dead souls(死魂灵)-第10章

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But　the　guest　declined　the　proffered　heel…tickling；　and；　on　his　hostess　taking　her　departure；　hastened　to　divest　himself　of　his　clothing；　both　upper　and　under；　and　to　hand　the　garments　to　Fetinia。　She　wished　him　good…night；　and　removed　the　wet　trappings；　after　which　he　found　himself　alone。　Not　without　satisfaction　did　he　eye　his　bed；　which　reached　almost　to　the　ceiling。　Clearly　Fetinia　was　a　past　mistress　in　the　art　of　beating　up　such　a　couch；　and；　as　the　result；　he　had　no　sooner　mounted　it　with　the　aid　of　a　chair　than　it　sank　well…nigh　to　the　floor；　and　the　feathers；　squeezed　out　of　their　proper　confines；　flew　hither　and　thither　into　every　corner　of　the　apartment。　Nevertheless　he　extinguished　the　candle；　covered　himself　over　with　the　chintz　quilt；　snuggled　down　beneath　it；　and　instantly　fell　asleep。　Next　day　it　was　late　in　the　morning　before　he　awoke。　Through　the　window　the　sun　was　shining　into　his　eyes；　and　the　flies　which；　overnight；　had　been　roosting　quietly　on　the　walls　and　ceiling　now　turned　their　attention　to　the　visitor。　One　settled　on　his　lip；　another　on　his　ear；　a　third　hovered　as　though　intending　to　lodge　in　his　very　eye；　and　a　fourth　had　the　temerity　to　alight　just　under　his　nostrils。　In　his　drowsy　condition　he　inhaled　the　latter　insect；　sneezed　violently；　and　so　returned　to　consciousness。　He　glanced　around　the　room；　and　perceived　that　not　all　the　pictures　were　representative　of　birds；　since　among　them　hung　also　a　portrait　of　Kutuzov＇4＇　and　an　oil　painting　of　an　old　man　in　a　uniform　with　red　facings　such　as　were　worn　in　the　days　of　the　Emperor　Paul＇5＇。　At　this　moment　the　clock　uttered　its　usual　hissing　sound；　and　struck　ten；　while　a　woman's　face　peered　in　at　the　door；　but　at　once　withdrew；　for　the　reason　that；　with　the　object　of　sleeping　as　well　as　possible；　Chichikov　had　removed　every　stitch　of　his　clothing。　Somehow　the　face　seemed　to　him　familiar；　and　he　set　himself　to　recall　whose　it　could　be。　At　length　he　recollected　that　it　was　the　face　of　his　hostess。　His　clothes　he　found　lying；　clean　and　dry；　beside　him；　so　he　dressed　and　approached　the　mirror；　meanwhile　sneezing　again　with　such　vehemence　that　a　cock　which　happened　at　the　moment　to　be　near　the　window　（which　was　situated　at　no　great　distance　from　the　ground）　chuckled　a　short；　sharp　phrase。　Probably　it　meant；　in　the　bird's　alien　tongue；　〃Good　morning　to　you！〃　Chichikov　retorted　by　calling　the　bird　a　fool；　and　then　himself　approached　the　window　to　look　at　the　view。　It　appeared　to　comprise　a　poulterer's　premises。　At　all　events；　the　narrow　yard　in　front　of　the　window　was　full　of　poultry　and　other　domestic　creaturesof　game　fowls　and　barn　door　fowls；　with；　among　them；　a　cock　which　strutted　with　measured　gait；　and　kept　shaking　its　comb；　and　tilting　its　head　as　though　it　were　trying　to　listen　to　something。　Also；　a　sow　and　her　family　were　helping　to　grace　the　scene。　First；　she　rooted　among　a　heap　of　litter；　then；　in　passing；　she　ate　up　a　young　pullet；　lastly；　she　proceeded　carelessly　to　munch　some　pieces　of　melon　rind。　To　this　small　yard　or　poultry…run　a　length　of　planking　served　as　a　fence；　while　beyond　it　lay　a　kitchen　garden　containing　cabbages；　onions；　potatoes；　beetroots；　and　other　household　vegetables。　Also；　the　garden　contained　a　few　stray　fruit　trees　that　were　covered　with　netting　to　protect　them　from　the　magpies　and　sparrows；　flocks　of　which　were　even　then　wheeling　and　darting　from　one　spot　to　another。　For　the　same　reason　a　number　of　scarecrows　with　outstretched　arms　stood　reared　on　long　poles；　with；　surmounting　one　of　the　figures；　a　cast…off　cap　of　the　hostess's。　Beyond　the　garden　again　there　stood　a　number　of　peasants'　huts。　Though　scattered；　instead　of　being　arranged　in　regular　rows；　these　appeared　to　Chichikov's　eye　to　comprise　well…to…do　inhabitants；　since　all　rotten　planks　in　their　roofing　had　been　replaced　with　new　ones；　and　none　of　their　doors　were　askew；　and　such　of　their　tiltsheds　as　faced　him　evinced　evidence　of　a　presence　of　a　spare　waggonin　some　cases　almost　a　new　one。

＇4＇　A　Russian　general　who；　in　1812；　stoutly　opposed　Napoleon　at　the　　　　　battle　of　Borodino。

＇5＇　The　late　eighteenth　century。

〃This　lady　owns　by　no　means　a　poor　village；〃　said　Chichikov　to　himself；　wherefore　he　decided　then　and　there　to　have　a　talk　with　his　hostess；　and　to　cultivate　her　closer　acquaintance。　Accordingly　he　peeped　through　the　chink　of　the　door　whence　her　head　had　recently　protruded；　and；　on　seeing　her　seated　at　a　tea　table；　entered　and　greeted　her　with　a　cheerful；　kindly　smile。

〃Good　morning；　dear　sir；〃　she　responded　as　she　rose。　〃How　have　you　slept？〃　She　was　dressed　in　better　style　than　she　had　been　on　the　previous　evening。　That　is　to　say；　she　was　now　wearing　a　gown　of　some　dark　colour；　and　lacked　her　nightcap；　and　had　swathed　her　neck　in　something　stiff。

〃I　have　slept　exceedingly　well；〃　replied　Chichikov；　seating　himself　upon　a　chair。　〃And　how　are　YOU；　good　madam？〃

〃But　poorly；　my　dear　sir。〃

〃And　why　so？〃

〃Because　I　cannot　sleep。　A　pain　has　taken　me　in　my　middle；　and　my　legs；　from　the　ankles　upwards；　are　aching　as　though　they　were　broken。〃

〃That　will　pass；　that　will　pass；　good　mother。　You　must　pay　no　attention　to　it。〃

〃God　grant　that　it　MAY　pass。　However；　I　have　been　rubbing　myself　with　lard　and　turpentine。　What　sort　of　tea　will　you　take？　In　this　jar　I　have　some　of　the　scented　kind。〃

〃Excellent；　good　mother！　Then　I　will　take　that。〃

Probably　the　reader　will　have　noticed　that；　for　all　his　expressions　of　solicitude；　Chichikov's　tone　towards　his　hostess　partook　of　a　freer；　a　more　unceremonious；　nature　than　that　which　he　had　adopted　towards　Madam　Manilov。　And　here　I　should　like　to　assert　that；　howsoever　much；　in　certain　respects；　we　Russians　may　be　surpassed　by　foreigners；　at　least　we　surpass　them　in　adroitness　of　manner。　In　fact　the　various　shades　and　subtleties　of　our　social　intercourse　defy　enumeration。　A　Frenchman　or　a　German　would　be　incapable　of　envisaging　and　understanding　all　its　peculiarities　and　differences；　for　his　tone　in　speaking　to　a　millionaire　differs　but　little　from　that　which　he　employs　towards　a　small　tobacconistand　that　in　spite　of　the　circumstance　that　he　is　accustomed　to　cringe　before　the　former。　With　us；　however；　things　are　different。　In　Russian　society　there　exist　clever　folk　who　can　speak　in　one　manner　to　a　landowner　possessed　of　two　hundred　peasant　souls；　and　in　another　to　a　landowner　possessed　of　three　hundred；　and　in　another　to　a　landowner　possessed　of　five　hundred。　In　short；　up　to　the　number　of　a　million　souls　the　Russian　will　have　ready　for　each　landowner　a　suitable　mode　of　address。　For　example；　suppose　that　somewhere　there　exists　a　government　office；　and　that　in　that　office　there　exists　a　director。　I　would　beg　of　you　to　contemplate　him　as　he　sits　among　his　myrmidons。　Sheer　nervousness　will　prevent　you　from　uttering　a　word　in　his　presence；　so　great　are　the　pride　and　superiority　depicted　on　his　countenance。　Also；　were　you　to　sketch　him；　you　would　be　sketching　a　veritable　Prometheus；　for　his　glance　is　as　that　of　an　eagle；　and　he　walks　with　measured；　stately　stride。　Yet　no　sooner　will　the　eagle　have　left　the　room　to　seek　the　study　of　his　superior　officer　than　he　will　go　scurrying　along　（papers　held　close　to　his　nose）　like　any　partridge。　But　in　society；　and　at　the　evening　party　（should　the　rest　of　those　present　be　of　lesser　rank　than　himself）　the　Prometheus　will　once　more　become　Prometheus；　and　the　man　who　stands　a　step　below　him　will　treat　him　in　a　way　never　dreamt　of　by　Ovid；　seeing　that　each　fly　is　of　lesser　account　than　its　superior　fly；　and　becomes；　in　the　presence　of　the　latter；　even　as　a　grain　of　sand。　〃Surely　that　is　not　Ivan　Petrovitch？〃　you　will　say　of　such　and　such　a　man　as　you　regard　him。　〃Ivan　Petrovitch　is　tall；　whereas　this　man　is　small　and　spare。　Ivan　Petrovitch　has　a　loud；　deep　voice；　and　never　smiles；　whereas　this　man　（whoever　he　may　be）　is　twittering　like　a　sparrow；　and　smiling　all　the　time。〃　Yet　approach　and　take　a　good　look　at　the　fellow　and　you　will　see　that　is　IS　Ivan　Petrovitch。　〃Alack；　alack！〃　will　be　the　only　remark　you　can　make。

Let　us　return　to　our　characters　in　real　life。　We　have　seen　that；　on　this　occasion；　Chichikov　decided　to　dispense　with　ceremony；　wherefore；　taking　up　the　teapot；　he　went　on　as　follows：

〃You　have　a　nice　little　village　here；　madam。　How　many　souls　does　it　contain？〃

〃A　little　less　than　eighty；　dear　sir。　But　the　times　are　hard；　and　I　have　lost　a　great　deal　through　last　year's　harvest　having　proved　a　failure。〃

〃But　your　peasants　look　fine；　strong　fellows。　May　I　enquire　your　name？　Through　arriving　so　late　at　night　I　have　quite　lost　my　wits。〃

〃Korobotchka；　the　widow　of　a　Collegiate　Secretary。〃

〃I　humbly　thank　you。　And　your　Christian　name　and　patronymic？〃

〃Nastasia　Petrovna。〃

〃Nastasia　Petrovna！　Those　are　excellent　names。　I　have　a　maternal　aunt　named　like　yourself。〃

〃And　YOUR　name？〃　queried　the　lady。　〃May　I　take　it　that　you　are　a　Government　Assessor？〃

〃No；　madam；〃　replied　Chichikov　with　a　smile。　〃I　am　not　an　Assessor；　but　a　traveller　on　private　business。〃

〃Then　you　must　be　a　buyer　of　produce？　How　I　regret　that　I　have　sold　my　honey　so　cheaply　to　other　buyers！　Otherwise　YOU　might　have　bought　it；　dear　sir。〃

〃I　never　buy　honey。〃

〃Then　WHAT　do　you　buy；　pray？　Hemp？　I　have　a　little　of　that　by　me；　but　not　more　than　half　a　pood＇6＇　or　so。〃

＇6＇　Forty　Russian　pounds。

〃No；　madam。　It　is　in　other　wares　that　I　deal。　Tell　me；　have　you；　of　late　years；　lost　many　of　your　peasants　by　death？〃

〃Yes；　no　fewer　than　eighteen；〃　responded　the　old　lady　with　a　sigh。　〃Such　a　fine　lot；　tooall　good　workers！　True；　others　have　since　grown　up；　but　of　what　use　are　THEY？　Mere　striplings。　When　the　Assessor　last　called　upon　me　I　could　have　wept；　for；　though　those　workmen　of　mine　are　dead；　I　have　to　keep　on　paying　for　them　as　though　they　were　still　alive！　And　only　last　week　my　blacksmith　got　burnt　to　death！　Such　a　clever　hand　at　his　trade　he　was！〃

〃What？　A　fire　occurred　at　your　place？〃

〃No；　no；　God　preserve　us　all！　It　was　not　so　bad　as　that。　You　must　understand　that　the　blacksmith　SET　HIMSELF　on　firehe　got　set　on　fire　in　his　bowels　through　overdrinking。　Yes；　all　of　a　sudden　there　burst　from　him　a　blue　flame；　and　he　smouldered　and　smouldered　until　he　had　turned　as　black　as　a　piece　of　charcoal！　Yet　what　a　clever　blacksmith　he　was！　And　now　I　have　no　horses　to　drive　out　with；　for　there　is　no　one　to　shoe　them。〃

〃In　everything　the　will　of　God；　madam；〃　said　Chichikov　with　a　sigh。　〃Against　the　divine　wisdom　it　is　not　for　us　to　rebel。　Pray　hand　them　over　to　me；　Nastasia　Petrovna。〃

〃Hand　over　whom？〃

〃The　dead　peasants。〃

〃But　how　could　I　do　that？〃

〃Quite　simply。　Sell　them　to　me；　and　I　will　give　you　some　money　in　exchange。〃

〃But　how　am　I　to　sell　them　to　you？　I　scarcely　understand　what　you　mean。　Am　I　to　dig　them　up　again　from　the　ground？〃

Chichikov　perceived　that　the　old　lady　was　altogether　at　sea；　and　that　he　must　explain　the　matter；　wherefore　in　a　few　words　he　informed　her　that　the　transfer　or　purchase　of　the　souls　in　question　would　take　place　merely　on　paperthat　the　said　souls　would　be　listed　as　still　alive。

〃And　what　good　would　they　be　to　you？〃　asked　his　hostess；　staring　at　him　with　her　eyes　distended。

〃That　is　MY　affair。〃

〃But　they　are　DEAD　souls。〃