Page 594 - the-idiot

it laugh. He continued these acts of mercy up to his very
death; and by that time all the criminals, all over Russia and
Siberia, knew him!
‘A man I knew who had been to Siberia and returned, told
me that he himself had been a witness of how the very most
hardened criminals remembered the old general, though,
in point of fact, he could never, of course, have distributed
more than a few pence to each member of a party. Their rec-
ollection of him was not sentimental or particularly devoted.
Some wretch, for instance, who had been a murderer—cut-
ting the throat of a dozen fellowcreatures, for instance; or
stabbing six little children for his own amusement (there
have been such men!)—would perhaps, without rhyme or
reason, suddenly give a sigh and say, ‘I wonder whether
that old general is alive still!’ Although perhaps he had not
thought of mentioning him for a dozen years before! How
can one say what seed of good may have been dropped into
his soul, never to die?’
‘I continued in that strain for a long while, pointing out
to Bachmatoff how impossible it is to follow up the effects of
any isolated good deed one may do, in all its influences and
subtle workings upon the heart and after-actions of others.
‘And to think that you are to be cut off from life!’ re-
marked Bachmatoff, in a tone of reproach, as though he
would like to find someone to pitch into on my account.
‘We were leaning over the balustrade of the bridge, look-
ing into the Neva at this moment.
‘Do you know what has suddenly come into my head?’
said I, suddenly—leaning further and further over the rail.