The Master and Margarita / Мастер и Маргарита. Книга для чтения на английском языке

Among them there may be magi, astrologers, soothsayers and murderers,” said the Procurator in a monotone, “and liars may be found too. You, for example, are a liar. It’s clearly recorded: inciting to demolish the Temple. Such is people’s testimony.”

“These good people,” the prisoner began, then hastily added “Hegemon” and continued: “learnt nothing and muddled up[66 - to muddle up – напутать] all I said. In general, I’m beginning to worry that this muddle will continue for a very long time.

And all because he records what I say incorrectly.”

Silence fell. By now both painful eyes were looking hard at the prisoner.

“I repeat to you, but for the last time, stop pretending to be mad, you villain,” pronounced Pilate in a gentle monotone. “Not a lot of what you’ve said is recorded, but what is recorded is enough to hang you.”

“No, no, Hegemon,” said the prisoner, his whole body tensing up[67 - to tense up – напрягаться] in his desire to convince, “he goes around, there’s this man that goes around with goatskin parchment and writes incessantly.

But once I took a glance at the parchment and I was horrified. I’d said absolutely nothing of what was recorded there. I begged him: for God’s sake, won’t you burn your parchment? But he tore it out of my hands and ran away.”

“Who is this?” Pilate asked with distaste, and put his hand up to his temple.

“Levi Matthew,” explained the prisoner willingly. “He was a tax collector, and I first met him in the street in Bethphage, where the corner of the fig orchard sticks out, and I got into conversation with him. His initial attitude towards me was hostile, and he even insulted me – that is, he thought he was insulting me by calling me a dog.” Here the prisoner grinned. “I personally see nothing bad about the animal to make me take offence at the word…”

The secretary stopped recording and cast a surreptitious look of surprise[68 - to cast a surreptitious look of surprise – бросить удивленный взгляд] – not at the prisoner, but at the Procurator.

“. However, after listening to me he began to soften,” continued Yeshua, “finally threw the money down on the road and said he would come travelling with me.