Resurrection

The accused, Euphemia Botchkova, stated that she knew nothing

about the missing money, that she had not even gone into

Smelkoff's room, but that Lubka had been busy there all by

herself; that if anything had been stolen, it must have been done

by Lubka when she came with the merchant's key to get his money.

At this point Maslova gave a start, opened her mouth, and looked

at Botchkova. "When," continued the secretary, "the receipt for

1,800 roubles from the bank was shown to Botchkova, and she was

asked where she had obtained the money, she said that it was her

own earnings for 12 years, and those of Simeon, whom she was

going to marry. The accused Simeon Kartinkin, when first

examined, confessed that he and Botchkova, at the instigation of

Maslova, who had come with the key from the brothel, had stolen

the money and divided it equally among themselves and Maslova."

Here Maslova again started, half-rose from her seat, and,

blushing scarlet, began to say something, but was stopped by the

usher. "At last," the secretary continued, reading, "Kartinkin

confessed also that he had supplied the powders in order to get

Smelkoff to sleep. When examined the second time he denied having

had anything to do with the stealing of the money or giving

Maslova the powders, accusing her of having done it alone."

Concerning the money placed in the bank by Botchkova, he said the

same as she, that is, that the money was given to them both by

the lodgers in tips during 12 years' service.

The indictment concluded as follows: In consequence of the foregoing, the peasant of the village

Borki, Simeon Kartinkin, 33 years of age, the meschanka Euphemia

Botchkova, 43 years of age, and the meschanka Katerina Maslova,

27 years of age, are accused of having on the 17th day of

January, 188--, jointly stolen from the said merchant, Smelkoff,

a ring and money, to the value of 2,500 roubles, and of having

given the said merchant, Smelkoff, poison to drink, with intent

of depriving him of life, and thereby causing his death. This

crime is provided for in clause 1,455 of the Penal Code,

paragraphs 4 and 5.