An Avenger Page #2

"An Avenger" is a short story by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov that explores themes of justice, revenge, and the complexities of human emotions. The narrative revolves around a protagonist who confronts the moral dilemmas associated with seeking vengeance. Chekhov's signature style shines through in his subtle character development and the mundane setting, which ultimately highlight the profound psychological depth of his characters. The story invites readers to reflect on the consequences of their actions and the nature of retribution, skillfully blending irony with a poignant examination of human motives.

								

when she is examined by my counsel! The sympathies of the court, of the
Press, and of the public will certainly be with me."

While he deliberated the shopman displayed his wares, and felt it
incumbent upon him to entertain his customer.

"Here are English ones, a new pattern, only just received," he prattled
on. "But I warn you, M'sieu, all these systems pale beside the Smith and
Wesson. The other day--as I dare say you have read--an officer bought from
us a Smith and Wesson. He shot his wife's lover, and-would you believe
it?--the bullet passed through him, pierced the bronze lamp, then the
piano, and ricochetted back from the piano, killing the lap-dog and
bruising the wife. A magnificent record redounding to the honour of our
firm! The officer is now under arrest. He will no doubt be convicted and
sent to penal servitude. In the first place, our penal code is quite out
of date; and, secondly, M'sieu, the sympathies of the court are always
with the lover. Why is it? Very simple, M'sieu. The judges and the jury
and the prosecutor and the counsel for the defence are all living with
other men's wives, and it'll add to their comfort that there will be one
husband the less in Russia. Society would be pleased if the Government
were to send all the husbands to Sahalin. Oh, M'sieu, you don't know how
it excites my indignation to see the corruption of morals nowadays. To
love other men's wives is as much the regular thing to-day as to smoke
other men's cigarettes and to read other men's books. Every year our
trade gets worse and worse--it doesn't mean that wives are more faithful,
but that husbands resign themselves to their position and are afraid of
the law and penal servitude."

The shopman looked round and whispered: "And whose fault is it, M'sieu?
The Government's."

"To go to Sahalin for the sake of a pig like that--there's no sense in
that either," Sigaev pondered. "If I go to penal servitude it will only
give my wife an opportunity of marrying again and deceiving a second
husband. She would triumph. . . . And so I will leave her alive, I won't
kill myself, him . . . I won't kill either. I must think of something
more sensible and more effective. I will punish them with my contempt,
and will take divorce proceedings that will make a scandal."

"Here, M'sieu, is another make," said the shopman, taking down another
dozen from the shelf. "Let me call your attention to the original
mechanism of the lock."

In view of his determination a revolver was now of no use to Sigaev, but
the shopman, meanwhile, getting more and more enthusiastic, persisted in
displaying his wares before him. The outraged husband began to feel
ashamed that the shopman should be taking so much trouble on his account
for nothing, that he should be smiling, wasting time, displaying
enthusiasm for nothing.

"Very well, in that case," he muttered, "I'll look in again later on . .
. or I'll send someone."

He didn't see the expression of the shopman's face, but to smooth over
the awkwardness of the position a little he felt called upon to make
some purchase. But what should he buy? He looked round the walls of the
shop to pick out something inexpensive, and his eyes rested on a green
net hanging near the door.

"That's . . . what's that?" he asked.

"That's a net for catching quails."

"And what price is it?"

"Eight roubles, M'sieu."

"Wrap it up for me. . . ."

The outraged husband paid his eight roubles, took the net, and, feeling
even more outraged, walked out of the shop.
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