§7
I made my last appearance before the Commission in January or February of 1835. I was summoned there to read through my answers, make any additions I wished, and sign my name. Shubenski was the only Commissioner present. When I had done reading, I said:
“I should like to know what charge can be based on these questions and these answers. Which article of the code applies to my case?”
“The code of law is intended for crimes of a different kind,” answered the colonel in blue.
“That is another matter. But when I read over all these literary exercises, I cannot believe that the charge, on which I have spent six months in prison, is really contained there.”
“Do you really imagine,” returned Shubenski, “that we accepted your statement that you were not forming a secret society?”
“Where is it, then?” I asked.
“It is lucky for you that we could not find the proofs, and that you were cut short. We stopped you in time; indeed, it may be said that we saved you.”
Gógol’s story, in fact, over again, of the carpenter Poshlepkin and his wife, in The Revizor.[[75]]
[75]. Gógol, The Revizor, Act IV, Scene ii.