Leskov is a man on the clock reduction. Online reading of the book Man on the Clock by Nikolai Leskov

Nikolay Leskov

Man on the clock

The event, the story of which is brought to the attention of readers below, is touching and terrible in its significance for the main heroic person of the play, and the denouement of the case is so original that something similar to it is hardly even possible anywhere except Russia.

This is partly a courtly, partly a historical anecdote, not bad characterizing the morals and direction of a very interesting, but extremely poorly noted era of the thirties of the ongoing nineteenth century.

There is no fiction in the upcoming story at all.

In winter, around Epiphany, in 1839, there was a strong thaw in St. Petersburg. It was so wet that it was almost like it was spring: the snow was melting, drops were falling from the roofs during the day, and the ice on the rivers turned blue and turned watery. There were deep ice holes on the Neva in front of the Winter Palace. The wind was blowing warm, from the west, but very strong: water was blowing in from the seaside, and the cannons were firing.

The guard in the palace was occupied by a company of the Izmailovsky regiment, which was commanded by a brilliantly educated and very well-established young officer, Nikolai Ivanovich Miller (*1) (later a full general and director of the lyceum). This was a man with a so-called “humane” tendency, which had long been noticed in him and slightly harmed his career in the attention of the highest authorities.

In fact, Miller was a serviceable and reliable officer, and the palace guard at that time did not pose anything dangerous. It was the quietest and most serene time. The palace guard was not required to do anything other than precisely stand at their posts, and yet right here, on Captain Miller’s guard line at the palace, a very extraordinary and alarming incident occurred, which few of the living contemporaries of that time now barely remember.

At first everything went well on guard: posts were distributed, people were placed, and everything was in perfect order. Emperor Nikolai Pavlovich was healthy, went for a ride in the evening, returned home and went to bed. The palace also fell asleep. The calmest night has arrived. There is silence in the guardhouse (*2). Captain Miller pinned his white handkerchief to the high and always traditionally greasy morocco back of the officer's chair and sat down to while away the time with a book.

N.I. Miller was always a passionate reader, and therefore he was not bored, but read and did not notice how the night floated away; but suddenly, at the end of the second hour of the night, he was alarmed by a terrible anxiety: a non-commissioned non-commissioned officer appeared in front of him and, all pale, overwhelmed with fear, babbled quickly:

Trouble, your honor, trouble!

What's happened?!

A terrible misfortune has befallen!

N.I. Miller jumped up in indescribable alarm and could hardly really find out what exactly the “trouble” and “terrible misfortune” were.

The matter was as follows: a sentry, a soldier of the Izmailovsky regiment, by the name of Postnikov, standing on guard outside at the present Jordan entrance, heard that in the ice hole that covered the Neva opposite this place, a man was drowning and desperately praying for help.

Soldier Postnikov, one of the gentlemen's courtyard people, was a very nervous and very sensitive person. For a long time he listened to the distant screams and moans of the drowning man and became numb from them. In horror, he looked back and forth at the entire expanse of the embankment visible to him and, as luck would have it, neither here nor on the Neva, he did not see a single living soul.

No one can give help to a drowning man, and he will certainly drown...

Meanwhile, the drowning man struggles terribly long and stubbornly.

It seems like one thing he would like to do is to go down to the bottom without wasting energy, but no! His exhausted moans and inviting cries either break off and fall silent, then begin to be heard again, and, moreover, closer and closer to the palace embankment. It is clear that the man is not yet lost and is on the right path, straight into the light of the lanterns, but he, of course, still will not be saved, because it is here, on this path, that he will fall into the Jordanian ice hole. There he dives under the ice, and that’s it... Then it goes quiet again, and a minute later he’s gargling again and moaning: “Save me, save me!” And now it’s so close that you can even hear the splashes of water as he rinses...

Soldier Postnikov began to realize that it was extremely easy to save this man. If you now escape onto the ice, then the drowning person will certainly be right there. Throw him a rope, or give him a six, or give him a gun, and he is saved. He is so close that he can grab his hand and jump out. But Postnikov remembers both the service and the oath; he knows that he is a sentry, and the sentry never dares to leave his booth under any pretext.

On the other hand, Postnikov’s heart is very rebellious: it aches, it pounds, it freezes... Even if you tear it out and throw it at your own feet, these groans and cries make him so restless... It’s scary after all, to hear how another person is dying, and not to give this dying person help, when, in fact, there is a full opportunity for this, because the booth will not run away from the place and nothing else harmful will happen. “Or run away, huh?.. They won’t see?.. Oh, Lord, it would only be the end! He’s moaning again...”

In the one half hour that this lasted, soldier Postnikov became completely tormented in his heart and began to feel “doubts of reason.” But he was a smart and serviceable soldier, with a clear mind, and understood perfectly well that leaving his post was such a crime on the part of the sentry, which would immediately be followed by a military trial, and then a race through the ranks with gauntlets and hard labor, and maybe even and "execution"; but from the side of the swollen river, moans are again flowing closer and closer, and gurgling and desperate floundering can already be heard.

W-o-o-well!.. Save me, I’m drowning!

Here now there is a Jordanian ice hole... The end!

Postnikov looked around in all directions once or twice. There is not a soul anywhere, only the lanterns shake and flicker in the wind, and this scream flies intermittently along the wind... maybe the last scream...

Another splash, another monotonous scream, and the water began to gurgle.

The sentry could not stand it and left his post.

Postnikov rushed to the gangplank, ran with his heart beating strongly onto the ice, then into the rising water of the ice hole and, soon seeing where the drowned man was struggling, handed him the stock of his gun.

The drowning man grabbed the butt, and Postnikov pulled him by the bayonet and pulled him ashore.

This story could only happen in Russia, since stories with such unusual and sometimes absurd endings usually happen only here. The story being told resembles an anecdote, but there is no fiction in it at all.

Chapter two

In 1839 the winter was warm. In the area of ​​the baptism, drops were already ringing with might and main, and it seemed that spring had come.

At that time, the Izmailovsky regiment, commanded by Nikolai Ivanovich Miller, was on guard in the palace - he was a reliable man, albeit humane in his views.

Chapter Three

Everything was calm on the guard - the sovereign was not ill, and the guards regularly performed their duties.

Miller was never bored on guard - he loved to read books and spent the whole night reading.

One day a frightened guard came running to him and said that something bad had happened.

Chapter Four

Soldier Postnikov, who was standing guard at that time for about an hour, heard the screams of a drowning man. At first he was afraid to leave his post for a long time, but then he finally decided and pulled out the drowning man.

Chapter Five

Postnikov led the drowning man to the embankment and hurriedly returned to his post.

Another officer took advantage of this opportunity - he attributed the salvation of the drowning man to himself, since he should have been awarded a medal for this.

Chapter Six

Postnikov confessed everything to Miller.

Miller reasoned this way: since a disabled officer took a drowning man to the Admiralty unit on his sleigh, it means that everyone will quickly know about the incident.

Miller began to act quickly - he informed Lieutenant Colonel Svinin about what had happened.

Chapter Seven

Svinin was a very demanding person in terms of discipline and disciplinary violations.

He was not distinguished by humanity, but he was not a despot either. Svinin always acted according to the regulations, as he wanted to reach heights in his career.

Chapter Eight

Svinin arrived and interviewed Postnikov. Then he reproached Miller for his humanity, sent Postnikov to a punishment cell and began to look for a way out of the current situation.

Chapter Nine

At five in the morning, Svinin decided to go personally to Police Chief Kokoshkin and consult with him.

Chapter ten

Kokoshkin was still sleeping at this time. The servant woke him up. After listening to Svinin, Kokoshkin sent for the disabled officer, the drowned man and the bailiff of the Admiralty unit.

Chapter Eleven

When everyone gathered, the drowning man said that he wanted to take a shortcut, but lost his way and fell into the water, it was dark and he did not see his savior, most likely it was a disabled officer. Svinin was amazed by the story.

Chapter Twelve

The disabled officer confirmed the story. Kokoshkin spoke with Svinin again and sent him on his way.

Chapter Thirteen

Svinin told Miller that Kokoshkin managed to settle everything and now it was time to release Postnikov from the punishment cell and punish him with rods.

Chapter fourteen

Miller tried to convince Svinin not to punish Postnikov, but Svinin did not agree. When the company was formed, Postnikov was taken out and flogged.

Chapter fifteen

Svinin then personally visited Postnikov in the infirmary to make sure that the punishment was carried out in good faith.

Chapter sixteen

The story about Postnikov began to spread quickly, and then gossip about the disabled officer joined it.

The event, the story of which is presented below to the attention of readers,
touching and terrible in its significance for the main heroic person
plays, and the denouement of the case is so original that something like it is hardly even
perhaps somewhere other than Russia.
This is partly a courtly, partly historical anecdote,
not bad characterizes the morals and direction of a very curious, but extremely
the poorly noted era of the thirties of the nineteenth
centuries.
There is no fiction in the upcoming story at all.

2

In winter, around Epiphany, in 1839, there was a strong thaw in St. Petersburg.
It was so wet that it was almost as if it were spring: the snow was melting from the roofs
Drops fell during the day, and the ice on the rivers turned blue and turned watery. On the Neva before
The Winter Palace itself was surrounded by deep ice holes. The wind was blowing warm, western,
but very strong: water was rushing in from the seaside, and the cannons were firing.
The guard in the palace was occupied by a company of the Izmailovsky regiment, which was commanded by
brilliantly educated and very well socialized young
officer, Nikolai Ivanovich Miller (*1) (later full general and
director of the lyceum). This was a man with a so-called “humane” direction,
which had been noticed for a long time and slightly harmed him in his service during
to the attention of senior management.
- In fact, Miller was a serviceable and reliable officer, and the palace
the guard at that time did not represent anything dangerous. It was time
quiet and serene. Nothing was required from the palace guard except
exactly standing at the posts, and yet right here, on the guard line
Captain Miller at the palace, a very extraordinary and alarming incident occurred
an incident that few of those living their lives now barely remember
contemporaries of that time.

3

At first everything went well on guard: posts were distributed, people were placed,
and everything was in perfect order. Sovereign Nikolai Pavlovich was
healthy, went for a drive in the evening, returned home and went to bed. I fell asleep and
castle. The calmest night has arrived. There is silence in the guardhouse (*2). Captain
Miller pinned his white handkerchief to the high and always
the traditionally greasy morocco back of the officer's chair and sat down to while away
time for a book.
N.I. Miller was always a passionate reader, and therefore he was not bored, but
I read and did not notice how the night floated away; but suddenly, at the end of the second hour
night, he was alarmed by a terrible anxiety: a divorced
non-commissioned officer and, all pale, overcome with fear, babbles quickly:
- Trouble, your honor, trouble!
- What's happened?!
- A terrible misfortune has befallen!
N.I. Miller jumped up in indescribable alarm and could barely find out
what exactly the “trouble” and “terrible misfortune” were.

4

The case was as follows: a sentry, a soldier of the Izmailovsky regiment,
surname Postnikov, standing on guard outside at the current Jordan entrance,
I heard that in the hole that covered the Neva opposite this place,
the man bursts into tears and desperately begs for help.
Soldier Postnikov, one of the gentlemen's courtyard people, was a very
nervous and very sensitive. He listened for a long time to distant screams and moans
drowning man and fell into a daze from them. In horror he looked back and
here to the entire expanse of the embankment visible to him and neither here nor on the Neva,
as luck would have it, I didn’t see a single living soul.
No one can give help to a drowning man, and he will certainly drown...
Meanwhile, the drowning man struggles terribly long and stubbornly.
It seems to him that he would only like to go down to the bottom without wasting effort, right?
No! His exhausted moans and calling cries will then break off and fall silent,
then they begin to be heard again, and, moreover, closer and closer to the palace
embankment. It is clear that the person is not yet lost and is on the right path.
into the light of the lanterns, but he, of course, still won’t be saved, because
that it was here, on this path, that he would fall into the Jordanian ice hole. There for him
dive under the ice, and the end... Then it calms down again, and a minute later it’s rinsing again
and groans: “Save, save!” And now it’s so close that you can even hear
splashes of water as it rinses...
Soldier Postnikov began to realize that it was extremely difficult to save this man.
easily. If you now escape onto the ice, then the drowning person will certainly be right there.
Throw him a rope, or give him a six, or give him a gun, and he is saved.
He is so close that he can grab his hand and jump out. But Postnikov remembers
and service and oath; he knows that he is a sentry, and a sentry will never
What excuse does he not dare leave his booth?
On the other hand, Postnikov’s heart is very rebellious: it aches,
It just keeps knocking, it just freezes... Even tear it out and throw it at your own feet,
- these moans and cries make him feel so restless... It’s scary
hear how another person is dying, and do not give this dying person
help, when, in fact, there is a full opportunity for this, because
that the booth will not run away and nothing else harmful will happen. "Il
run away, huh?.. They won’t see?.. Oh, my God, it would be the end! Moaning again..."
In the one half hour this lasted, soldier Postnikov was completely tormented.
heart and began to feel “doubts of reason.” And he was a smart soldier and
serviceable, with a clear mind, and understood perfectly well that he should leave his post
there is such guilt on the part of the sentry, which will immediately follow
a military trial, and then a race through the gauntlet with gauntlets and hard labor, and
maybe even “execution”; but from the side of the swollen river again
the moans are getting closer and closer, and you can already hear muttering and desperate
floundering.
- W-o-o-well!.. Save me, I’m drowning!
Here now there is a Jordanian ice hole... The end!
Postnikov looked around in all directions once or twice. There's not a soul anywhere,
only the lanterns shake from the wind and flicker, and interrupted by the wind,
this scream comes... maybe the last scream...
Another splash, another monotonous scream, and the water began to gurgle.
The sentry could not stand it and left his post.

5

Postnikov rushed to the gangplank, ran with his heart beating strongly onto the ice,
then into the flooded water of the hole and, soon seeing where it beats
the drowned man, pouring, handed him the stock of his gun.
The drowning man grabbed the butt, and Postnikov pulled him by the bayonet and
pulled ashore.
The rescued and the savior were completely wet, and how of them the rescued one was
in extreme fatigue and trembling and falling, then his savior, soldier Postnikov,
did not dare to abandon him on the ice, but took him to the embankment and began
look around to see who to give it to. Meanwhile, while all this was being done, on
a sleigh appeared on the embankment, in which sat an officer of the then existing
court invalid team (later abolished).
This gentleman who arrived at such an inopportune time for Postnikov must have
believe he is a man of a very frivolous character, and a little
stupid and quite insolent. He jumped off the sleigh and began to ask:
- What kind of person... what kind of people?
“I was drowning, drowning,” Postnikov began.
- How did you drown? Who, were you drowning? Why in such a place?
And he just flinches away, and Postnikov is no longer there: he took the gun at
shoulder and stood in the booth again.
Whether the officer realized what was going on or not, he did not investigate further, but
he immediately picked up the rescued man in his sleigh and rode with him on
Morskaya, to the Admiralty part of the shelter.
Here the officer made a statement to the bailiff that the man he had brought was wet.
drowned in a hole opposite the palace and was saved by him, Mr. Officer, with
danger to his own life.
The one who was rescued was still all wet, cold and exhausted.
From fright and from terrible efforts he fell into unconsciousness, and for him it was
it doesn't matter who saved him.
A sleepy police paramedic was busy around him, and in the office
wrote a protocol on the verbal statement of a disabled officer and, with
with the suspicion characteristic of police people, they wondered how he himself
Are you completely dry out of the water? And the officer who had a desire to get himself
established medal “for saving the dead,” explained this to the happy
coincidence, but explained it awkwardly and unbelievably. Let's go wake you up
The bailiff was sent to make inquiries.
Meanwhile, in the palace, other, quick
currents.

6

In the palace guardhouse all the now mentioned revolutions after the adoption
The officer who rescued the drowned man in his sleigh was unknown. There
The Izmailovo officer and soldiers knew only that their soldier Postnikov,
leaving the booth, rushed to save the man, and how this is a big violation
military duties, then Private Postnikov will now certainly go under
trial and canings, and to all commanding officers, from company commander to
regiment commander, you will get into terrible troubles, against which there is nothing
You can neither object nor justify yourself.
The wet and trembling soldier Postnikov, of course, was immediately relieved from
fast and, being brought to the guardhouse, frankly told
N.I. Miller everything that we know, and with all the details that reached
before the disabled officer took the rescued drowned man to his place and
ordered his coachman to gallop to the Admiralty part.
The danger became greater and more inevitable. Of course, disabled
the officer will tell the bailiff everything, and the bailiff will immediately bring this to the attention of
information from Chief of Police Kokoshkin, and he will report to the sovereign in the morning, and
there will be a fever.
There was no time to argue for a long time; it was necessary to call upon the elders to take action.
Nikolai Ivanovich Miller immediately sent an alarming note to his
battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel Svinin, in which he asked him how
You can come to the palace guardhouse as soon as possible and help in any way possible
a terrible disaster has occurred.
It was already about three o’clock, and Kokoshkin appeared with a report to the sovereign
quite early in the morning, so that all thoughts and actions remained
very little time.

7

Lieutenant Colonel Svinin did not have that compassion and kindness,
which always distinguished Nikolai Ivanovich Miller: Svinin was not a man
heartless, but first of all and most of all a “service worker” (the type about whom
Nowadays they remember it again with regret). Svinin was distinguished by severity and even
loved to flaunt his demanding discipline. He had no taste for evil and
did not seek to cause unnecessary suffering to anyone; but if a person violated
whatever the duty of service, Svinin was inexorable. He thought
it is inappropriate to enter into a discussion of the motives that guided this
case by the movement of the culprit, but adhered to the rule that in the service every
guilt is to blame. Therefore, everyone in the guard company knew that they would have to
endure to ordinary Postnikov for leaving his post, then he
he will endure it, and Svinin will not grieve about it.
This is how this staff officer was known to his superiors and comrades, between
which were people who did not sympathize with Svinin, because then it was not yet
“humanism” and other similar delusions have completely disappeared. Svinin was
indifferent to whether “humanists” blame or praise him. Beg and plead
Pork or even trying to pity him - it was completely
useless. From all this he was tempered by the strong temperament of career people
of that time, but he, like Achilles, had weak point.
Svinin also had a well-started career, which he,
Of course, he carefully protected and treasured the fact that it was like a ceremonial
uniform, not a single speck of dust sat down: and yet the unfortunate trick of a man
from the battalion entrusted to him would certainly cast a bad shadow on
discipline of his entire part. Is the battalion commander guilty or not guilty of
what one of his soldiers did under the influence of passion for the noblest
compassion - this will not be understood by those on whom the good depends
Svinin’s career was launched and carefully maintained, and many
they will even willingly roll a log under his feet to make way for their neighbor
or move a young man who is protected by people in the case. Sovereign, of course
will get angry and will certainly tell the regimental commander that he has “weak
officers" that their "people are disbanded." And who did this? - Svinin. Here
so it will continue to be repeated that “Svinin is weak”, and so, maybe, submissive
weakness and will remain an indelible stain on his, Pig’s, reputation. Not
to be then nothing remarkable among his contemporaries and not
leave your portrait in the gallery historical figures states
Russian.
Although they studied history little at that time, they nevertheless believed in it
and they themselves especially willingly sought to participate in its composition.

8

As soon as Svinin received an alarming note from
Captain Miller, he immediately jumped out of bed, dressed in uniform and, under
influenced by fear and anger, arrived at the guardhouse Winter Palace. Here he is
immediately interrogated Private Postnikov and became convinced that
an incredible thing happened. Private Postnikov is again quite
sincerely confirmed to his battalion commander the same thing,
what happened on his watch and what he, Postnikov, had already shown to his
Company Captain Miller. The soldier said that he was “to blame for God and the sovereign
without mercy" that he stood on guard and, hearing the groans of a man,
drowning in a hole, suffered for a long time, was in a struggle between official
duty and compassion, and finally temptation came upon him, and he did not
withstood this struggle: left the booth, jumped onto the ice and pulled out the drowning man
to the shore, and here, as luck would have it, he was caught by a passing palace officer
disabled team.
Lieutenant Colonel Svinin was in despair; he gave himself the only possible
satisfaction, having taken out his anger on Postnikov, who immediately
from here he was sent under arrest to the barracks punishment cell, and then said a few
barbs at Miller, reproaching him for his “humanitarianism”, which is not worth anything
suitable for military service; but all this was not enough to
fix things. Find, if not an excuse, then at least an apology for this
an act like leaving a sentry at his post was impossible, and
There was only one outcome - to hide the whole matter from the sovereign...
But is it possible to hide such an incident?
Apparently, this seemed impossible, since salvation
Not only did all the guards know the deceased, but the hated one also knew
disabled officer, who so far, of course, managed to report everything
This is not known to General Kokoshkin.
Where to go now? Who should I rush to? Who should we look to for help and protection?
Svinin wanted to ride to Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich (*3) and
tell him everything frankly. Such maneuvers were in vogue then. Let
the Grand Duke, due to his ardent character, would get angry and shout, but he
character and custom were such that the stronger he was the first time
harshness and even seriously offend, the sooner he will have mercy and he himself
will intercede. There were many similar cases, and sometimes they were deliberately looked for.
“There was no abuse at the gate,” and Svinin would very much like to reduce the matter to this
favorable position, but is it possible to gain access to the palace at night and
disturb the Grand Duke? And wait until morning and come to Mikhail Pavlovich
after Kokoshkin visits the sovereign with a report, it will already be
late. And while Svinin was worried amid such difficulties, he went limp, and his mind
he began to see another exit, which until now had been hidden in the fog.

9

Among the well-known military techniques, there is one such that in a minute
the highest danger threatening from the walls of the besieged fortress should not be removed
away from it, but go straight under its walls. Svinin decided not to do anything
whatever came to his mind at first, and immediately go straight to
Kokoshkin.
There was a lot of talk about Chief Police Officer Kokoshkin in St. Petersburg at that time.
terrifying and absurd, but, among other things, they claimed that he had
amazing multilateral tact and with the assistance of this tact not only
"knows how to make an elephant out of a molehill, but just as easily knows how to make an elephant out of a molehill
fly."
Kokoshkin was indeed very stern and very menacing and inspired everyone
great fear of himself, but he sometimes made peace with naughty men and good merry fellows
from the military, and there were many such naughty people back then, and it happened to them more than once
find a powerful and zealous protector in his person. In general he
He could and could do a lot if he wanted to. This is how he was known
Svinin, and Captain Miller. Miller also strengthened his battalion
commander dare to go immediately to Kokoshkin and
trust his generosity and his “many-sided tact”, which,
will probably dictate to the general how to get out of this unfortunate incident,
so as not to anger the sovereign, which Kokoshkin, to his credit, always
avoided with great diligence.
Svinin put on his overcoat, looked up and exclaimed several times:
"Lord, Lord!" - went to Kokoshkin.
It was already five o'clock in the morning.

10

Chief of Police Kokoshkin was woken up and reported to him about Svinin,
arrived on an important and urgent matter.
The general immediately stood up and went out to Svinin in an archaluchka, rubbing his forehead,
yawning and cringing. Kokoshkin listened to everything that Svinin told with great
attention, but calmly. During all these explanations and requests for
condescendingly said only one thing:
- The soldier threw the booth and saved the man?
“Exactly so,” answered Svinin.
- And the booth?
- It remained empty at that time.
- Hm... I knew that it remained empty. I'm very glad that she's not
stolen.
From this Svinin became even more convinced that he already knew everything and that he,
of course, he had already decided in what form he would present this in the morning
report to the sovereign, and the decision will not change this. Otherwise such an event
like a sentry leaving his post on the palace guard, no doubt
should have alarmed the energetic
Chief of Police.
But Kokoshkin knew nothing. The bailiff to whom the disabled person came
the officer with the rescued drowned man did not see anything special in this matter
importance. In his eyes it was not even such a thing that at night
disturb the tired chief of police, and, moreover, the very event
seemed rather suspicious to the bailiff, because the disabled
the officer was completely dry, which could not have happened if he was saving
a drowned man in danger of his own life. The bailiff saw this
officer is only an ambitious and liar who wants to have one new medal on
chest, and therefore, while his duty officer was writing the report, the bailiff held him
himself as an officer and tried to extract the truth from him through questioning small
details.
The bailiff was also not pleased that such an incident happened in his
parts and that the drowned man was pulled out not by a policeman, but by a palace officer.
Kokoshkin’s calmness was explained simply, firstly, by the terrible
the fatigue that he was experiencing at that time after a whole day's bustle and
night participation in extinguishing two fires, and secondly, the fact that the matter,
made by the sentry Postnikov, he, Mr. Chief of Police, was not directly
concerned.
However, Kokoshkin immediately made the corresponding order.
He sent for the bailiff of the Admiralty unit and ordered him to immediately
appear together with the disabled officer and the rescued drowned man, and
Pig asked to wait in the small reception area in front of the office. Then
Kokoshkin retired to the office and, without closing the door behind him, sat down at the table and
started to sign papers; but now he bowed his head in his hands and
fell asleep at the table in a chair.

11

12

13

At one o'clock in the afternoon the disabled officer was indeed again required to
Kokoshkin, who very affectionately announced to him that the sovereign was very pleased,
that among the officers of the disabled team of his palace there are such vigilant and
selfless people, and bestows upon him a medal “for saving the dead.” At
Kokoshkin personally presented the hero with a medal, and he went to flaunt it.
The matter, therefore, could be considered completely done, but Lieutenant Colonel
Svinin felt some kind of incompleteness in him and revered himself
called upon to put a point sur les i [dot the i (French)].
He was so alarmed that he was ill for three days, and on the fourth he got up,
went to Petrovsky House, served a thanksgiving prayer service in front of the icon
Savior and, returning home with a calm soul, sent to ask for
Captain Miller.
“Well, thank God, Nikolai Ivanovich,” he said to Miller, “now
the thunderstorm that had been weighing on us had completely passed, and our unfortunate affair with
the sentry was completely settled. Now it seems we can breathe
calmly. We, without a doubt, owe all this first to God’s mercy, and
then to General Kokoshkin. Let them say about him that he is both unkind and
heartless, but I am filled with gratitude for his generosity and respect for
his resourcefulness and tact. He made amazing use of it
the boasting of this disabled scoundrel, who, in truth, would have been worth
his audacity not to be awarded a medal, but to be torn out of both crusts in the stable, but
there was nothing else left: they had to be used for salvation
many, and Kokoshkin turned the whole thing so cleverly that no one got away with anything
the slightest trouble - on the contrary, everyone is very happy and satisfied. Between us
to say, it was conveyed to me through a reliable person that Kokoshkin himself
_very pleased_. He was pleased that I didn’t go anywhere, but showed up straight
to him and did not argue with this rogue who received the medal. In a word,
no one was hurt, and everything was done with such tact that there was no fear in the future
nothing, but we have a small flaw. We must also tactfully
follow Kokoshkin’s example and finish the matter on our part so that
protect yourself just in case later. There is another person whom
the position has not been formalized. I'm talking about Private Postnikov. He's still in
in a punishment cell under arrest, and he is, no doubt, tormented by the anticipation of what will happen to him.
His painful languor must also cease.
- Yes, it's time! - suggested the delighted Miller.
- Well, of course, and you all had better do it: please go
go to the barracks now, gather your company, bring out Private Postnikov
from under arrest and punish him in front of the line with two hundred rods.

14

Miller was amazed and tried to persuade Svinin to
general joy to completely spare and forgive Private Postnikov, who
already suffered a lot, waiting in the punishment cell for a decision on what he
will; but Svinin flared up and did not even allow Miller to continue.
“No,” he interrupted, “leave it: I just told you about tact,
and now you are starting to be tactless! Leave it!
Svinin changed his tone to a drier and more formal one and added with
hardness:
- And how in this matter you yourself are also not entirely right and even very guilty,
because you have a gentleness that does not suit a military man, and this
your character flaw is reflected in the chain of command in your
subordinates, then I order you to personally be present at the execution and
insist that the section be carried out seriously... as strictly as possible. For
please order that young soldiers from
new arrivals from the army, because our old people are all infected in this regard
Guards liberalism: they don’t flog their comrades as they should, but only fleas
they are scaring him behind his back. I'll stop by myself and see for myself how guilty it will be
done.
Evasion of any official orders from a superior
faces, of course, had no place, and the kind-hearted N.I. Miller had to
accurately carry out the order he received from his battalion commander.
The company was lined up in the courtyard of the Izmailovo barracks, rods were brought from
supplies in sufficient quantities, and Private Postnikov was taken out of the punishment cell
"was made" with the diligent assistance of young newcomers from the army
comrades. These people, unspoiled by guard liberalism, are perfectly
put on him all the points sur les i, fully determined to him by his
battalion commander. Then the punished Postnikov was raised and
directly from here on the same overcoat on which he was flogged, transferred to
regimental hospital.

15

Battalion commander Svinin, upon receipt of the execution report
execution, immediately visited Postnikov in the infirmary in a fatherly manner and, to
to his pleasure, he was most clearly convinced that his order
executed to perfection. The compassionate and nervous Postnikov was “made like
follows." Svinin was pleased and ordered to give himself to the punished
A pound of sugar and a quarter of a pound of tea for Lent, so that he can enjoy himself while
will be on the mend. Postnikov, lying on his bed, heard this order about tea
and answered:
- I am very pleased, Your Highness, thank you for your fatherly mercy.
And he really was "satisfied" because, sitting in the punishment cell for three days, he
I expected much worse. Two hundred rods, according to the strong times of that time,
meant very little compared to the punishments that people suffered
according to sentences of a military court; and this is exactly the punishment that would have been given
Postnikov, if, to his happiness, all those brave and
tactical evolutions described above.
But the number of everyone happy with the incident described is not
limited.

16

Quietly, the feat of Private Postnikov spread across different circles
capital, which at that time of printed voicelessness lived in an atmosphere
endless gossip. In oral transmissions the name of the real hero is the soldier
Postnikov - was lost, but the epic itself swelled and became very
interesting, romantic character.
They said that he was sailing towards the palace from the direction of the Peter and Paul Fortress.
some extraordinary swimmer, in whom one of those standing near the palace
the sentries shot and wounded the swimmer, and a disabled officer passing by rushed
into the water and saved him, for which they received: one - a due reward, and the other -
deserved punishment. This absurd rumor reached the courtyard, where that
at one time there lived a bishop who was cautious and not indifferent to “secular events”,
favorably favored by the devout Moscow family of the Svinins.
The legend about the shot seemed unclear to the insightful ruler. So what?
is this a night swimmer? If he was an escaped prisoner, then why was he punished?
the sentry who did his duty by shooting him as he swam
across the Neva from the fortress? If this is not a prisoner, but another mysterious person,
who had to be rescued from the waves of the Neva, then why could anyone know about him?
hourly? And then again it cannot be that it was like that in the world
they talk nonsense. There is a lot in the world that people take very lightly and talk about in vain ways, but
those living in monasteries and farmsteads take everything much more seriously and
they know the most real things about secular affairs.

17

One day, when Svinin happened to visit the bishop to receive from him
blessing, the highly respected owner spoke to him “speaking of the shot.”
Svinin told the whole truth, in which, as we know, there was nothing
similar to what they were talking about “by the way about the shot.”
Vladyka listened to the real story in silence, slightly moving his
white rosary and without taking his eyes off the narrator. When is Svinin
finished, the bishop said in a quietly murmuring speech:
- Therefore, we must conclude that in this matter not everything and everywhere
was stated in accordance with the complete truth?
Svinin hesitated and then answered with a bias that it was not he who reported, but
General Kokoshkin.
Vladyka silently passed the rosary several times through his wax
fingers and then said:
- We must distinguish between what is a lie and what is incomplete truth.
Again the rosary, again silence, and finally quiet speech:
- An incomplete truth is not a lie. But that's the least of it.
“This is really so,” said the encouraged Svinin. - Me,
Of course, what confuses me the most is that I had to punish
this soldier who, although he violated his duty...
Rosary and low-flow interruption:
- Duty of service should never be violated.
- Yes, but they did it out of generosity, out of compassion, and, moreover, with
such a struggle and with danger: he understood that, saving the life of another
to a person, he destroys himself... This is a high, holy feeling!
- The holy is known to God, but punishment does not happen on the body of a commoner
destructive and does not contradict either the custom of nations or the spirit of Scripture. Lozu
It is much easier to endure on the gross body than subtle suffering in the spirit. In this
justice has not suffered at all from you.
- But he is also deprived of the reward for saving the dead.
- Saving the perishing is not a merit, but more than a duty. Who could save and
if he didn’t save, he is subject to the punishment of the laws, and whoever saved, fulfilled his duty.
Pause, rosary and low flow:
- A warrior can endure much more humiliation and wounds for his feat
more useful than boasting about a sign. But what is greatest in all this is
then to be careful about this whole matter and not mention it anywhere
about someone who was told about this on some occasion.
Obviously, the bishop was pleased too.

18

If I had the boldness of the happy chosen ones of heaven, who, according to
their great faith is given to penetrate the secrets of God's vision, then I, perhaps,
I would dare to allow myself the assumption that, probably, God himself was
pleased with the behavior of the humble soul Postnikov created by him. But my faith is small;
it does not give my mind the strength to contemplate such lofty things: I cling to the earthly and
earthy. I think about those mortals who love goodness just for the sake of
good and do not expect any rewards for it anywhere. These straight and
reliable people, too, it seems to me, should be quite satisfied with the saint
impulse of love and no less holy patience of the humble hero of my exact and
an unimaginative story.

NOTES

The original title was “Saving the Perishing.”
The story has a series of historical figures: Captain Miller,
Chief of Police Kokoshkin, Lieutenant Colonel Svinin; in "lord"
contemporaries guessed Metropolitan Philaret, Nicholas I and
Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich, the details of the situation are conveyed quite accurately.
The writer's son Andrei Nikolaevich recalls that the story was written from the words
N.I.Miller.
However, this is not a retelling of a fact, but an artistic generalization. In the preface
Leskov says: “This constitutes partly courtly, partly historical
an anecdote that characterizes well the morals and direction of a very curious, but
the extremely poorly marked era of the thirties...".

1. Miller Nikolai Ivanovich (died in 1889) - lieutenant general,
inspector, then director of the Alexander Lyceum. From memory
contemporaries, was a humane person.
2. Guardhouse - guardhouse.
3. Romanov Mikhail Pavlovich (1798-1848), younger brother Nicholas I.
4. Inaccurate quote from “The Inspector General” by N.V. Gogol. In Gogol (III d., yavl.
VI): "Thirty-five thousand couriers alone!"

Analysis of N. Leskov’s story “The Man on the Clock”

The plot of Nikolai Leskov’s story “The Man on the Clock” is based on moral problem. This is the problem of human duty. The hero of the story, the palace guard sentry Postnikov, faces a difficult choice. Standing on guard at the booth, he sees a drowning man ice water Neva man. It's night all around. The duty of humanity and human conscience calls on the soldier to save the drowning man. “A disobedient heart”—that’s how Postnikov feels about it.

But under no circumstances should the guard leave his post. They are waiting for him severe punishment, tribunal, hard labor, even execution. During the time of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, such rules were adopted in the troops. Duty of service and fear keep the soldier in place. As a result, the soldier can’t stand it, pulls the drowning man out of the water, and, of course, gets caught by his superiors.

The composition of N. Leskov's story “The Man on the Clock” is structured chronologically. At first, these are the feelings of Postnikov himself, facing a choice. Then the further actions of his superiors are described. The author ironically writes how they perceive the news of a person’s salvation: “Trouble! A terrible misfortune has befallen!” And the fuss of careerists begins, for whom the main thing is not to reward the savior, but to hide the very fact that the soldier left his post.

Leskov's artistic techniques are mainly irony, sometimes sarcasm.

The idea of ​​N. Leskov’s story “The Man on the Clock” is the absurdity and inhumanity of the system, which is built on fear and “window dressing.” In such a system, the living, the human recede into the background, and most importantly - formalities, “appearance”.

Unscrupulously, the police chief and lieutenant colonel, Kokoshkin and Svinin “cover up the tracks” of the sentry’s exploit. The rescue medal is awarded to another person. This is the officer who “noticed” Postnikov “at the crime scene.” They deceive even the most saved person who wants to pray for the savior in the temple.

The theme of N. Leskov’s story “The Man on the Clock” is the theme of conscience, the theme of humanity, the theme of freedom, the theme of soulless formalism.

The central images of the story “The Man on the Clock”: this is the image of Postnikov himself, a man faithful to both duty and humanity. He is humble and patient in a Christian way; apparently, even his last name was not chosen by chance by the author. Postnikov is capable of sacrificing himself for the sake of another. This is a simple and downtrodden man, he sincerely believes that “God and the sovereign are to blame” for moving away from the useless guard box and saving a human being.

The image of Svinin is also interesting. This is the type of person mired in formalism. His last name is also one of the “talking” ones. Most of all, Svinin is interested in his career and his superiors’ opinion of him. He first puts Postnikov in a punishment cell, and then orders him to be punished with canes: they say, he got off so easily. He contemptuously calls the salvation of man “humanity.” The lieutenant colonel covers up his absurd order with idle talk: “there is no point in discouraging liberal ideas!”

In winter, around Epiphany, in 1839, there was a strong thaw in St. Petersburg, the ice on the river melted and was covered with polynyas. Sentinel Postnikov was holding his post and was on guard duty when he suddenly heard screams calling for help; a man was drowning, having fallen into the wormwood through carelessness. Postnikov for some time did not dare to leave the guard post, since this was a direct violation of the regulations, and could entail the most terrible punishment - a military court for desertion. But compassion got the better of him, and he left his post. And with the help of his gun he pulled the man out of mortal danger.

While Postnikov was thinking about what to do with the wet man, the sleigh of an officer of the court invalid team appeared on the road. Without asking questions, he took the freezing man with him and took him to headquarters, saying there that the savior was precisely He. But the rescued man was too weak and exhausted, it didn’t matter to him who said what, he wanted to warm up, and was very glad that he was alive.

After some time, senior officials learned that Postnikov was leaving his post while on guard duty. And he had no choice but to turn for help to the battalion commander Svinin, who was a kind and conscientious person, since there were no witnesses to this incident, and no one could confirm that Postnikov left the guard in order to save the life of a drowning man to a person. He tried to help him, but had to report the incident to Chief of Police Kokoshkin, as a result of which the case became widely publicized.

But it so happened that the award, anyway, was awarded to the officer who presented himself as the savior. And the Postnikovs were given two hundred blows with rods, after which they were placed in a punishment cell for 3 days.

After his confinement in the punishment cell came to an end, Svinin brought the soldier a foot of sugar and tea, as he was very worried that he could not protect him from punishment. But Postnikov was happy about this too, since he expected the worst turn of events after spending three days in the punishment cell. He thought that the military court would sentence him to death, so this violation of the charter was unacceptable.

Having heard this story, the bishop turned to Svinin to find out the truth, after which the priest made the following conclusion: punishment for a good deed can bring much more benefit than encouragement and reward exalted by the law.

The main idea of ​​the story The Man on the Clock

This story teaches that a person should always remain human, have compassion, empathy and help others, even if the consequences may be undesirable or even terrible.

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Leskov. All works

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• Man on the clock

Man on the clock. Picture for the story

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