinev was looking forward to the day when he would be allowed to go to his native estate, to his father, mother and Masha. But Zurin suddenly received an order to arrest Grinev and send him to Kazan - to the Investigative Commission on the Pugachev case.

Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter", chapter 14 "Court" - summary

Shvabrin, who was captured during the pacification of the rebellion, acted as a witness against Grinev. He claimed that Petrusha was a secret agent of Pugachev and transmitted information about the state of the besieged Orenburg to him. Grinev was found guilty and sentenced to death, which Empress Catherine II replaced with eternal exile in Siberia.

Having received news of this, the selfless Masha went to St. Petersburg to ask her betrothed for mercy. Having settled near Tsarskoye Selo, during a morning walk in the garden, she met Catherine II herself and told her the details of the history of her family and Grinev. (See the image of Catherine II in The Captain's Daughter.)

The Empress ordered that the innocent officer be fully acquitted. Grinev married the captain's daughter, and their offspring prospered for a long time in the Simbirsk province.

It was sweet to recognize

Me, beautiful, with you;

Sad, sad to leave

Sad, as if from the heart.
Kheraskov.

The drum woke me up early in the morning. I went to the gathering place. Pugachev's crowds were already lining up there near the gallows, where yesterday's victims were still hanging. The Cossacks stood on horseback, the soldiers under arms. The banners fluttered. Several cannons, between which I recognized ours, were placed on marching carriages. All the inhabitants were right there, waiting for the impostor. At the porch of the commandant's house, the Cossack kept under his mouth a beautiful white horse of the Kirghiz breed. I looked for the commandant's body with my eyes. It was carried a little to the side and covered with matting. Finally Pugachev came out of the hallway. The people took off their hats. Pugachev stopped on the porch and greeted everyone. One of the foremen handed him a bag of copper money, and he began to throw handfuls of them. With a cry, the people rushed to pick them up, and the matter was not without injury. Pugachev was surrounded by the main of his accomplices. Between them stood Shvabrin. Our eyes met; in mine he could read contempt, and he turned away with an expression of sincere malice and feigned mockery. Pugachev, seeing me in the crowd, nodded his head at me and called me to him. "Listen," he told me. - “Go this very hour to Orenburg and announce from me to the governor and all the generals, so that they expect me to see you in a week. Advise them to meet me with childish love and obedience; Otherwise, they cannot escape a fierce execution. Happy journey, your honor!" Then he turned to the people and said, pointing to Shvabrin: - "Here you are, kids, a new commander: obey him in everything, and he is responsible to me for you and for the fortress." With horror I heard these words: Shvabrin became the head of the fortress; Marya Ivanovna remained in his power! God, what will happen to her! Pugachev stepped down from the porch. They brought him a horse. He nimbly jumped into the saddle, without waiting for the Cossacks, who were about to hoist him up.

At this time, from the crowd of people, I see, my Savelich stepped forward, went up to Pugachev, and gave him a sheet of paper. I couldn't think of what would come of it. ""What's this?" asked Pugachev importantly. “Read it, so you will see it,” answered Savelich. Pugachev accepted the paper and examined it for a long time with a significant air. "What are you writing so cleverly?" he said at last. “Our bright eyes cannot make out anything here. Where is my chief secretary?

A young fellow in a corporal's uniform quickly ran up to Pugachev. “Read aloud,” the impostor said, handing him the paper. I was extremely curious to find out what my uncle had taken it into his head to write to Pugachev. The chief secretary loudly began to read the following in warehouses.

“Two dressing gowns, calico and striped silk, for six rubles.”

What does it mean? - said, frowning, Pugachev.

“The uniform of thin green cloth for seven rubles. “White cloth pants worth five rubles.

“Twelve Dutch linen shirts with cuffs for ten rubles.

“A cellar with tea utensils for two rubles and a half ...”

What a lie? interrupted Pugachev. - What do I care about cellars and pants with cuffs?

Savelich grunted and began to explain himself. “This, father, if you please see, is a register of the lord’s good, stolen by villains ...”

What villains? - asked menacingly Pugachev.

“I’m to blame: I let it slip,” Savelich answered. - “Villains are not villains, but your guys still rummaged around and pulled them off. Do not be angry: the horse stumbles even on four legs. Tell me to read it"

Read it, - said Pugachev. The secretary continued:

“A chintz blanket, another taffeta on cotton four rubles.

“Fox fur coat, covered with scarlet rattan, 40 rubles. "

“Another bunny sheepskin coat, granted to your grace at the inn, 15 rubles.”

What else is this! cried Pugachev, flashing his fiery eyes.

I confess I was frightened for my poor uncle. He was about to launch into explanations again, but Pugachev interrupted him: “How dare you meddle with me with such trifles? he cried, snatching the paper from the secretary's hands and throwing it in Savelich's face. - Stupid old man! They were robbed: what's the trouble? Yes, you must, old bastard, forever pray to God for me and for my guys, for the fact that you and your master don’t hang here with my disobedient ones ... Rabbit coat! I'll give you a rabbit coat! But do you know that I will order you to be skinned alive on sheepskin coats?

As you wish, - answered Savelich; - and I am a forced man and must answer for the master's good.

Pugachev was seen in a fit of generosity. He turned away and rode off without another word. Shvabrin and the foremen followed him. The gang left the fortress in order. The people went to see off Pugachev. I remained on the square alone with Savelich. My uncle held his register in his hands and examined it with an air of deep regret.

Seeing my good agreement with Pugachev, he thought of using it to his advantage; but his wise intention failed. I began to scold him for his inappropriate zeal, and could not help laughing. “Laugh, sir,” answered Savelich; - “Laugh; but as soon as we have to start all over again with the whole household, we'll see if it will be funny.

I hurried to the priest's house to see Marya Ivanovna. Popadya greeted me with sad news. During the night Marya Ivanovna developed a violent fever. She lay unconscious and delirious. Popadya led me into her room. I quietly walked over to her bed. The change in her face startled me. The patient did not recognize me. For a long time I stood in front of her, not listening to either Father Gerasim or his good wife, who, it seems, consoled me. Dark thoughts troubled me. The condition of a poor, defenseless orphan, left in the midst of vicious rebels, my own impotence terrified me. Shvabrin, Shvabrin tormented my imagination more than anything. Clothed with power from an impostor, leading in the fortress, where the unfortunate girl remained - the innocent object of his hatred, he could decide on anything. What was I to do? How can I help her? How to free from the hands of the villain? There was only one way left: I decided to go to Orenburg at the same time in order to hasten the liberation of the Belogorsk fortress, and, if possible, to contribute to this. I said goodbye to the priest and to Akulina Pamfilovna, warmly entrusting to her the one whom I had already revered as my wife. I took the hand of the poor girl and kissed it, watering it with tears. “Farewell,” the priest said to me, seeing me off; - “Goodbye, Pyotr Andreevich. See you at the best time. Don't forget us and write to us often. Poor Marya Ivanovna, besides you, now has neither consolation nor a patron.

Coming out into the square, I stopped for a minute, looked at the gallows, bowed to it, left the fortress and went along the Orenburg road, accompanied by Savelich, who did not lag behind me.

I was walking, occupied with my thoughts, when suddenly I heard a horse's clatter behind me. looked around; I see: a Cossack is galloping from the fortress, holding a Bashkir horse in the reins and making signs to me from afar. I stopped and soon recognized our officer. He galloped off his horse and said, handing me the reins of the other: “Your Honor! Our father favors you with a horse and a fur coat from his shoulder (a sheepskin coat was tied to the saddle). And besides," the constable stammered, "he grants you... a half of money... but I lost it on the way; forgive generously." Savelich looked at him askance and grumbled: Lost it on the way! And what is rattling in your bosom? Unscrupulous! - “What is rattling in my bosom?” - objected the constable, not in the least embarrassed. “God bless you, old lady! It's a bridle strumming, not a bridle. - Good, - I said, - interrupting the argument. - Thank from me the one who sent you; and try to pick up the lost half a ruble on the way back, and take it for yourself for vodka. - "Very grateful, your honor," - he answered, turning his horse; “I will always pray to God for you.” At these words, he galloped back, holding his bosom with one hand, and a minute later disappeared from sight.

I put on my sheepskin coat and sat on horseback, placing Savelich behind me. “You see, sir,” said the old man, “that I didn’t give the swindler a petition for nothing: the thief felt ashamed, even though the Bashkir lanky nag and sheepskin coat are not worth half of what they swindlers stole from us, and the fact that you yourself deigned to welcome him; yes, it will still come in handy, but even a tuft of wool from a dashing dog.

CHAPTER X. SIEGE OF THE CITY.

Having occupied meadows and mountains,

From the top, like an eagle, he cast his eyes on the hail.

Behind the camp he ordered to build a peal,

And hiding the thunderbolts in it, bring it under the hail at night.
Kheraskov.

Approaching Orenburg, we saw a crowd of convicts with shaved heads, with faces disfigured by the executioner's tongs. They worked near the fortifications, under the supervision of garrison invalids. Others took out in carts the rubbish that filled the ditch; others dug the earth with spades; on the rampart, masons were carrying bricks and repairing the city wall. At the gate sentries stopped us and demanded our passports. As soon as the sergeant heard that I was coming from the Belogorsk fortress, he led me straight to the general's house.

I found him in the garden. He looked at the apple trees, bare by the breath of autumn, and with the help of an old gardener carefully wrapped them in warm straw. His face depicted calmness, health and good nature. He rejoiced at me, and began to ask about the terrible incidents that I had witnessed. I told him everything. The old man listened to me with attention and meanwhile cut off dry branches. "Poor Mironov!" he said when I had finished my sad story. - “It’s a pity for him: he was a good officer. And Madame Mironov was a kind lady, and what a master of salting mushrooms! And what about Masha, the captain's daughter? I answered that she remained in the fortress in the arms of the priest. "Ah ah ah! the general remarked. - This is bad, very bad. You can't rely on the discipline of robbers. What will happen to the poor girl? - I answered that it was not far from the Belogorsk fortress and that probably his excellency would not hesitate to send an army to free its poor inhabitants. The general shook the annual with an air of incredulity. “We'll see, we'll see,” he said. “We can still talk about this. I ask you to come to me for a cup of tea: today I will have a military council. You can give us the correct information about the loafer Pugachev and his army. Now go and rest for now."

I went to the apartment allotted to me, where Savelich was already in charge, and impatiently began to wait for the appointed time. The reader will easily imagine that I did not fail to appear at the council, which was supposed to have such an influence on my fate. At the appointed hour, I was already with the general.

I found one of the city officials with him, I remember the director of customs, a fat and ruddy old man in an eyelet caftan. He began to question me about the fate of Ivan Kuzmich, whom he called godfather, and often interrupted my speech with additional questions and moralizing remarks, which, if they did not denounce him as a man versed in the art of war, at least revealed sharpness and natural intelligence. In the meantime, other invitees had also gathered. Between them, except for the general himself, there was not a single military man. When everyone was seated and everyone was served a cup of tea, the general outlined very clearly and at length what the matter was: “Now, gentlemen,” he continued, “it is necessary to decide how we should act against the rebels: offensively or defensively? Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages. Offensive action represents more hope for the speedy extermination of the enemy; a defensive action is more true and safe... So let's start collecting votes in a legal order, that is, starting with those who are junior in rank. G. ensign! he continued, turning to me. - "Please explain to us your opinion."

I got up and, after briefly describing Pugachev and his gang, I said in the affirmative that there was no way for an impostor to resist the right weapon.

My opinion was accepted by officials with obvious hostility. They saw in him the recklessness and audacity of a young man. A murmur arose, and I distinctly heard the word: baby boy, uttered by someone in an undertone. The general turned to me and said with a smile: “Mr. ensign! The first votes at military councils are usually given in favor of offensive movements; this is the legal order. Now let's continue collecting votes. G. collegiate adviser! tell us your opinion!”

The old man in an eyelet caftan hurriedly finished his third cup, significantly diluted with rum, and answered the general: “I think, Your Excellency, that one should not act either offensively or defensively.”

“How is it, mister collegiate adviser?” retorted the astonished general. - “Tactics does not represent other methods: defensive or offensive movement ...”

Your Excellency, move in a bribe.

"Y-xe-xe! your opinion is very reasonable. Corrupting movements by tactics are allowed, and we will take your advice. It will be possible to promise for the head of an idler ... seventy rubles or even a hundred ... from a secret amount ... "

And then, - the customs director interrupted, - be I a Kirghiz ram, and not a collegiate adviser, if these thieves do not give us their chieftain, chained hand and foot.

“We will think about it and talk about it,” the general answered. “However, in any case, military measures must also be taken. Gentlemen, cast your votes according to the lawful order.

All opinions were contrary to mine. All the officials talked about the unreliability of the troops, the unreliability of luck, caution, and the like. Everyone believed that it was more prudent to remain under the cover of cannons, behind a strong stone wall, than to experience the happiness of weapons in an open field. Finally, the general, after listening to all opinions, shook the ashes out of his pipe and delivered the following speech:

“My lords! I must announce to you that for my part I completely agree with the opinion of Mr. Ensign: for this opinion is based on all the rules of sound tactics, which always prefer almost offensive movements to defensive ones.

Here he stopped and began to fill his pipe. My self-love triumphed. I proudly looked at the officials, who were whispering among themselves with an air of displeasure and anxiety.

“But, my lords,” he continued, letting out, together with a deep sigh, a thick stream of tobacco smoke, “I dare not take on such a great responsibility when it comes to the security of the provinces entrusted to me by her imperial majesty, my most merciful sovereign. So I agree with the majority of votes, which decided that it was most prudent and safest to expect a siege inside the city, and to repel enemy attacks by artillery and (if possible) sorties.

The officials, in turn, looked at me mockingly. The council dispersed. I could not help but regret the weakness of the venerable warrior, who, contrary to his own conviction, dared to follow the opinions of people ignorant and inexperienced.

A few days after this famous council, we learned that Pugachev, true to his promise, was approaching Orenburg. I saw the rebel army from the top of the city wall. It seemed to me that their number had increased tenfold since the last attack I had witnessed. They also had artillery, taken by Pugachev in small fortresses, which he had already conquered. Remembering the decision of the council, I foresaw a long-term imprisonment within the walls of Orenburg, and almost wept with annoyance.

I will not describe the Orenburg siege, which belongs to history, and not to family notes. I will say briefly that this siege, due to the negligence of the local authorities, was disastrous for the inhabitants, who suffered famine and all kinds of disasters. One can easily imagine that life in Orenburg was the most unbearable. All with despondency awaited the decision of their fate; everyone groaned at the high cost, which was really terrible. Residents are accustomed to the cannonballs flying into their yards; even Pugachev's attacks no longer attracted general curiosity. I was dying of boredom. As time went. I did not receive any letters from the Belogorsk fortress. All roads were cut off. Parting from Marya Ivanovna became unbearable to me. The uncertainty about her fate tormented me. My only entertainment was riding. By the grace of Pugachev, I had a good horse with which I shared my meager food and on which I went out of town every day to exchange fire with Pugachev's riders. In these skirmishes, the advantage was usually on the side of the villains, well-fed, drunk and good. The skinny city cavalry could not overcome them. Sometimes our hungry infantry also went out into the field; but the depth of the snow prevented her from acting well against scattered riders. Artillery thundered in vain from the height of the shaft, but in the field it got stuck and did not move due to the exhaustion of the horses. Such was the image of our military operations! And that's what the Orenburg officials called caution and prudence!

Once, when we managed to somehow disperse and drive away a rather dense crowd, I ran into a Cossack who had lagged behind his comrades; I was about to hit him with my Turkish saber, when suddenly he took off his hat and shouted: “Hello, Pyotr Andreevich! How is God merciful to you?

I looked and recognized our officer. I was overjoyed at him. “Hello, Maksimych,” I said to him. - How long ago from Belogorskaya?

“Recently, father Peter. Andreich; just got back yesterday. I have a letter for you."

Where is it? I exclaimed, flushed all over.

“With me,” Maksimych answered, putting his hand in his bosom. - "I promised Palasha to deliver it to you somehow." Then he handed me a folded piece of paper and immediately galloped off. I opened it and read with trepidation the following lines:

“It was pleasing to God to suddenly deprive me of my father and mother: I have neither relatives nor patrons on earth. I resort to you, knowing that you have always wished me well, and that you are ready to help every person. I pray to God that this letter somehow reaches you! Maksimych promised to deliver it to you. Palasha also heard from Maksimych that he often sees you from a distance on sorties, and that you do not protect yourself at all and do not think about those who pray to God for you with tears. I have been ill for a long time; and when I recovered, Alexei Ivanovich, who is in command in our place of the deceased father, forced Father Gerasim to hand me over to him, intimidating Pugachev. I live in our house under guard. Alexei Ivanovich is forcing me to marry him. He says that he saved my life because he covered up the deception of Akulina Pamfilovna, who told the villains that I was her niece. And it would be easier for me to die than to become the wife of such a man as Alexei Ivanovich. He treats me very cruelly and threatens, if I don’t come to my senses and don’t agree, he will bring me to the camp to the villain, and it will be the same with you as with Lizaveta Kharlova. I asked Alexei Ivanovich to let me think. He agreed to wait three more days; and if in three days I don’t marry him, then there will be no mercy. Father Pyotr Andreevich! you are my only patron; intercede for me poor. Beg the general and all the commanders to send us a sikursu as soon as possible, but come yourself if you can. I remain you obedient poor orphan

Maria Mironova.

After reading this letter, I almost lost my mind. I set off into the city, spurring my poor horse without mercy. On the way, I thought of both for the deliverance of the poor girl, and could think of nothing. Having galloped into the city, I went straight to the general and ran to him headlong.

The general paced up and down the room, smoking his meerschaum pipe. When he saw me, he stopped. He was probably struck by my appearance, and he carefully inquired about the reason for my hasty arrival. “Your Excellency,” I said to him, “I resort to you as to my own father; for God's sake, do not refuse me my request: it is a question of the happiness of my whole life.

"What is it, father?" asked the astonished old man. - "What can I do for you? Speak."

Your Excellency, order me to take a company of soldiers and half a hundred Cossacks and let me clear the Belogorsk fortress.

The general looked at me intently, probably believing that I had lost my mind (which he almost was not mistaken).

"Like this? Clear the Belogorsk fortress? he said at last.

I vouch for your success, - I answered with ardor. - Just let me go.

“No, young man,” he said, shaking his head, “At such a great distance, it will be easy for the enemy to cut you off from communication with the main strategic point and get a complete victory over you. Interrupted communication…”

I was frightened when I saw him lured into military discussions, and hastened to interrupt him. “The daughter of Captain Mironov,” I told him, “is writing a letter to me: she asks for help; Shvabrin forces her to marry him.

“Really? Oh, this Shvabrin is a great Schelm, and if he falls into my hands, I will order him to be judged in 24 hours, and we will shoot him on the parapet of the fortress! But for the time being, you need to take patience ....

Take patience! I cried out beside myself. “And in the meantime he is going to marry Marya Ivanovna!”

"O!" the general objected. - “That’s not a problem: it’s better for her to be Shvabrin’s wife for the time being: he can now provide her with patronage; and when we shoot him, then, God willing, she will also find suitors. Nice little widows do not sit in girls; that is, I wanted to say that a widow would sooner find a husband for herself than a maiden.”

I would rather agree to die,” I said furiously, “than to give her up to Shvabrin!

"Ba, ba, ba, ba!" - said the old man. - “Now I understand: you, apparently, are in love with Marya Ivanovna. Oh, it's different! Poor little one! But still I can't give you a company of soldiers and half a hundred Cossacks. This expedition would be imprudent; I can't take her on my own."

I lowered my head; despair took over me. Suddenly a thought flashed through my head: what it consisted of, the reader will see from the next chapter, as the old novelists say.

CHAPTER XI. REBELLENT SLOBODA.

At that time, the lion was full, even though he was ferocious from his birth.

“Why did you deign to come to my den?”

he asked kindly.
A. Sumarokov.

I left the general and hurried to my apartment. Savelich met me with his usual exhortation. “Hunting for you, sir, to go out with drunken robbers! Is this a boyar business? The hour is not equal: you will be lost for nothing. And it would be nice if you went to a Turk or a Swede, otherwise it’s a sin to say who.

I interrupted his speech with a question: how much money do I have for everything? “It will be with you,” he replied with a satisfied look. - "Scammers, no matter how they rummaged around, but I still managed to hide it." And with that he took out of his pocket a long knitted purse full of silver. “Well, Savelich,” I said to him, “give me half now; and take the rest. I'm going to the Belogorsk fortress.

"Father Pyotr Andreevich!" - said the kind uncle in a trembling voice. - “Fear God; how can you start on the road at the present time, when there are no roads from the robbers! Have pity on your parents if you don't pity yourself. Where do you want to go? What for? Wait a little: the troops will come, they will catch the swindlers; then go to yourself at least on all four sides.

But my intention was firmly accepted. "It's too late to argue," I answered the old man. - I have to go, I can't not go. Do not grieve, Savelich: God is merciful; maybe see you! Look, do not be ashamed and do not be stingy. Buy what you need, at least three-way. I give you this money. If I don't turn back in three days...

"What are you, sir?" Savelich interrupted me. - “So that I let you alone! Yes, and do not ask for this in a dream. If you have already decided to go, then I will follow you even on foot, but I will not leave you. So that I can sit behind a stone wall without you? Have I gone crazy? Your will, sir, but I will not leave you behind.

I knew that there was nothing to argue with Savelich, and I allowed him to prepare for the journey. Half an hour later, I mounted my good horse, and Savelich mounted a skinny and lame horse, which one of the city dwellers gave him for free, having no more means to feed it. We arrived at the city gates; the guards let us through; we left Orenburg.

It was starting to get dark. My path went past the Berdskaya Sloboda, the refuge of Pugachevsky. The straight road was covered with snow; but horse tracks were visible all over the steppe, renewed daily. I rode at a big trot. Savelich could hardly follow me from a distance, and kept shouting to me: “Be quiet, sir, for God's sake be quiet. My damned nag can't keep up with your long-legged demon. Where are you hurrying? It would be good to go to a feast, otherwise you’ll be under the butt, and look ... Pyotr Andreevich ... father Pyotr Andreevich! .. Don’t ruin it! .. Lord, lord, the master’s child will disappear!

Soon the Byrd lights flashed. We drove up to the ravines, the natural fortifications of the settlement. Savelich did not lag behind me, without interrupting his plaintive prayers. I was hoping to get around the settlement safely, when suddenly I saw in the twilight right in front of me about five peasants armed with clubs; it was the advanced guard of the Pugachev shelter. We were called. Not knowing the password, I wanted to silently drive past them; but they immediately surrounded me, and one of them seized my horse by the bridle. I drew my sword and hit the peasant on the head; the cap saved him, but he staggered and let go of the bridle. Others were confused and ran away; I took advantage of this moment, spurred my horse and galloped off.

The darkness of the approaching night could have saved me from all danger, when suddenly, looking around, I saw that Savelich was not with me. The poor old man on his lame horse could not ride away from the robbers. What was to be done? After waiting for him a few minutes, and making sure that he was detained, I turned the horse and went to rescue him.

Approaching the ravine, I heard a noise, shouts and the voice of my Savelitch in the distance. I went faster, and soon found myself again between the guard men who had stopped me a few minutes ago. Savelich was between them. They dragged the old man off his nag and got ready to knit. My arrival made them happy. They rushed at me with a cry and immediately dragged me off the horse. One of them, apparently the chief, announced to us that he would now lead us to the sovereign. “And our father,” he added, “is free to order: whether to hang you now, or wait for the light of God.” I didn't resist; Savelich followed my example, and the guards led us in triumph.

We crossed the ravine and entered the settlement. Fires were burning in all the huts. Noise and screams were heard everywhere. On the street I met a lot of people; but no one in the darkness noticed us and did not recognize me as an Orenburg officer. We were led straight to the hut, which stood at the corner of the crossroads. At the gate stood several wine barrels and two. guns. “Here is the palace,” one of the men said: “we will report on you now.” He entered the hut. I glanced at Savelich; The old man was baptized, reading a prayer to himself. I waited a long time; Finally, the peasant came back and said to me: "Go: our father ordered to let the officer in."

I entered the hut, or the palace, as the peasants called it. It was lit with two tallow candles, and the walls were covered with golden paper; however, benches, a table, a washstand on a string, a towel on a nail, a tong in the corner, and a wide pole lined with pots—everything was like in an ordinary hut. Pugachev was sitting under the images, in a red caftan, in a high hat, and importantly akimbo. Near him stood several of his chief comrades, with an air of feigned obsequiousness. It was evident that the news of the arrival of an officer from Orenburg aroused a strong curiosity in the rebels, and that they prepared to receive me with triumph. Pugachev recognized me at first sight. His fake importance suddenly vanished. "Ah, your honor!" he said to me briskly. - "How are you doing? What did God bring you for? I answered that I was driving on my own business and that people stopped me. "What business?" he asked me. I didn't know what to answer. Pugachev, believing that I did not want to explain myself in front of witnesses, turned to his comrades and ordered them to go out. Everyone obeyed, except for two who did not move. “Speak boldly in front of them,” Pugachev told me: “I don’t hide anything from them.” I glanced sideways at the impostor's confidants. One of them, a slender and hunched old man with a gray beard, had nothing remarkable in himself, except for a blue ribbon worn over his shoulder over a gray coat. But I will never forget his friend. He was tall, burly and broad-shouldered, and seemed to me about forty-five years old. A thick red beard, gray sparkling eyes, a nose without nostrils, and reddish spots on his forehead and on his cheeks gave his broad pockmarked face an inexplicable expression. He was wearing a red shirt, a Kyrgyz robe and Cossack trousers. The first (as I found out later) was the fugitive corporal Beloborodov; the second is Afanasy Sokolov (nicknamed Khlopushy), an exiled criminal who escaped three times from the Siberian mines. Despite the feelings that exclusively excited me, the society in which I so accidentally found myself greatly entertained my imagination. But Pugachev brought me to my senses with his question: “Speak: on what business did you leave Orenburg?”

A strange thought occurred to me: it seemed to me that Providence, which had brought me to Pugachev a second time, was giving me an opportunity to put my intention into action. I decided to take advantage of it and, without having time to think about what I decided on, answered Pugachev's question:

I went to the Belogorsk fortress to save an orphan who is being abused there.

Pugachev's eyes sparkled. “Which of my people dares hurt an orphan?” he shouted. - “Be he seven spans in the forehead, but he will not leave my court. Say: who is to blame?

Shvabrin is guilty, I replied. - He keeps in captivity that girl that you saw, sick, near the priest, and forcibly wants to marry her.

“I will teach Shvabrin a lesson,” Pugachev said menacingly. - “He will know what it's like for me to be self-willed and offend the people. I'll hang him."

“Order the word to say,” Khlopusha said in a hoarse voice. - “You rushed to appoint Shvabrin to the commandant of the fortress, and now you are in a hurry to hang him. You have already offended the Cossacks by placing a nobleman in charge of them; do not frighten the nobles by executing them at the first slander.

“There is nothing to pity or complain about them!” - said the old man in the blue ribbon. - “It doesn’t matter to say a mop; and it’s not bad to interrogate the officer in order: why did you deign to welcome. If he does not recognize you as a sovereign, then there is nothing to look for from you and the council, but if he admits that he has been sitting in Orenburg with your adversaries until today? Would you order us to bring him to the command room, and light a fire there: it seems to me that his grace was sent to us from the Orenburg commanders.

The logic of the old villain seemed to me quite convincing. Frost ran all over my body, at the thought in whose hands I was. Pugachev noticed my embarrassment. "Ah, your honor?" he said winking at me. - “My field marshal seems to be talking business. How do you think?"

Pugachev's mockery restored my courage. I calmly replied that I was in his power and that he was free to do with me as he pleased.

“Good,” said Pugachev. “Now tell me what is the state of your city.”

Thank God, I answered; - all is well.

"Safely?" - repeated Pugachev. - "And the people are dying of hunger!"

The impostor spoke the truth; but as a matter of oath, I began to assure that all these were empty rumors, and that there were enough supplies in Orenburg.

“You see,” the old man picked up, “that he is deceiving you in the eyes. All the fugitives agree that there is famine and pestilence in Orenburg, that carrion is eaten there, and that is for honor; and his grace assures that there is plenty of everything. If you want to hang Shvabrin, then hang this fellow on the same gallows so that no one will be envious.

The words of the accursed old man seemed to shake Pugachev. Fortunately, Khlopusha began to contradict his friend. “Enough, Naumych,” he told him. - “You should strangle everything, but cut it. What kind of rich man are you? See what the soul is holding on to. You yourself look into the grave, but you destroy others. Isn't there enough blood on your conscience?"

What kind of a pleaser are you? - objected Beloborodov. Where did your pity come from?

“Of course,” answered Khlopusha, “and I am a sinner, and this hand (here he clenched his bony fist, and, rolling up his sleeves, opened his shaggy hand), and this hand is guilty of spilled Christian blood. But I destroyed the enemy, not the guest; at a free crossroads and in a dark forest, not at home, sitting at the stove; with a flail and a butt, and not with a woman's slander.

The old man turned away and muttered the words: "torn nostrils!"...

What are you whispering, you old bastard? Khlopusha shouted. - I'll give you torn nostrils; wait, your time will come; God willing, and you will sniff the tongs... In the meantime, see that I don't pull out your beards!

"Lord Enarly!" - Pugachev announced importantly. - “You are full of quarrel. It doesn't matter if all the Orenburg dogs kicked their legs under one crossbar; the trouble is, if our males gnaw among themselves. Well, make up your mind."

Khlopusha and Beloborodov did not say a word, and looked at each other gloomily. I saw the need to change the conversation, which could end for me in a very unfavorable way, and, turning to Pugachev, I said to him with a cheerful look: Ah! I did and forgot to thank you for the horse and for the sheepskin coat. Without you, I would not have made it to the city and would have frozen on the road.

My ploy worked. Pugachev cheered up. "Debt by payment is red," he said, blinking and squinting. - “Tell me now, what do you care about that girl whom Shvabrin offends? Is it not a sweetheart for a brave heart? a?"

She is my bride, - I answered Pugachev, seeing a favorable change in the weather and not finding the need to hide the truth.

"Your bride!" shouted Pugachev. “Why didn’t you say before? Yes, we will marry you, and we will feast at your wedding! - Then turning to Beloborodov: - “Listen, field marshal! We are old friends with his nobility; let's sit down and have dinner; The morning is wiser than the evening. We'll see what we can do with him tomorrow."

I was glad to refuse the offered honor, but there was nothing to be done. Two young Cossack women, the daughters of the owner of the hut, covered the table with a white tablecloth, brought bread, fish soup and a few bottles of wine and beer, and for the second time I found myself at the same meal with Pugachev and his terrible comrades.

The orgy, of which I was an involuntary witness, continued until late at night. Finally, hops began to overcome the interlocutors. Pugachev dozed off, sitting in his place; his comrades got up and gave me a sign to leave him. I went out with them. On Khlopusha's order, the sentry took me to the command hut, where I found Savelitch as well, and where they left me locked up with him. The uncle was in such amazement at the sight of everything that was happening that he did not ask me any questions. He lay down in the darkness, and sighed and groaned for a long time; at last he began to snore, and I indulged in reflections that did not allow me to doze off for a single minute all night.

In the morning they came to call me on behalf of Pugachev. I went to him. At its gate stood a wagon drawn by a trio of Tatar horses. People crowded the street. In the hallway I met Pugachev: he was dressed like a traveler, in a fur coat and a Kirghiz cap. Yesterday's interlocutors surrounded him, assuming an air of subservience, which strongly contradicted everything that I had witnessed the day before. Pugachev greeted me cheerfully and ordered me to get into the wagon with him.

We sat down. "To the Belogorsk fortress!" - said Pugachev to the broad-shouldered Tatar, standing to the ruling troika. My heart began to beat violently. The horses set off, the bell rang, the wagon flew ...

Stop! stop!" I heard a voice all too familiar to me, and I saw Savelitch running to meet us. Pugachev ordered to stop. "Father, Pyotr Andreevich!" - shouted the uncle. - "Do not leave me in my old age in the midst of these scams ..." - Ah, the old bastard! Pugachev told him. “God let me see you again. Well, take a seat.

“Thank you, sir, thank you, dear father!” Savelich said as he sat down. - “God grant you a hundred years of health for the fact that I looked after the old man and reassured me. I’ll pray to God for a century for you, but I won’t even mention the rabbit coat. ”

This bunny sheepskin coat could finally irritate Pugachev in earnest. Fortunately, the impostor either did not hear or ignored the inappropriate hint. The horses galloped; people on the street stopped and bowed from the waist. Pugachev nodded his head to both sides. A minute later we left the settlement and rushed along a smooth road.

One can easily imagine how I felt at that moment. In a few hours I was to see her, whom I considered already lost to me. I imagined the moment of our connection... I also thought about the person in whose hands my fate was, and who, by a strange coincidence, was mysteriously connected with me. I remembered the reckless cruelty, the bloodthirsty habits of the one who volunteered to be the deliverer of my dear! Pugachev did not know that she was the daughter of Captain Mironov; embittered Shvabrin could reveal everything to him; Pugachev could have found out the truth in another way ... Then what will become of Marya Ivanovna? Cold ran through my body, and my hair stood on end ...

Suddenly Pugachev interrupted my thoughts, turning to me with a question:

“What, your honor, deigned to think about?”

How not to think, - I answered him. - I am an officer and a nobleman; Yesterday I still fought against you, and today I am riding with you in the same wagon, and the happiness of my whole life depends on you.

"Well?" asked Pugachev. - "Are you scared?"

I answered that having once been pardoned by him, I hoped not only for his mercy, but even for help.

"And you're right, by God you're right!" - said the impostor. - “You saw that my guys looked at you askance; and the old man even today insisted that you were a spy, and that you should be tortured and hanged; but I didn’t agree,” he added, lowering his voice so that Savelich and the Tatar could not hear him, “remembering your glass of wine and a rabbit coat. You see that I am not yet such a bloodsucker as your brothers say about me.

I remembered the capture of the Belogorsk fortress; but did not consider it necessary to dispute it, and did not answer a word.

“What do they say about me in Orenburg?” - asked Pugachev, after a pause.

Yes, they say that it is difficult to cope with you; nothing to say: you let yourself know.

The face of the impostor depicted contented pride. "Yes!" he said cheerfully. “I fight anywhere. Do you know in Orenburg about the battle near Yuzeeva? Forty enarals were killed, four armies were taken in full. What do you think: could the Prussian king compete with me?

The robber's boastfulness struck me as amusing. - What do you think? - I said to him, - would you manage with Friderik?

“With Fedor Fedorovich? Why not? After all, I manage with your enarals; and they beat him. So far my weapon has been happy. Give me time, or there will be more, when I go to Moscow.

Do you think to go to Moscow?

The impostor thought a little and said in a half voice: “God knows. My street is cramped; I have little will. My guys are smart. They are thieves. I must keep my ears open; at the first failure, they will redeem their neck with my head.

That's it! - I said to Pugachev. “Wouldn’t it be better for you to get behind them yourself, in advance, and resort to the mercy of the empress?”

Pugachev smiled bitterly. "No," he answered; “It’s too late for me to repent. There will be no pardon for me. I will continue as I started. How to know? Perhaps it succeeds! Grishka Otrepiev, after all, reigned over Moscow.

Do you know how he ended up? They threw him out of the window, stabbed him, burned him, loaded a cannon with his ashes and fired him!

“Listen,” said Pugachev with some wild inspiration. “I’ll tell you a story that an old Kalmyk woman told me as a child. Once an eagle asked a raven: tell me, raven bird, why do you live in this world for three hundred years, and I'm only thirty-three years old? - Because, father, the raven answered him, that you drink living blood, and I eat carrion. The eagle thought: let's try and we eat the same. Good. The eagle and the raven flew. Here they saw a fallen horse; went down and sat down. The raven began to peck and praise. The eagle pecked once, pecked again, waved its wing and said to the raven: No, brother raven; than three hundred years to eat carrion, it is better to drink living blood once, and then what God will give! - What is the Kalmyk fairy tale?

Intricate, I answered him. - But to live by murder and robbery means for me to peck at carrion.

Pugachev looked at me with surprise and did not answer. Both of us fell silent, each immersed in our own thoughts. The Tartar sang a sad song; Savelich, dozing, swayed on the irradiation. The wagon flew along a smooth winter path ... Suddenly I saw a village on the steep bank of the Yaik, with a palisade and a bell tower - and a quarter of an hour later we drove into the Belogorsk fortress.

CHAPTER XII. ORPHAN.

Like our apple tree

There is no apex, no processes;

Like our princess

There is no father, no mother.

There is no one to equip her,

There is no one to bless her.
Wedding song.

The wagon drove up to the porch of the commandant's house. The people recognized Pugachev's bell and fled after us in a crowd. Shvabrin met the impostor on the porch. He was dressed as a Cossack and grew a beard. The traitor helped Pugachev to get out of the wagon, in vile expressions expressing his joy and zeal. Seeing me, he was embarrassed, but soon recovered, held out his hand to me, saying: “And you are ours? It would have been like that for a long time!” I turned away from him and didn't answer. My heart ached when we found ourselves in a long-familiar room where the diploma of the late commandant still hung on the wall, like a sad epitaph to the past tense. Pugachev sat down on the sofa on which Ivan Kuzmich used to doze, lulled by the grumblings of his wife. Shvabrin brought him some vodka himself. Pugachev drank a glass, and said to him, pointing to me: "Treat his honor." Shvabrin came up to me with his tray; but I turned away from him a second time. He didn't seem to be himself. With his usual sharpness, he, of course, guessed that Pugachev was dissatisfied with him. He was cowardly in front of him, and looked at me with incredulity. Pugachev inquired about the state of the fortress, about rumors about enemy troops and the like, and suddenly asked him unexpectedly: “Tell me, brother, what kind of girl do you keep under guard? Show it to me."

Shvabrin turned as pale as a dead man. - Sovereign, - he said in a trembling voice ... - Sovereign, she is not under guard ... she is sick ... she lies in the room.

“Take me to her,” said the impostor, rising from his seat. It was impossible to answer. Shvabrin took Pugachev to Marya Ivanovna's room. I followed them. Shvabrin stopped on the stairs. "Sovereign!" - he said. - “You have the power to demand from me whatever you want; but do not command a stranger to enter the bedroom of my wife.”

I trembled. "So you're married!" I said to Shvabrin, preparing to tear him to pieces.

"Quiet!" Pugachev interrupted me. - "It's my business. And you,” he continued, turning to Shvabrin, “don’t be smart and don’t break down: whether she’s your wife or not, I’ll bring anyone I want to her. Your honor, follow me."

At the door of the room, Shvabrin stopped again and said in a broken voice: “The Emperor warns you that she is in a delirium tremens, and has been delirious for the third day.” - “Open up! Pugachev said.

Shvabrin began looking in his pockets and said that he had not taken the key with him. Pugachev pushed the door open with his foot; the castle rebounded; the door opened and we entered.

I looked and froze. On the floor, in a tattered peasant dress, sat Marya Ivanovna, pale, thin, with disheveled hair. In front of her stood a jug of water, covered with a slice of bread. When she saw me, she started and screamed. What happened to me then, I don't remember.

Pugachev looked at Shvabrin and said with a bitter smile: “Your infirmary is good!” - Then, approaching Marya Ivanovna: - “Tell me, my dear, why is your husband punishing you? what did you do wrong to him?"

My husband! she repeated. - He's not my husband. I will never be his wife! I made up my mind to die, and I will if I am not delivered.

Pugachev looked menacingly at Shvabrin: “And you dared to deceive me!” he said to him. “Do you know what you deserve, you slacker?”

Shvabrin fell to his knees... At that moment contempt drowned out all feelings of hatred and anger in me. With disgust I looked at the nobleman, wallowing at the feet of a runaway Cossack. Pugachev relented. “I love you this time,” he said to Shvabrin; - "but know that at the first wine you will remember this one." Then he turned to Marya Ivanovna, and said to her affectionately: “Come out, fair maiden; I give you freedom. I am the sovereign."

Marya Ivanovna glanced quickly at him and guessed that she was facing the murderer of her parents. She covered her face with both hands and fell unconscious. I rushed to her, but at that moment my old acquaintance Palasha very boldly entered the room and began to look after her young lady. Pugachev left the room, and the three of us went into the living room.

"What, your honor?" said Pugachev laughing. “Rescue the red girl! What do you think, should we send for the priest, and force him to marry his niece? Perhaps I will be a planted father, Shvabrin's friend; we’ll wrap up, we’ll drink - and we’ll lock the gates! ”

What I feared happened, Shvabrin, hearing Pugachev's proposal, lost his temper. "Sovereign!" he shouted in a frenzy. - “It’s my fault, I lied to you, but Grinev is deceiving you. This girl is not the niece of the local priest: she is the daughter of Ivan Mironov, who was executed during the capture of the local fortress.

Pugachev fixed his fiery eyes on me. "What else is that?" he asked me in bewilderment.

Shvabrin told you the truth,” I replied with firmness. "

“You didn’t tell me that,” remarked Pugachev, whose face darkened.

You yourself judge, - I answered him, - whether it was possible to declare in front of your people that Mironov's daughter is alive. Yes, they would bite her. Nothing could save her!

"And that's true," said Pugachev, laughing. “My drunkards would not have spared the poor girl. The gossip-popadya did well that she deceived them.

Listen, - I continued, seeing his good disposition. - I don’t know what to call you, and I don’t want to know ... But God sees that with my life I would be glad to pay you for what you did for me. Just do not demand what is contrary to my honor and Christian conscience. You are my benefactor. Finish as you started: let me go with the poor orphan, where God will show us the way. And we, wherever you are and whatever happens to you, every day we will pray to God for the salvation of your sinful soul ...

It seemed that the stern soul of Pugachev was touched. "In be your way!" - he said. - “Execute like this, execute like that, favor like that: this is my custom. Take your beauty; take her wherever you want, and God give you love and advice!”

Then he turned to Shvabrin and ordered me to give me a pass to all the outposts and fortresses subject to him. Shvabrin, completely destroyed, stood as if dumbfounded. Pugachev went to inspect the fortress. Shvabrin accompanied him; and I remained under the pretense of preparing to leave.

I ran into the light. The doors were locked. I knocked. "Who's there?" Palasha asked. I named myself. Marya Ivanovna's sweet voice rang out from behind the door. "Wait, . I'm changing clothes. Go to Akulina Pamfilovna; I'll be there right now."

I obeyed and went to Father Gerasim's house. And he and the priests ran out to meet me. Savelich has already warned them. “Hello, Pyotr Andreevich,” said the priest. “God brought me to see you again. How are you doing? And we remember about you every day. And Marya Ivanovna has suffered everything without you, my dear! .. Tell me, my father, how did you and Pugachev get along? How did he not kill you? Good, thanks to the villain and for that. “Enough, old woman,” Father Gerasim interrupted. - Don't lie everything you know. There is no salvation in many words. Father Pyotr Andreevich! come in, please. Long, long time no see.

Popadya began to treat me with what God sent. In the meantime, she spoke incessantly. She told me how Shvabrin forced them to hand over Marya Ivanovna to him; how Marya Ivanovna wept and did not want to part with them; how Marya Ivanovna had constant relations with her through Palashka (a lively girl who makes even a police officer dance according to her tune); how she advised Marya Ivanovna to write a letter to me, and so on. I, in turn, told her briefly my story. The priest and priest were baptized when they heard that Pugachev was aware of their deceit. "The power of the cross is with us!" Akulina Pamfilovna said. - “God pass the cloud by. Ah yes, Alexei Ivanovich; nothing to say: good goose! At that very moment the door opened, and Marya Ivanovna entered with a smile on her pale face. She had left her peasant dress and was still dressed simply and sweetly.

I grabbed her hand and for a long time could not utter a single word. We were both silent from the fullness of our hearts. Our hosts felt that we were not up to them, and left us. We were left alone. everything was forgotten. We talked and couldn't talk. Marya Ivanovna told me everything that had happened to her since the capture of the fortress; she described to me all the horror of her situation, all the trials to which the infamous Shvabrin subjected her. We also remembered the former happy time... Both of us were crying... Finally, I began to explain my assumptions to her. It was impossible for her to remain in the fortress, subject to Pugachev and controlled by Shvabrin. It was impossible to think about Orenburg, which was undergoing all the disasters of the siege. She did not have a single person in the world. I invited her to go to the village to my parents. She hesitated at first: my father's well-known disposition frightened her. I calmed her down. I knew that my father would consider it a blessing and make it his duty to accept the daughter of a well-deserved soldier who died for the fatherland. - Dear Maria Ivanovna! I said at last. - I honor you as my wife. Miraculous circumstances have united us inextricably: nothing in the world can separate us. - Marya Ivanovna listened to me simply, without feigned shyness, without fanciful excuses. She felt that her fate was connected with mine. But she repeated that she would not be my wife otherwise than with the consent of my parents. I didn't oppose her. We kissed passionately, sincerely - and thus everything was decided between us.

An hour later, the constable brought me a pass signed by Pugachev's scribbles, and called me to him on his behalf. I found him ready to go. I cannot explain what I felt when I parted with this terrible man, a monster, a villain for everyone except me alone. Why not tell the truth? At that moment a strong sympathy drew me to him. I ardently desired to wrest him from among the villains he led and save his head while there was still time. Shvabrin and the people crowding around us prevented me from expressing everything that filled my heart.

We parted amicably. Pugachev, seeing Akulina Pamfilovna in the crowd, shook his finger and winked significantly; then he got into the wagon, ordered me to go to Berda, and when the horses set off, he once again leaned out of the wagon and shouted to me: “Farewell, your honor! Maybe we'll see you sometime." - We definitely saw him, but under what circumstances! ..

Pugachev left. For a long time I looked at the white steppe, along which his troika was rushing. The people dispersed. Shvabrin disappeared. I returned to the priest's house. everything was ready for our departure; I didn't want to delay any longer. All of our goods were packed in the old commandant's wagon. The coachmen immediately laid down the horses. Marya Ivanovna went to say goodbye to the graves of her parents, who were buried behind the church. I wanted to see her off, but she asked me to leave her alone. A few minutes later she returned, shedding silent silent tears. The cart was delivered. Father Gerasim and his wife went out onto the porch. The three of us got into the wagon: Marya Ivanovna with Broadsword and myself. Savelich climbed onto the box. “Farewell, Marya Ivanovna, my dear! Farewell, Pyotr Andreevich, our bright falcon! - said the kind popadya. - “Happy journey, and God bless you both!” We went. At the window of the commandant's house I saw Shvabrin standing. His face showed grim malice. I did not want to triumph over the destroyed enemy, and turned my eyes to the other side. Finally, we left the fortress gates and left the Belogorsk fortress forever.

CHAPTER XIII. ARREST.

Do not be angry, sir: according to my duty

I must send you to prison this very hour.

- Excuse me, I'm ready; but I'm so hopeful

Let me first explain what the matter is.
Knyazhnin.

Connected so inadvertently with the sweet girl, about whom I had been so painfully anxious in the morning, I did not believe myself and imagined that everything that had happened to me was an empty dream. Marya Ivanovna looked pensively first at me, then at the road, and, it seemed, had not yet had time to come to her senses and come to her senses. We were silent. Our hearts were too tired. In an inconspicuous way, two hours later, we found ourselves in a nearby fortress, also subject to Pugachev. Here we changed horses. From the speed with which they were harnessed, from the hasty helpfulness of the bearded Cossack, appointed by Pugachev as commandant, I saw that, thanks to the talkativeness of the driver who brought us, I was accepted as a court temporary worker.

We went further. It began to get dark. We approached the town, where, according to the bearded commandant, there was a strong detachment going to join the impostor. We were stopped by guards. To the question: who is going? the coachman answered loudly: "The sovereign's godfather with his mistress." Suddenly a crowd of hussars surrounded us with terrible abuse. "Come out, demon godfather!" - the mustachioed sergeant told me. - “Now you will have a bath, and with your hostess!”

I left the wagon and demanded that they take me to their chief. Seeing the officer, the soldiers stopped cursing. The sergeant-major took me to the major. Savelich did not lag behind me, saying to himself: “Here is the sovereign’s godfather for you! Out of the fire and into the frying pan... Lord, lord! how will it all end?" The kibitka followed us at a pace.

Five minutes later we arrived at the house, brightly lit. The sergeant-major left me on guard duty and went to report on me. He immediately returned, announcing to me that his high nobility had no time to receive me, and that he ordered me to be taken to prison, and the hostess to be brought to him.

What does it mean? I shouted furiously. - Is he out of his mind?

“I can’t know, your honor,” answered the sergeant-major. - “Only his high nobility ordered your nobility to be taken to prison, and her nobility was ordered to be brought to his high nobility, your nobility!”

I rushed to the porch. The guards did not think to hold me back, and I ran straight into the room where about six hussar officers were playing bank. Major metal. What was my amazement when, looking at him, I recognized Ivan Ivanovich Zurin, who had once beaten me in the Simbirsk tavern!

Is it possible to? I cried. - Ivan Ivanovich! You're Lee?

“Ba, ba, ba, Pyotr Andreevich! What fates? Where are you from? Hello, brother. Would you like to put in a card?"

Thankful. Tell me it's better to take me an apartment. "

"What apartment do you want? Stay with me."

I can't: I'm not alone.

"Well, bring your comrade here too."

I'm not with a friend; I ... with a lady.

"With a lady! Where did you pick her up? Hey, brother! (At these words, Zurin whistled so expressively that everyone laughed, and I was completely embarrassed.)

“Well,” Zurin continued: “so be it. You will have an apartment. What a pity... We'd feast the old fashioned way... Gay! small! But why don’t they bring Pugachev’s gossip here? Or will she be stubborn? Tell her not to be afraid: the gentleman is beautiful; will not offend her in any way, but a good one in the neck.

What are you? I said to Zurin. - What gossip Pugachev? This is the daughter of the late captain Mironov. I took her out of captivity and now I am escorting her to Batiushkina's village, where I will leave her.

"How! So this about you me now reported? Have mercy! what does that mean?

I'll tell you everything after. And now, for God's sake, calm the poor girl whom your hussars have frightened.

Zurin immediately ordered. He himself went out into the street to apologize to Marya Ivanovna in an involuntary misunderstanding, and ordered the sergeant-major to take her to the best apartment in the city. I stayed overnight with him.

We had supper, and when we were alone, I told him my adventures. Zurin listened to me with great attention. When I finished, he shook his head and said: “All this, brother, is good; one is not good; why the hell are you getting married? I, an honest officer, do not want to deceive you: believe me, that marriage is a whim. Well, where do you mess with your wife and babysit the kids? Hey spit. Listen to me: untie you with the captain's daughter. The road to Simbirsk has been cleared and safe by me. Send her tomorrow alone to your parents; and stay with me in the detachment. You have nothing to return to Orenburg. If you fall into the hands of the rebels again, you are unlikely to get rid of them again. In this way, love nonsense will pass by itself, and everything will be fine.

Although I did not quite agree with him, I nevertheless felt that a duty of honor required my presence in the army of the Empress. I decided to follow Zurin's advice: send Marya Ivanovna to the village and stay in his detachment.

Savelich came to undress me; I announced to him that the next day he was ready to go on the road with Marya Ivanovna. He was stubborn. “What are you, sir? How can I leave you? Who will follow you? What will your parents say?

Knowing my uncle's stubbornness, I set out to convince him with kindness and sincerity. - You are my friend, Arkhip Savelich! I told him. - Do not refuse, be a benefactor to me; I will not need servants here, and I will not be calm if Marya Ivanovna goes on the road without you. Serving her, you serve me also, because I firmly resolved, as soon as circumstances permit, to marry her.

Here Savelich clasped his hands with an air of indescribable astonishment. "Marry!" he repeated. “The child wants to get married! And what will the father say, and what will the mother think?

They will agree, they will truly agree, - I answered, - when they recognize Marya Ivanovna. I hope for you too. Father and mother believe you: you will intercede for us, won't you?

The old man was touched. “Oh, father, you are my Pyotr Andreevich!” he answered. - “Even though you thought of getting married early, but Marya Ivanovna is such a kind young lady that it’s a sin to miss an opportunity. Ying be your way! I will accompany her, the angel of God, and slavishly I will inform your parents that such a bride does not need a dowry.

I thanked Savelich and went to bed in the same room with Zurin. Excited and excited, I blabbed. Zurin at first spoke to me willingly; but little by little his words became rarer and more incoherent; finally, instead of answering some request, he snored and whistled. I fell silent and soon followed his example.

The next day in the morning I came to Marya Ivanovna. I told her my guesses. She recognized their prudence and immediately agreed with me. Zurin's detachment was supposed to leave the city on the same day. There was nothing to delay. I immediately parted from Marya Ivanovna, entrusting her to Savelich and giving her a letter to my parents. Marya Ivanovna began to cry. "Farewell, Pyotr Andreevich!" she said in a low voice. - “Whether we have to see each other or not, God alone knows; but the century will not forget you; Until the grave, you alone will remain in my heart. I couldn't answer anything. People surrounded us. I did not want to indulge in the feelings that worried me in front of them. Finally she left. I returned to Zurin, sad and silent. He wanted to cheer me up; I thought to disperse myself: we spent the day noisily and violently, and in the evening set out on a campaign.

It was at the end of February. The winter, which hindered military arrangements, was passing, and our generals were preparing for friendly cooperation. Pugachev was still standing near Orenburg. Meanwhile, near him, the detachments united and from all sides approached the villainous nest. The rebellious villages, at the sight of our troops, came into obedience; bands of robbers everywhere fled from us, and everything foreshadowed a speedy and prosperous end.

Soon, Prince Golitsyn, under the fortress of Tatishcheva, defeated Pugachev, dispersed his crowds, liberated Orenburg, and, it seemed, dealt the last and decisive blow to the rebellion. Zurin was at that time detached against a gang of rebellious Bashkirs, who dispersed before we saw them. Spring laid siege to us in a Tatar village. The rivers flooded and the roads became impassable. We consoled ourselves in our inaction with the thought of an early end to the boring and petty war with robbers and savages.

But Pugachev was not caught. He appeared at the Siberian factories, gathered new gangs there, and again began to act evil. Word of his success spread again. We learned about the destruction of the Siberian fortresses. Soon the news of the capture of Kazan and the campaign of the impostor against Moscow alarmed the commanders of the troops, who were dozing carelessly in the hope of the impotence of the despicable rebel. Zurin was ordered to cross the Volga.

I will not describe our campaign and the end of the war. I will say briefly that the disaster reached its extreme. We passed through the villages devastated by the rebels and involuntarily took away from the poor inhabitants what they managed to save. Rule was terminated everywhere: the landowners took refuge in the forests. Gangs of robbers were outrageous everywhere; the heads of individual detachments autocratically punished and pardoned; the state of the entire vast region, where the fire raged, was terrible ... God forbid to see a Russian rebellion, senseless and merciless!

Pugachev fled, pursued by Ivan Ivanovich Mikhelson. We soon learned of its complete destruction. Finally, Zurin received news of the capture of the impostor, and at the same time the order to stop. The war was over. Finally I could go to my parents! The thought of embracing them, of seeing Marya Ivanovna, from whom I had no news, animated me with delight. I jumped like a child. Zurin laughed and said, shrugging his shoulders: “No, you can’t do well! Get married - you will disappear for nothing!

But in the meantime, a strange feeling poisoned my joy: the thought of the villain, splashed with the blood of so many innocent victims, and of the execution awaiting him, unwittingly disturbed me: Emelya, Emelya! - I thought with annoyance; - why didn’t you stumble upon a bayonet, or didn’t turn up under a buckshot? You couldn't think of anything better. What are you supposed to do? The thought of him was inseparable in me from the thought of the mercy he gave me in one of the terrible moments of his life, and of the deliverance of my bride from the hands of the vile Shvabrin.

Zurin gave me leave. A few days later I was to find myself again in the midst of my family, to see my Marya Ivanovna again... Suddenly, an unexpected thunderstorm struck me. On the day appointed for departure, at the very moment when I was preparing to set off on the road, Zurin entered my hut, holding paper in his hands, with an air of extremely preoccupied. Something pricked me in the heart. I was scared, I didn't know what. He sent my orderly, and announced that he had business with me. - What? I asked with concern. “A little trouble,” he replied, handing me the paper. - "Read what I got now." I began to read it: it was a secret order to all individual chiefs to arrest me, wherever they came across, and immediately send me under guard to Kazan to the Investigative Commission established in the Pugachev case.

The paper almost fell out of my hands. "Nothing to do!" Zurin said. “It is my duty to obey orders. Probably, the rumor about your friendly travels with Pugachev somehow reached the government. I hope that the case will not have any consequences and that you will justify yourself before the commission. Don't be discouraged and go." My conscience was clear; I was not afraid of the court; but the thought of putting off a minute of sweet rendezvous, perhaps for a few more months, terrified me. The cart was ready. Zurin said goodbye to me in a friendly manner. They put me in a cart. Two hussars with drawn sabers sat down with me, and I rode along the high road.

CHAPTER XIV. COURT.

Worldly rumor -

Sea wave.
Proverb.

I was sure that my unauthorized absence from Orenburg was to blame. I could easily justify myself: not only was horsemanship never forbidden, but it was still encouraged by all means. I could be accused of being overzealous, not disobedient. But my friendly relations with Pugachev could be proved by many witnesses and must have seemed at least very suspicious. All the way I thought about the interrogations awaiting me, pondered my answers, and decided to declare the absolute truth before the court, believing this method of justification to be the simplest, and at the same time the most reliable.

I arrived in Kazan, devastated and burnt. In the streets, instead of houses, there were piles of coals and smoky walls without roofs and windows stuck out. Such was the trace left by Pugachev! I was brought to a fortress that had survived in the middle of a burnt city. The hussars handed me over to the guard officer. He ordered to call the blacksmith. They put a chain on my feet and chained it tightly. Then they took me to the prison and left me alone in a cramped and dark canyon, with bare walls and a small window blocked by an iron grate.

This beginning did not bode well for me. However, I did not lose courage or hope. I resorted to the consolation of all those who were grieving, and, having tasted for the first time the sweetness of prayer poured out from a pure but torn heart, I calmly fell asleep, not worrying about what would happen to me.

The next day the prison guard woke me up with the announcement that I was being asked to join the commission. Two soldiers led me across the yard to the commandant's house, stopped in the hallway, and let one of them into the inner rooms.

I entered a fairly large room. Two people were sitting at a table covered with papers: an elderly general, looking stern and cold, and a young guards captain, about twenty-eight years old, very pleasant-looking, dexterous and free in circulation. By the window, at a special table, sat the secretary with a pen behind his ear, leaning over the paper, ready to write down my testimony. The interrogation began. I was asked about my name and rank. The general asked if I was Andrei Petrovich Grinev's son? And to my answer I objected sternly: “It is a pity that such a respectable person has such an unworthy son!” I calmly replied that whatever the accusations weighing on me, I hope to dispel them with a sincere explanation of the truth. He didn't like my confidence. “You, brother, are a voster,” he said to me with a frown; - "but we saw not such!"

Then the young man asked me: on what occasion and at what time did I enter the service of Pugachev, and on what instructions was I used by him?

I replied indignantly that I, as an officer and a nobleman, would not enter into any service with Pugachev and could not accept any orders from him.

"In what way," my interrogator objected, was the nobleman and officer spared alone by the impostor, while all his comrades were murdered in a villainous way? How does this same officer and nobleman feast in a friendly way with the rebels, accept gifts from the main villain, a fur coat, a horse and half a dollar of money? Why did such a strange friendship come about and on what is it based, if not on treason, or at least on vile and criminal cowardice?

I was deeply offended by the words of the Guards officer, and began my excuse with vehemence. I told how my acquaintance with Pugachev began in the steppe, during a snowstorm, how, during the capture of the Belogorsk fortress, he recognized me and spared me. I said that the sheepskin coat and the horse, however, I did not hesitate to accept from the impostor; but that I defended the Belogorsk fortress against the villain to the last extreme. Finally, I referred to my general, who could testify to my zeal during the disastrous siege of Orenburg.

The stern old man took an open letter from the table and began to read it aloud:

“At the request of Your Excellency regarding Ensign Grinev, allegedly involved in the current turmoil, and who entered into relations with the villain, the service is not permitted and the oath is contrary to duty, I have the honor to explain: this Ensign Grinev was in the service in Orenburg from the beginning of October last 1773 until February 24 this year, on which date he left the city, and since then he has not been in my team. And it is heard from the defectors that he was with Pugachev in the settlement and went with him to the Belogorsk fortress, in which he had previously been in the service; as for his behavior, I can…” Here he interrupted his reading, and said to me sternly: “What will you say to yourself now in justification?”

I wanted to continue as I had begun, and to explain my connection with Marya Ivanovna as sincerely as everything else. But suddenly he felt an irresistible disgust. It occurred to me that if I named her, the commission would require her to answer; and the thought of entangling her name between the vile tales of villains, and bringing her herself to face-to-face confrontation with them - this terrible thought struck me so much that I hesitated and became confused.

My judges, who seemed to begin to listen to my answers with some favor, were again prejudiced against me at the sight of my embarrassment. The Guards officer demanded that I be placed at a confrontation with the main informer. The general ordered to call yesterday's villain. I quickly turned to the door, waiting for the appearance of my accuser. A few minutes later the chains rattled, the doors opened, and Shvabrin entered. I was amazed at his change. He was terribly thin and pale. His hair, which had recently been jet black, had turned completely gray, and his long beard was disheveled. He repeated his accusations in a weak but bold voice. According to him, I was assigned from Pugachev to Orenburg as a spy; daily went to skirmishes in order to convey written news about everything that was happening in the city; that at last he clearly passed on to the impostor, traveled with him from fortress to fortress, trying in every possible way to destroy his fellow traitors in order to take their places and use the rewards handed out from the impostor. - I listened to him in silence and was satisfied with one thing: the name of Marya Ivanovna was not uttered by the vile villain, perhaps because his pride suffered at the thought of the one who rejected him with contempt; Is it because there was a spark of the same feeling in his heart that made me keep silent - be that as it may, the name of the daughter of the Belogorsky commandant was not uttered in the presence of the commission. I became even more convinced of my intention, and when the judges asked how I could refute Shvabrin's testimony, I replied that I stuck to my first explanation and could not say anything else to justify myself. The general ordered us to withdraw. We went out together. I glanced calmly at Shvabrin, but did not say a word to him. He grinned an evil smile and, lifting his chains, outstripped me and quickened his steps. I was again taken to prison and since then I have not been required to be interrogated.

I have not witnessed everything that remains for me to notify the reader; but I have so often heard stories about that, that the slightest by. the details are engraved in my memory and that it seems to me that I was immediately present invisibly.

Marya Ivanovna was received by my parents with that sincere cordiality which distinguished the people of the old century. They saw the grace of God in the fact that they had the opportunity to shelter and caress the poor orphan. Soon they became sincerely attached to her, because it was impossible to know her and not love her. My love no longer seemed to the father an empty whim; and the only thing my mother wanted was for her Petrusha to marry the captain's sweet daughter.

The news of my arrest shocked my entire family. Marya Ivanovna told my parents so simply about my strange acquaintance with Pugachev that it not only did not disturb them, but also made them often laugh from the bottom of their hearts. Batiushka did not want to believe that I could be involved in a vile rebellion, the purpose of which was the overthrow of the throne and the extermination of the noble family. He severely interrogated Savelich. The uncle did not hide the fact that the master was visiting Emelka Pugachev, and that the villain still complained about something; but he swore that he had never heard of any betrayal. The old people calmed down and began to look forward to favorable news. Marya Ivanovna was greatly alarmed, but kept silent, for she was gifted to the highest degree with modesty and caution.

Several weeks passed... Suddenly, the priest receives a letter from St. Petersburg from our relative, Prince B**. The prince wrote to him about me. After an ordinary attack, he announced to him that the suspicions about my participation in the plans of the rebels, unfortunately, turned out to be too thorough, that an exemplary execution should have befallen me, but that the empress, out of respect for the merits and advanced years of her father, decided to pardon the criminal son and, rescuing him from a shameful execution, she ordered only to be exiled to a remote region of Siberia for an eternal settlement.

This unexpected blow nearly killed my father. He lost his usual firmness, and his grief (usually mute) poured out in bitter complaints. "How!" he repeated, losing his temper. - “My son participated in the plans of Pugachev! Good God, what have I lived for! The empress saves him from execution! Does that make it easier for me? The execution is not terrible: my ancestor died at the place of execution, defending what he considered the shrine of his conscience; my father suffered along with Volynsky and Khrushchev. But the nobleman should betray his oath, unite with robbers, murderers, runaway lackeys!.. Shame and disgrace to our family! human opinion. My father was inconsolable.

Marya Ivanovna suffered the most. Being convinced that I could justify myself whenever I wanted to, she guessed the truth and considered herself the cause of my misfortune. She hid her tears and suffering from everyone, and meanwhile she constantly thought about the means of saving me.

One evening the priest was sitting on the sofa, turning over the pages of the Court Calendar; but his thoughts were far away, and reading did not produce its usual effect on him. He was whistling an old march. Matushka silently knitted a woolen jersey, and tears occasionally fell on her work. Suddenly Marya Ivanovna, who was immediately sitting at work, announced that she was forced by necessity to go to Petersburg, and that she asked for a way to go. Mother was very upset. "Why are you in Petersburg?" - she said. - “Really, Marya Ivanovna, do you want to leave us too?” Marya Ivanovna answered that her whole future fate depended on this journey, that she was going to seek protection and help from strong people, like the daughter of a man who had suffered for his loyalty.

My father bowed his head: every word reminiscent of the imaginary crime of his son was painful to him and seemed like a sharp reproach. "Go, mother!" he told her with a sigh. “We don’t want to interfere with your happiness. God grant you a good man, not a defamated traitor, as your suitor. He got up and left the room.

Marya Ivanovna, left alone with her mother, partly explained her assumptions to her. Matushka hugged her with tears and prayed to God for a happy end to the plot. Marya Ivanovna was equipped, and a few days later she set off on the road with the faithful Broadsword and the faithful Savelich, who, forcibly separated from me, consoled himself at least with the thought that he was serving my betrothed bride.

Maria Ivanovna safely arrived in Sofia and, having learned at the post office that the Court was at that time in Tsarskoe Selo, she decided to stop there. She was given a corner behind the partition. The superintendent's wife immediately got into conversation with her, announced that she was the niece of the court stoker, and initiated her into all the mysteries of court life. She told me at what hour the empress usually woke up, ate coffee, and took a walk; what nobles were at that time with her; that she deigned to speak at her table yesterday, whom she received in the evening - in a word, Anna Vlasyevna's conversation was worth several pages of historical notes and would be precious for posterity. Marya Ivanovna listened to her with attention. They went to the garden. Anna Vlasyevna told the story of each alley and each bridge, and after walking up, they returned to the station very pleased with each other.

The next day, early in the morning, Marya Ivanovna woke up, dressed, and quietly went into the garden. The morning was beautiful, the sun illuminating the tops of the lindens, which had already turned yellow under the fresh breath of autumn. The wide lake shone motionless. Awakened swans importantly swam out from under the bushes that overshadowed the shore. Marya Ivanovna walked near a beautiful meadow where a monument had just been erected in honor of the recent victories of Count Peter Alexandrovich Rumyantsev. Suddenly a white dog of an English breed barked and ran towards her. Marya Ivanovna was frightened and stopped. At that very moment, a pleasant female voice rang out: "Don't be afraid, she won't bite." And Marya Ivanovna saw a lady sitting on a bench opposite the monument. Marya Ivanovna sat down at the other end of the bench. The lady looked at her intently; and Marya Ivanovna, for her part, casting a few oblique glances, managed to examine her from head to toe. She was in a white morning dress, a night cap and a shower jacket. She seemed to be forty years old. Her face, full and ruddy, expressed gravity and calmness, and her blue eyes and a slight smile had an inexplicable charm. The lady was the first to break the silence.

"Are you sure you're not from here?" - she said.

Exactly like this, sir: I just arrived yesterday from the provinces. "

"Did you come with your family?"

Not at all. I came alone. "

"One! But you're still so young."

I have neither father nor mother. "

“Are you here on some business, of course?”

Exactly like that. I came to make a request to the empress.

“You are an orphan: perhaps you complain about injustice and resentment?”

Not at all. I came to ask for mercy, not justice.

"May I ask who you are?"

I am the daughter of Captain Mironov.

"Captain Mironov! the one who was the commandant in one of the Orenburg fortresses?

Exactly like that.

The lady seemed to be touched. “Excuse me,” she said in an even more gentle voice, “if I interfere in your affairs; but I am at court; tell me what your request is, and maybe I can help you.”

Marya Ivanovna got up and respectfully thanked her. everything in the unknown lady involuntarily attracted the heart and inspired confidence. Marya Ivanovna took a folded paper out of her pocket and handed it to her unfamiliar patroness, who began to read it to herself. At first she read with an attentive and benevolent air; but suddenly her face changed, and Marya Ivanovna, who followed all her movements with her eyes, was frightened by the stern expression of that face, so pleasant and calm in a minute.

“Are you asking for Grinev?” - said the lady with a cold look. “The Empress cannot forgive him. He stuck to the impostor not out of ignorance and gullibility, but as an immoral and harmful scoundrel.

Ah, not true! cried Marya Ivanovna.

"How untrue!" said the lady, flushing all over.

Not true, by God, not true! I know everything, I will tell you everything. For me alone, he was subjected to everything that befell him. And if he did not justify himself before the court, then only because he did not want to confuse me. - Here she told with fervor everything that is already known to my reader.

The lady listened to her attentively. - "Where are you staying?" she asked afterwards; and when she heard that Anna Vlasyevna was visiting, she said with a smile: “Ah! I know. Farewell, do not tell anyone about our meeting. I hope you will not wait long for an answer to your letter."

With that word, she got up and entered the covered alley, a. Marya Ivanovna returned to Anna Vlasyevna, filled with joyful hope.

The hostess scolded her for taking an early autumn walk, which, she said, was harmful to the health of a young girl. She brought a samovar, and over a cup of tea she had just begun to endless stories about the court, when suddenly the court carriage stopped at the porch, and the footman entered with an announcement that the empress would deign to invite the maiden Mironova to her. Anna Vlasyevna was amazed and got busy. "Oh, my God!" she screamed. - “The empress demands you to the court. How did she know about you? But how can you, mother, introduce yourself to the Empress? You, I'm tea, and you don't know how to step on the court ... Shall I see you out? Still, I can at least warn you about something. And how do you ride in a road dress? Should I send to the midwife for her yellow robron? - The footman announced that the Empress wanted Marya Ivanovna to go alone, and in what she would be found in. There was nothing to do: Marya Ivanovna got into the carriage and drove to the palace, accompanied by the advice and blessings of Anna Vlasyevna.

Marya Ivanovna had a presentiment of the decision of our fate; her heart beat fast and sank. A few minutes later the carriage stopped at the palace. Marya Ivanovna tremblingly went up the stairs. The doors were flung open before her. She passed a long line of empty, magnificent rooms; the footman showed the way. Finally, approaching the locked doors, he announced that he would now report on her, and left her alone.

The thought of seeing the empress face to face terrified her so much that she could hardly stand on her feet. A minute later the doors opened and she entered the empress's dressing room. The Empress was sitting at her toilet. Several courtiers surrounded her, and respectfully let Marya Ivanovna pass. The empress addressed her affectionately, and Marya Ivanovna recognized in her the lady with whom she had spoken so frankly a few minutes before. The empress called her and said with a smile: “I am glad that I could keep my word to you and fulfill your request. Your business is over. I am convinced of your fiancé's innocence. Here is a letter that you yourself will take the trouble to take to the future father-in-law.

Marya Ivanovna accepted the letter with a trembling hand and, crying, fell at the feet of the empress, who raised her and kissed her. The Empress spoke to her. “I know that you are not rich,” she said; - “But I am indebted to the daughter of Captain Mironov. Don't worry about the future. I undertake to arrange your condition.

Having treated the poor orphan, the empress let her go. Marya Ivanovna left in the same court carriage. Anna Vlasyevna, impatiently awaiting her return, bombarded her with questions, to which Marya Ivanovna answered vaguely. Although Anna Vlasyevna was dissatisfied with her unconsciousness, she attributed it to provincial shyness and generously excused her. On the same day, Marya Ivanovna, not inquisitive to look at Petersburg, went back to the village ...

Here the notes of Pyotr Andreevich Grinev stop. From family traditions it is known that he was released from prison at the end of 1774, by personal order; that he was present at the execution of Pugachev, who recognized him in the crowd and nodded his head to him, which a minute later, dead and bloodied, was shown to the people. Soon afterwards Pyotr Andreevich married Marya Ivanovna. Their offspring prosper in the Simbirsk province. - Thirty versts from *** there is a village belonging to ten landowners. - In one of the master's outbuildings, a handwritten letter from Catherine II is shown behind glass and in a frame. It is written to the father of Pyotr Andreevich and contains an excuse for his son and praise for the mind and heart of Captain Mironov's daughter. The manuscript of Pyotr Andreevich Grinev was delivered to us from one of his grandsons, who learned that we were busy with labor related to the times described by his grandfather. We decided, with the permission of our relatives, to publish it separately, finding a decent epigraph for each chapter and allowing ourselves to change some of our proper names.

Worldly rumor -
Sea wave.

Proverb.

I was sure that my unauthorized absence from Orenburg was to blame. I could easily justify myself: not only was horsemanship never forbidden, it was also encouraged by all means. I could be accused of being overzealous, not disobedient. But my friendly relations with Pugachev could be proved by many witnesses and must have seemed at least very suspicious. All the way I thought about the interrogations awaiting me, pondered my answers and decided to declare the absolute truth before the court, believing this method of justification to be the simplest, and at the same time the most reliable. I arrived in Kazan, devastated and burnt. In the streets, instead of houses, there were piles of coals and smoky walls without roofs and windows stuck out. Such was the trace left by Pugachev! I was brought to a fortress that had survived in the middle of a burnt city. The hussars handed me over to the guard officer. He ordered to call the blacksmith. They put a chain on my feet and chained it tightly. Then they took me to the prison and left me alone in a cramped and dark kennel, with only bare walls and with a window blocked by an iron grate. This beginning did not bode well for me. However, I did not lose courage or hope. I resorted to the consolation of all those who were grieving, and, having tasted for the first time the sweetness of prayer poured out from a pure but torn heart, I calmly fell asleep, not worrying about what would happen to me. The next day the prison guard woke me up with an announcement that I was being asked to join the commission. Two soldiers led me across the yard to the commandant's house, stopped in the hallway, and let one of them into the inner rooms. I entered a fairly large room. Two people were sitting at a table covered with papers: an elderly general, looking stern and cold, and a young guards captain, about twenty-eight years old, very pleasant-looking, dexterous and free in circulation. By the window, at a special table, sat the secretary with a pen behind his ear, leaning over the paper, ready to write down my testimony. The interrogation began. I was asked about my name and rank. The general asked if I was Andrei Petrovich Grinev's son? And to my answer I objected sternly: “It is a pity that such a respectable person has such an unworthy son!” I calmly replied that whatever the accusations weighing on me, I hope to dispel them with a sincere explanation of the truth. He didn't like my confidence. “You, brother, are a voster,” he said to me, frowning, “but we have seen not such ones!” Then the young man asked me: on what occasion and at what time did I enter the service of Pugachev, and on what instructions was I used by him? I replied indignantly that I, as an officer and a nobleman, would not enter into any service with Pugachev and could not accept any orders from him. - How, then, - my interrogator objected, - is the nobleman and officer spared alone by the impostor, while all his comrades are murdered villainously? How does this same officer and nobleman feast in a friendly way with the rebels, accept gifts from the main villain, a fur coat, a horse and half a dollar of money? Why did such a strange friendship come about and on what is it based, if not on treason, or at least on vile and criminal cowardice? I was deeply offended by the words of the officer of the Guards, and began my excuse with vehemence. I told how my acquaintance with Pugachev began in the steppe, during a snowstorm; how, during the capture of the Belogorsk fortress, he recognized me and spared me. I said that the sheepskin coat and the horse, however, I did not hesitate to accept from the impostor; but that I defended the Belogorsk fortress against the villain to the last extreme. Finally, I referred to my general, who could testify to my zeal during the disastrous siege of Orenburg. The stern old man took an open letter from the table and began to read it aloud: - “At the request of Your Excellency regarding Ensign Grinev, allegedly involved in the current turmoil and entered into relations with the villain, the service is not allowed and the oath is contrary to duty, I have the honor to explain: this Ensign Grinev was in the service in Orenburg from the beginning of October last 1773 until February 24 this year, on which date he left the city and since then has not been in my team. And it is heard from the defectors that he was with Pugachev in the settlement and went with him to the Belogorsk fortress, in which he had previously been in the service; as for his behavior, I can ... "Here he interrupted his reading and said to me sternly:" What will you now say to yourself in justification? I wanted to continue as I had begun, and to explain my connection with Marya Ivanovna as sincerely as everything else. But suddenly he felt an irresistible disgust. It occurred to me that if I named her, the commission would require her to answer; and the thought of entangling her name between the vile tales of villains and bringing her herself to face-to-face confrontation with them—this terrible thought struck me so much that I hesitated and became confused. My judges, who seemed to begin to listen to my answers with some favor, were again prejudiced against me at the sight of my embarrassment. The Guards officer demanded that I be placed at a confrontation with the main informer. The general ordered to click yesterday's villain. I quickly turned to the door, waiting for the appearance of my accuser. A few minutes later the chains rattled, the doors opened, and Shvabrin came in. I was amazed at his change. He was terribly thin and pale. His hair, which had recently been jet black, had turned completely gray; long beard was disheveled. He repeated his accusations in a weak but bold voice. According to him, I was assigned from Pugachev to Orenburg as a spy; daily went to skirmishes in order to convey written news about everything that was happening in the city; that at last he clearly passed on to the impostor, traveled with him from fortress to fortress, trying in every possible way to destroy his fellow traitors in order to take their places and use the rewards handed out from the impostor. I listened to him in silence and was satisfied with one thing: the name of Marya Ivanovna was not uttered by the vile villain, perhaps because his pride suffered at the thought of the one who rejected him with contempt; Was it because there was a spark of the same feeling in his heart that kept me silent as well? Be that as it may, the name of the daughter of the Belogorsk commandant was not uttered in the presence of the commission. I became even more convinced of my intention, and when the judges asked how I could refute Shvabrin's testimony, I replied that I stuck to my first explanation and could not say anything else to justify myself. The general ordered us to withdraw. We went out together. I glanced calmly at Shvabrin, but did not say a word to him. He grinned an evil smile and, lifting his chains, outstripped me and quickened his steps. I was again taken to prison and since then I have not been required to be interrogated. I have not witnessed everything that remains for me to notify the reader; but I have heard stories about it so often that the slightest details are engraved in my memory and that it seems to me that I was present invisibly there and then. Marya Ivanovna was received by my parents with that sincere cordiality which distinguished the people of the old century. They saw the grace of God in the fact that they had the opportunity to shelter and caress the poor orphan. Soon they became sincerely attached to her, because it was impossible to know her and not love her. My love no longer seemed to the father an empty whim; and the only thing my mother wanted was for her Petrusha to marry the captain's sweet daughter. The news of my arrest shocked my entire family. Marya Ivanovna told my parents so simply about my strange acquaintance with Pugachev that it not only did not disturb them, but also made them often laugh from the bottom of their hearts. Batiushka did not want to believe that I could be involved in a vile rebellion, the purpose of which was the overthrow of the throne and the extermination of the noble family. He severely interrogated Savelich. The uncle did not hide the fact that the master was visiting Emelka Pugachev and that the villain still complained about something; but he swore that he had never heard of any betrayal. The old people calmed down and began to look forward to favorable news. Marya Ivanovna was greatly alarmed, but kept silent, for she was gifted to the highest degree with modesty and caution. Several weeks passed... Suddenly, the priest receives a letter from St. Petersburg from our relative, Prince B**. The prince wrote to him about me. After an ordinary attack, he announced to him that the suspicions about my participation in the plans of the rebels, unfortunately, turned out to be too thorough, that an exemplary execution should have befallen me, but that the empress, out of respect for the merits and advanced years of her father, decided to pardon the criminal son and, saving him from a shameful execution, she ordered only to be exiled to a remote region of Siberia for an eternal settlement. This unexpected blow nearly killed my father. He lost his usual firmness, and his grief (usually mute) poured out in bitter complaints. "How! he repeated, losing his temper. - My son participated in the plans of Pugachev! Good God, what have I lived for! The empress saves him from execution! Does that make it easier for me? The execution is not terrible: my ancestor died at the place of execution, defending what he considered the shrine of his conscience; my father suffered along with Volynsky and Khrushchev. But the nobleman should betray his oath, unite with robbers, murderers, runaway lackeys!.. Shame and disgrace to our family! human opinion. My father was inconsolable. Marya Ivanovna suffered the most. Being convinced that I could justify myself whenever I wanted to, she guessed the truth and considered herself the cause of my misfortune. She hid her tears and suffering from everyone, and meanwhile she constantly thought about the means of saving me. One evening, the priest was sitting on the sofa, turning over the pages of the Court calendar; but his thoughts were far away, and reading did not produce its usual effect on him. He was whistling an old march. Mother silently knitted a woolen jersey, and tears from time to time dripped on her work. Suddenly Marya Ivanovna, who was immediately sitting at work, announced that necessity compelled her to go to Petersburg and that she asked to be given a way to go. Mother was very upset. “Why are you in Petersburg? - she said. “Really, Marya Ivanovna, do you want to leave us too?” Marya Ivanovna answered that her whole future fate depended on this journey, that she was going to seek protection and help from strong people, like the daughter of a man who had suffered for his loyalty. My father bowed his head: every word reminiscent of the imaginary crime of his son was painful to him and seemed like a sharp reproach. "Go, mother! he told her with a sigh. We don't want to interfere with your happiness. God grant you a good man, not a defamated traitor, as your suitor. He got up and left the room. Marya Ivanovna, left alone with her mother, partly explained her assumptions to her. Matushka hugged her with tears and prayed to God for a happy end to the plot. Marya Ivanovna was equipped, and a few days later she set off on the road with the faithful Broadsword and the faithful Savelich, who, forcibly separated from me, consoled himself at least with the thought that he was serving my betrothed bride. Maria Ivanovna safely arrived in Sofia and, having learned at the post office that the Court was at that time in Tsarskoe Selo, she decided to stop there. She was given a corner behind the partition. The superintendent's wife immediately got into conversation with her, announced that she was the niece of the court stoker, and initiated her into all the mysteries of court life. She told me at what hour the empress usually woke up, ate coffee, and took a walk; what nobles were at that time with her; that she had deigned to speak yesterday at her table, whom she received in the evening—in a word, Anna Vlasyevna's conversation was worth several pages of historical notes and would have been precious for posterity. Marya Ivanovna listened to her with attention. They went to the garden. Anna Vlasyevna told the story of each alley and each bridge, and after walking up, they returned to the station very pleased with each other. The next day, early in the morning, Marya Ivanovna woke up, dressed, and quietly went into the garden. The morning was beautiful, the sun illuminating the tops of the lindens, which had already turned yellow under the fresh breath of autumn. The wide lake shone motionless. Awakened swans importantly swam out from under the bushes that overshadowed the shore. Marya Ivanovna walked near a beautiful meadow where a monument had just been erected in honor of the recent victories of Count Peter Alexandrovich Rumyantsev. Suddenly a white dog of English breed barked and ran towards her. Marya Ivanovna was frightened and stopped. At that very moment, a pleasant female voice rang out: "Don't be afraid, she won't bite." And Marya Ivanovna saw a lady sitting on a bench opposite the monument. Marya Ivanovna sat down at the other end of the bench. The lady looked at her intently; and Marya Ivanovna, for her part, casting a few oblique glances, managed to examine her from head to toe. She was in a white morning dress, a night cap and a shower jacket. She seemed to be forty years old. Her face, full and ruddy, expressed gravity and calmness, and her blue eyes and a slight smile had an inexplicable charm. The lady was the first to break the silence. "You're not from here, are you?" - she said. “Just like that, sir: I just arrived yesterday from the provinces. - Did you come with your family? — Not at all, sir. I came alone. - One! But you are still so young. “I have neither father nor mother. “Are you here, of course, on some business?” - Exactly like that. I came to make a request to the empress. - You are an orphan: you probably complain about injustice and resentment? — Not at all, sir. I came to ask for mercy, not justice. "May I ask who you are?" - I am the daughter of Captain Mironov. - Captain Mironov! the one who was the commandant in one of the Orenburg fortresses?- Exactly like that. The lady seemed to be touched. “Excuse me,” she said in an even more gentle voice, “if I interfere in your affairs; but I am at court; tell me what your request is, and maybe I can help you.” Marya Ivanovna got up and respectfully thanked her. Everything in the unknown lady involuntarily attracted the heart and inspired confidence. Marya Ivanovna took a folded paper out of her pocket and handed it to her unfamiliar patroness, who began to read it to herself. At first she read with an attentive and benevolent air; but suddenly her face changed, and Marya Ivanovna, who followed all her movements with her eyes, was frightened by the stern expression of that face, so pleasant and calm in a minute. - Are you asking for Grinev? said the lady coldly. “The Empress cannot forgive him. He joined the impostor not out of ignorance and gullibility, but as an immoral and harmful scoundrel. - Oh, it's not true! cried Marya Ivanovna. — How untrue! said the lady, flushing all over. - It's not true, by God it's not true! I know everything, I will tell you everything. For me alone, he was subjected to everything that befell him. And if he did not justify himself before the court, then only because he did not want to confuse me. - Here she told with fervor everything that is already known to my reader. The lady listened to her attentively. "Where are you staying?" she asked afterwards; and when she heard that Anna Vlasyevna was visiting, she said with a smile: “Ah! I know. Farewell, do not tell anyone about our meeting. I hope you will not wait long for an answer to your letter." With these words, she got up and went into the covered avenue, and Marya Ivanovna returned to Anna Vlasyevna, filled with joyful hope. The hostess scolded her for taking an early autumn walk, which, she said, was harmful to the health of a young girl. She brought a samovar and, over a cup of tea, had just begun to endless stories about the court, when suddenly the court carriage stopped at the porch, and the footman entered with an announcement that the empress would deign to invite the maiden Mironova to her place. Anna Vlasyevna was amazed and got busy. “Oh my God! she screamed. “The empress demands you to the court. How did she know about you? But how can you, mother, introduce yourself to the Empress? You, I'm tea, and you don't know how to step like a courtier ... Shall I see you off? Still, I can at least warn you about something. And how do you ride in a road dress? Should I send to the midwife for her yellow robron? The footman announced that the Empress wanted Marya Ivanovna to travel alone and in what she would be found wearing. There was nothing to do: Marya Ivanovna got into the carriage and drove to the palace, accompanied by the advice and blessings of Anna Vlasyevna. Marya Ivanovna had a presentiment of the decision of our fate; her heart beat fast and sank. A few minutes later the carriage stopped at the palace. Marya Ivanovna tremblingly went up the stairs. The doors were flung open before her. She passed a long line of empty magnificent rooms; the footman showed the way. Finally, approaching the locked doors, he announced that he would now report on her, and left her alone. The thought of seeing the empress face to face terrified her so much that she could hardly stand on her feet. A minute later the doors opened and she entered the empress's dressing room. The Empress was sitting at her toilet. Several courtiers surrounded her and respectfully let Marya Ivanovna pass. The empress addressed her affectionately, and Marya Ivanovna recognized in her the lady with whom she had spoken so frankly a few minutes before. The empress called her and said with a smile: “I am glad that I could keep my word to you and fulfill your request. Your business is over. I am convinced of your fiancé's innocence. Here is a letter that you yourself will take the trouble to take to the future father-in-law. Marya Ivanovna accepted the letter with a trembling hand and, crying, fell at the feet of the Empress, who raised her and kissed her. The Empress spoke to her. “I know that you are not rich,” she said, “but I am indebted to the daughter of Captain Mironov. Don't worry about the future. I undertake to arrange your condition. Having treated the poor orphan, the empress let her go. Marya Ivanovna left in the same court carriage. Anna Vlasyevna, impatiently awaiting her return, bombarded her with questions, to which Marya Ivanovna answered vaguely. Although Anna Vlasyevna was dissatisfied with her unconsciousness, she attributed it to provincial shyness and generously excused her. On the same day, Marya Ivanovna, not inquisitive to look at Petersburg, went back to the village ... Here the notes of Pyotr Andreevich Grinev stop. From family traditions it is known that he was released from prison at the end of 1774, by personal order; that he was present at the execution of Pugachev, who recognized him in the crowd and nodded his head to him, which a minute later, dead and bloodied, was shown to the people. Soon afterwards Pyotr Andreevich married Marya Ivanovna. Their offspring prosper in the Simbirsk province. Thirty versts from *** there is a village belonging to ten landowners. In one of the lordly outbuildings, a handwritten letter from Catherine II is shown behind glass and in a frame. It is written to the father of Pyotr Andreevich and contains an excuse for his son and praise for the mind and heart of Captain Mironov's daughter. The manuscript of Pyotr Andreevich Grinev was delivered to us from one of his grandsons, who learned that we were busy with labor related to the times described by his grandfather. We decided, with the permission of our relatives, to publish it separately, finding a decent epigraph for each chapter and allowing ourselves to change some of our proper names.
Oct 19 1836.

This work has entered the public domain. The work was written by an author who died more than seventy years ago and was published during his lifetime or posthumously, but more than seventy years have also passed since publication. It can be freely used by anyone without anyone's consent or permission and without payment of royalties.

In 1836, Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin wrote the story "The Captain's Daughter", which was a historical description of the Pugachev uprising. In his work, Pushkin was based on real events of 1773-1775, when, under the leadership of Emelyan Pugachev (Liar Tsar Pyotr Fedorovich), the Yaik Cossacks, who took fugitive convicts, thieves and villains as servants, began a peasant war. Pyotr Grinev and Maria Mironova are fictitious characters, but their fates very truthfully reflect the sad time of the brutal civil war.

Pushkin designed his story in a realistic form in the form of notes from the diary of the protagonist Pyotr Grinev, made years after the uprising. The lyrics of the work are interesting in their presentation - Grinev writes his diary in adulthood, rethinking everything he experienced. At the time of the rebellion, he was a young noble loyal to his Empress. He looked at the rebels as if they were savages who fought with particular cruelty against the Russian people. In the course of the story, it is clear how the heartless ataman Pugachev, executing dozens of honest officers, eventually, by the will of fate, wins favor in the heart of Grinev and acquires sparks of nobility in his eyes.

Chapter 1. Sergeant of the Guard

At the beginning of the story, the main character Peter Grinev tells the reader about his young life. He is the only survivor of 9 children of a retired major and a poor noblewoman, he lived in a middle-class noble family. The upbringing of the young master was actually engaged in the old servant. Peter's education was low, since his father, a retired major, hired the French hairdresser Beaupré as a tutor, leading an immoral lifestyle. For drunkenness and depraved actions, he was expelled from the estate. And his father decided to send 17-year-old Petrusha, through old connections, to serve in Orenburg (instead of St. Petersburg, where he was supposed to go to serve in the guards) and attached an old servant Savelich to him for supervision. Petrusha was upset, because instead of parties in the capital, a dull existence in the wilderness awaited him. During a stopover on the way, the young gentleman made an acquaintance with the rake-captain Zurin, because of whom, under the pretext of training, he got involved in playing billiards. Then Zurin offered to play for money and as a result, Petrusha lost as much as 100 rubles - a lot of money at that time. Savelich, being the keeper of the master's "treasury", is against Peter paying the debt, but the master insists. The servant is indignant, but gives the money back.

Chapter 2

In the end, Piotr is ashamed of his loss and promises Savelich not to gamble again. There is a long road ahead of them, and the servant forgives the master. But because of the indiscretion of Petrusha, they again get into trouble - the impending snowstorm did not embarrass the young man and he ordered the driver not to return. As a result, they lost their way and almost froze. For luck, they met a stranger who helped the lost travelers to go to the inn.

Grinev recalls how then, tired from the road, he had a dream in a wagon, which he called prophetic: he sees his house and his mother, who says that his father is dying. Then he sees an unfamiliar man with a beard in his father's bed, and his mother says that he is her named husband. The stranger wants to give a "father's" blessing, but Peter refuses, and then the man takes up the ax, and corpses appear around. He does not touch Peter.

They drive up to the inn, reminiscent of a thieves' haven. A stranger, frozen in a cold in one Armenian coat, asks Petrusha for wine, and he treats him. A strange conversation took place between the peasant and the owner of the house in the language of thieves. Peter does not understand the meaning, but everything he hears seems very strange to him. Leaving the rooming house, Peter, to Savelich's next displeasure, thanked the escort by granting him a hare sheepskin coat. To which the stranger bowed, saying that the age would not forget such mercy.

When Peter finally gets to Orenburg, his father's colleague, having read the cover letter with the order to keep the young man "in tight rein", sends him to serve in the Belgorod fortress - even more wilderness. This could not but upset Peter, who had long dreamed of a guards uniform.

Chapter 3

The owner of the Belgorod garrison was Ivan Kuzmich Mironov, but his wife, Vasilisa Yegorovna, actually ran everything. Simple and sincere people immediately liked Grinev. The elderly Mironov couple had a daughter, Masha, but so far their acquaintance has not taken place. In the fortress (which turned out to be a simple village), Peter meets a young lieutenant Alexei Ivanovich Shvabrin, who was exiled here from the guards for a duel that ended in the death of the enemy. Shvabrin, having a habit of speaking unflatteringly about those around him, often spoke caustically about Masha, the captain's daughter, exposing her as a complete fool. Then Grinev himself gets acquainted with the daughter of the commander and questions the statements of the lieutenant.

Chapter 4

By nature, the kind and benevolent Grinev began to become friends with the commandant and his family more and more, and moved away from Shvabrin. The captain's daughter Masha did not have a dowry, but turned out to be a charming girl. Shvabrin's caustic remarks did not please Peter. Inspired by thoughts of a young girl in quiet evenings, he began to write poems for her, the content of which he shared with a friend. But he ridiculed him, and even more began to humiliate Masha's dignity, assuring that she would come at night to the one who would give her a pair of earrings.

As a result, the friends quarreled, and it came to a duel. Vasilisa Yegorovna, the wife of the commandant, found out about the duel, but the duelists pretended to have reconciled, deciding to postpone the meeting the next day. But in the morning, as soon as they had time to draw their swords, Ivan Ignatich and 5 invalids were led out under escort to Vasilisa Yegorovna. Having reprimanded, as it should, she let them go. In the evening, Masha, disturbed by the news of the duel, told Peter about Shvabrin's unsuccessful matchmaking for her. Now Grinev understood his motives for his behavior. The duel did take place. The confident swordsman Peter, taught at least something worthwhile by the tutor Beaupre, turned out to be a strong opponent for Shvabrin. But Savelich appeared at the duel, Peter hesitated for a second and was eventually wounded.

Chapter 5

The wounded Peter was nursed by his servant and Masha. As a result, the duel brought the young people closer, and they were inflamed with mutual love for each other. Wanting to marry Masha, Grinev sends a letter to his parents.

Grinev reconciled with Shvabrin. Peter's father, having learned about the duel and not wanting to hear about the marriage, became furious and sent an angry letter to his son, where he threatened to be transferred from the fortress. At a loss as to how his father could find out about the duel, Peter lashed out with accusations against Savelich, but he himself received a letter of displeasure from the owner. Grinev finds only one answer - Shvabrin reported the duel. Father's refusal to bless does not change Peter's intentions, but Masha does not agree to secretly marry. For a while they move away from each other, and Grinev understands that unhappy love can deprive him of his mind and lead to debauchery.

Chapter 6

Unrest begins in the Belgorod fortress. Captain Mironov receives an order from the general to prepare the fortress for an attack by rebels and robbers. Emelyan Pugachev, who called himself Peter III, escaped from custody and terrified the neighborhood. According to rumors, he had already captured several fortresses and was approaching Belgorod. It was not necessary to count on victory with 4 officers and army "disabled". Alarmed by rumors about the capture of a nearby fortress and the execution of officers, Captain Mironov decided to send Masha and Vasilisa Yegorovna to Orenburg, where the fortress is stronger. The captain's wife speaks out against the departure, and decides not to leave her husband in difficult times. Masha says goodbye to Peter, but she fails to leave the fortress.

Chapter 7

Ataman Pugachev appears at the walls of the fortress and offers to surrender without a fight. Commandant Mironov, having learned about the betrayal of the constable and several Cossacks who joined the rebel clan, does not agree to the proposal. He orders his wife to dress Masha as a commoner and take the priest to the hut, and he himself opens fire on the rebels. The battle ends with the capture of the fortress, which, together with the city, passes into the hands of Pugachev.

Right at the commandant's house, Pugachev perpetrates reprisals against those who refused to take the oath to him. He orders the execution of Captain Mironov and Lieutenant Ivan Ignatich. Grinev decides that he will not swear allegiance to the robber and will accept an honorable death. However, here Shvabrin comes up to Pugachev and whispers something in his ear. The chieftain decides not to ask for the oath, ordering all three to be hanged. But the old faithful servant Savelyich rushes at the feet of the ataman and he agrees to pardon Grinev. Ordinary soldiers and residents of the city take the oath of allegiance to Pugachev. As soon as the oath ended, Pugachev decided to dine, but the Cossacks pulled out of the commandant's house, where they robbed the good, naked Vasilisa Yegorovna by the hair, who was crying for her husband and cursing the convict. Ataman ordered to kill her.

Chapter 8

Grinev's heart is out of place. He understands that if the soldiers find out that Masha is here and alive, she cannot escape reprisals, especially since Shvabrin took the side of the rebels. He knows that his beloved is hiding in the priest's house. In the evening the Cossacks came, sent to take him to Pugachev. Although Peter did not accept the False Tsar's offer of all honors for the oath, the conversation between the rebel and the officer was friendly. Pugachev remembered the good and now gave Peter freedom in return.

Chapter 9

The next morning, Pugachev, in front of the people, called Peter to him and told him to go to Orenburg and report on his offensive in a week. Savelich began to fuss about the plundered property, but the villain said that he would let him go on sheepskin coats for such impudence. Grinev and his servant leave Belogorsk. Pugachev appoints Shvabrin as a commandant, and he himself goes on another feat.

Pyotr and Savelich are on foot, but one of Pugachev's gang caught up with them and said that His Majesty would grant them a horse and a sheepskin coat, and fifty, but he supposedly lost it.
Masha fell ill and lay delirious.

Chapter 10

Arriving in Orenburg, Grinev immediately reported on the deeds of Pugachev in the Belgorod fortress. A council met, at which everyone except Peter voted for defense, not attack.

A long siege begins - hunger and want. Peter, on another sortie into the camp of the enemy, receives a letter from Masha, in which she prays to save her. Shvabrin wants to marry her and keeps her in captivity. Grinev goes to the general with a request to give half a company of soldiers to save the girl, which is refused. Then Peter decides to help out his beloved alone.

Chapter 11

On the way to the fortress, Pyotr falls into Pugachev's guard and is taken for interrogation. Grinev honestly tells everything about his plans to the troublemaker and says that he is free to do whatever he wants with him. Pugachev's thug-advisers offer to execute the officer, but he says, "pardon, so pardon."

Together with the robber ataman, Peter goes to the Belgorod fortress, on the way they are talking. The rebel says that he wants to go to Moscow. Peter in his heart pities him, begging him to surrender to the mercy of the empress. But Pugachev knows that it is already too late, and says, come what may.

Chapter 12

Shvabrin keeps the girl on water and bread. Pugachev pardons the arbiter, but learns from Shvabrin that Masha is the daughter of an unsworn commandant. At first he is furious, but Peter, with his sincerity, this time also achieves favor.

Chapter 13

Pugachev gives Peter a pass to all outposts. Happy lovers go to their parents' house. They confused the army convoy with the Pugachev traitors and were arrested. In the head of the outpost, Grinev recognized Zurin. He said he was going home to get married. He dissuades him, assuring him to remain in the service. Peter himself understands that duty calls him. He sends Masha and Savelich to their parents.

The fighting of the detachments that arrived in time to rescue broke the robber plans. But Pugachev could not be caught. Then there were rumors that he was rampant in Siberia. Zurin's detachment is sent to suppress another outbreak. Grinev recalls the unfortunate villages plundered by savages. The troops had to take away what people could save. The news came that Pugachev had been caught.

Chapter 14

Grinev, on Shvabrin's denunciation, was arrested as a traitor. He could not justify himself with love, fearing that Masha would also be interrogated. The Empress, taking into account the merits of her father, pardoned him, but sentenced him to life exile. The father was in shock. Masha decided to go to Petersburg and ask the Empress for her beloved.

By the will of fate, Maria meets the Empress in the early autumn morning and tells her everything, not knowing who she is talking to. On the same morning, a cab was sent for her to the house of a secular lady, where Masha got a job for a while, with an order to deliver Mironov's daughter to the palace.

There Masha saw Catherine II and recognized her as her interlocutor.

Grinev was released from hard labor. Pugachev was executed. Standing on the chopping block in the crowd, he saw Grinev and nodded.

The reunited loving hearts continued the Grinev family, and in their Simbirsk province, under glass, was kept a letter from Catherine II pardoning Peter and praising Mary for her intelligence and kind heart.

The historical story "The Captain's Daughter" was first published by Pushkin in 1836. According to researchers, the work is at the intersection of romanticism and realism. The genre is not precisely defined either - some consider The Captain's Daughter a story, others a full-fledged novel.

The action of the work takes place during the period of the uprising of Emelyan Pugachev and is based on real events. The story is written in the form of memoirs of the protagonist Pyotr Andreevich Grinev - his diary entries. The work is named after Grinev's beloved, Marya Mironova, the captain's daughter.

main characters

Pyotr Andreevich Grinev- the main character of the story, a nobleman, an officer on behalf of whom the story is told.

Maria Ivanovna Mironova- daughter of captain Mironov; "a girl of about eighteen, chubby, ruddy".

Emelyan Pugachev- the leader of the peasant uprising, "forty years old, medium height, thin and broad-shouldered", with a black beard.

Arkhip Savelich- an old man who from an early age was Grinev's tutor.

Other characters

Andrey Petrovich Grinev- Father of Pyotr Andreevich, retired prime minister.

Ivan Ivanovich Zurin- an officer whom Grinev met in a tavern in Simbirsk.

Alexey Ivanovich Shvabrin- an officer whom Grinev met in the Belogorsk fortress; joined the rebels of Pugachev, testified against Grinev.

Mironov Ivan Kuzmich- captain, father of Marya, commandant in the Belogorsk fortress.

Chapter 1. Sergeant of the Guard

The father of the protagonist, Andrey Petrovich Grinev, retired as a prime minister, began to live in his Simbirsk village, married the daughter of a local nobleman. From the age of five, Petya was given to the upbringing of the aspirant Savelich. When the main character turned 16, his father, instead of sending him to St. Petersburg to the Semenovsky regiment (as previously planned), sent him to serve in Orenburg. Savelich was sent along with the young man.

On the way to Orenburg, in a tavern in Simbirsk, Grinev met the captain of the hussar regiment Zurin. He taught the young man to play billiards, offered to play for money. After drinking the punch, Grinev got excited and lost a hundred rubles. The distressed Savelich had to repay the debt.

Chapter 2

On the way, Grinev dozed off and had a dream in which he saw something prophetic. Peter dreamed that he came to say goodbye to his dying father, but in bed he saw "a man with a black beard". The mother called the peasant Grinev's "planted father", told him to kiss his hand so that he would bless him. Peter refused. Then the man jumped up, grabbed an ax and started killing everyone. A terrible man affectionately called: "Do not be afraid, come under my blessing." At that moment Grinev woke up: they had arrived at the inn. In gratitude for the help, Grinev gave the counselor his hare sheepskin coat.

In Orenburg, Grinev was immediately sent to the Belogorsk fortress, to the team of Captain Mironov.

Chapter 3

"Belogorsk fortress was forty miles from Orenburg." On the very first day, Grinev met the commandant and his wife. The next day, Pyotr Andreevich made the acquaintance of officer Alexei Ivanovich Shvabrin. He was sent here "for murder" - "stabbed a lieutenant" during a duel. Shvabrin constantly made fun of the commandant's family. Mironov's daughter Marya liked Pyotr Andreevich very much, but Shvabrin described her as "a complete fool".

Chapter 4

Over time, Grinev found in Mary "a prudent and sensitive girl." Pyotr Andreevich began to write poetry and somehow read one of his works, dedicated to Marya, Shvabrin. He criticized the verse and said that the girl would prefer "a pair of earrings" instead of "gentle rhymes". Grinev called Shvabrin a scoundrel and he challenged Pyotr Andreevich to a duel. The first time they failed to get along - they were noticed and taken to the commandant. In the evening, Grinev learned that Shvabrin had been wooing Marya last year and had been refused.

The next day, Grinev and Shvabrin again met in a duel. During the duel, Savelich ran up and called out to Pyotr Andreevich. Grinev looked around, and the enemy struck him "in the chest below the right shoulder."

Chapter 5

All the time while Grinev was recovering, Marya looked after him. Pyotr Andreevich offered the girl to become his wife, she agreed.

Grinev wrote to his father that he was going to get married. However, Andrei Petrovich replied that he would not give consent to marriage and would even bother to transfer his son "somewhere far away." Upon learning of the answer of Grinev's parents, Marya was very upset, but did not want to get married without their consent (in particular, because the girl was a dowry). From then on she began to avoid Pyotr Andreevich.

Chapter 6

The news came that “the Don Cossack and schismatic Emelyan Pugachev” escaped from under guard, gathered a “villainous gang” and “produced indignation in the Yaik villages”. It soon became known that the rebels were going to go to the Belogorsk fortress. Preparations have begun.

Chapter 7

Grinev did not sleep all night. A lot of armed people gathered at the fortress. Pugachev himself rode between them on a white horse. The rebels broke into the fortress, the commandant was wounded in the head, Grinev was captured.

The crowd shouted "that the sovereign is waiting for the prisoners in the square and is taking the oath". Mironov and Lieutenant Ivan Ignatich refused to take the oath and were hanged. The same fate awaited Grinev, but at the last moment Savelich threw himself at Pugachev's feet and asked to be let go of Pyotr Andreevich. Shvabrin joined the rebels. Mary's mother was killed.

Chapter 8

Marya hid the priestess, calling her her niece. Savelich told Grinev that Pugachev was the same peasant to whom Pyotr Andreevich had given a sheepskin coat.

Pugachev summoned Grinev. Pyotr Andreevich admitted that he would not be able to serve him, since he was a “natural nobleman” and “sworn to the empress”: “My head is in your power: let me go - thank you; you execute - God will judge you; and I told you the truth." The sincerity of Pyotr Andreevich struck Pugachev, and he let him go "on all four sides."

Chapter 9

In the morning, Pugachev told Grinev to go to Orenburg and tell the governor and all the generals to wait for him in a week. The leader of the uprising appointed Shvabrin as the new commander in the fortress.

Chapter 10

A few days later news came that Pugachev was moving towards Orenburg. Grinev received a letter from Marya Ivanovna. The girl wrote that Shvabrin was forcing her to marry him and treated her very cruelly, so she asked Grinev for help.

Chapter 11

Not having received support from the general, Grinev went to the Belogorsk fortress. On the way, Pugachev's people seized them and Savelich. Grinev told the leader of the rebels that he was going to the Belogorsk fortress, since there Shvabrin offends an orphan girl - Grinev's bride. In the morning, Pugachev, together with Grinev and his people, drove to the fortress.

Chapter 12

Shvabrin said that Marya was his wife. But when they entered the girl’s room, Grinev and Pugachev saw that she was pale, thin, and from the food in front of her there was only “a jug of water covered with a slice of bread”. Shvabrin reported that the girl was Mironov's daughter, but Pugachev still let Grinev go with his lover.

Chapter 13

Approaching the town, Grinev and Marya were stopped by guards. Pyotr Andreevich went to the major and recognized him as Zurin. Grinev, after talking with Zurin, decided to send Marya to her parents in the village, while he himself remained to serve in the detachment.

At the end of February, Zurin's detachment set out on a campaign. Pugachev, after being defeated, again gathered a gang and went to Moscow, causing confusion. "Gangs of robbers were outrageous everywhere." "God forbid to see a Russian rebellion, senseless and merciless!".

Finally Pugachev was caught. Grinev went to his parents, but a paper arrived about his arrest in the Pugachev case.

Chapter 14

Grinev, on orders, arrived in Kazan, he was put in prison. During the interrogation, Pyotr Andreevich, not wanting to involve Marya, kept silent about why he was leaving Orenburg. Grinev's accuser, Shvabrin, claimed that Pyotr Andreevich was a spy for Pugachev.

Marya Ivanovna was received by Grinev's parents "with sincere cordiality". The news of the arrest of Pyotr Andreevich amazed everyone - he was threatened with life exile in Siberia. To save her lover, Marya went to St. Petersburg and stayed in Tsarskoye Selo. During a morning walk, she got into a conversation with an unfamiliar lady, told her her story and that she had come to ask the Empress for Grinev's pardon.

On the same day, the carriage of the Empress was sent for Marya. The Empress turned out to be the same lady with whom the girl had spoken in the morning. The Empress pardoned Grinev and promised to help her with the dowry.

According to not Grinev, but the author, at the end of 1774, Pyotr Andreich was released. "He was present at the execution of Pugachev, who recognized him in the crowd and nodded his head to him." Soon Grinev married Marya. "The manuscript of Pyotr Andreevich Grinev was delivered to us from one of his grandsons."

Conclusion

In the historical story of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin "The Captain's Daughter" both main and secondary characters deserve attention. The most controversial figure in the work is Emelyan Pugachev. The cruel, bloodthirsty leader of the rebels is portrayed by the author as a person who is not devoid of positive, somewhat romanticized qualities. Pugachev appreciates the kindness and sincerity of Grinev, helps his beloved.

The characters that oppose each other are Grinev and Shvabrin. Pyotr Andreich remains true to his ideas to the last, even when his life depended on it. Shvabrin easily changes his mind, joins the rebels, becomes a traitor.

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