dead souls(死魂灵)-第12章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


s。　This　portion　of　the　box　could　be　taken　out；　and　below　it　were　both　a　space　for　manuscripts　and　a　secret　money…boxthe　latter　made　to　draw　out　from　the　side　of　the　receptacle。

＇7＇　To　serve　as　blotting…paper。

Chichikov　set　to　work　to　clean　a　pen；　and　then　to　write。　Presently　his　hostess　entered　the　room。

〃What　a　beautiful　box　you　have　got；　my　dear　sir！〃　she　exclaimed　as　she　took　a　seat　beside　him。　〃Probably　you　bought　it　in　Moscow？〃

〃Yesin　Moscow；〃　replied　Chichikov　without　interrupting　his　writing。

〃I　thought　so。　One　CAN　get　good　things　there。　Three　years　ago　my　sister　brought　me　a　few　pairs　of　warm　shoes　for　my　sons；　and　they　were　such　excellent　articles！　To　this　day　my　boys　wear　them。　And　what　nice　stamped　paper　you　have！〃　（she　had　peered　into　the　dispatch…box；　where；　sure　enough；　there　lay　a　further　store　of　the　paper　in　question）。　〃Would　you　mind　letting　me　have　a　sheet　of　it？　I　am　without　any　at　all；　although　I　shall　soon　have　to　be　presenting　a　plea　to　the　land　court；　and　possess　not　a　morsel　of　paper　to　write　it　on。〃

Upon　this　Chichikov　explained　that　the　paper　was　not　the　sort　proper　for　the　purposethat　it　was　meant　for　serf…indenturing；　and　not　for　the　framing　of　pleas。　Nevertheless；　to　quiet　her；　he　gave　her　a　sheet　stamped　to　the　value　of　a　rouble。　Next；　he　handed　her　the　letter　to　sign；　and　requested；　in　return；　a　list　of　her　peasants。　Unfortunately；　such　a　list　had　never　been　compiled；　let　alone　any　copies　of　it；　and　the　only　way　in　which　she　knew　the　peasants'　names　was　by　heart。　However；　he　told　her　to　dictate　them。　Some　of　the　names　greatly　astonished　our　hero；　so；　still　more；　did　the　surnames。　Indeed；　frequently；　on　hearing　the　latter；　he　had　to　pause　before　writing　them　down。　Especially　did　he　halt　before　a　certain　〃Peter　Saveliev　Neuvazhai　Korito。〃　〃What　a　string　of　titles！〃　involuntarily　he　ejaculated。　To　the　Christian　name　of　another　serf　was　appended　〃Korovi　Kirpitch；〃　and　to　that　of　a　third　〃Koleso　Ivan。〃　However；　at　length　the　list　was　compiled；　and　he　caught　a　deep　breath；　which　latter　proceeding　caused　him　to　catch　also　the　attractive　odour　of　something　fried　in　fat。

〃I　beseech　you　to　have　a　morsel；〃　murmured　his　hostess。　Chichikov　looked　up；　and　saw　that　the　table　was　spread　with　mushrooms；　pies；　and　other　viands。

〃Try　this　freshly…made　pie　and　an　egg；〃　continued　Madame。

Chichikov　did　so；　and　having　eaten　more　than　half　of　what　she　offered　him；　praised　the　pie　highly。　Indeed；　it　was　a　toothsome　dish；　and；　after　his　difficulties　and　exertions　with　his　hostess；　it　tasted　even　better　than　it　might　otherwise　have　done。

〃And　also　a　few　pancakes？〃　suggested　Madame。

For　answer　Chichikov　folded　three　together；　and；　having　dipped　them　in　melted　butter；　consigned　the　lot　to　his　mouth；　and　then　wiped　his　mouth　with　a　napkin。　Twice　more　was　the　process　repeated；　and　then　he　requested　his　hostess　to　order　the　britchka　to　be　got　ready。　In　dispatching　Fetinia　with　the　necessary　instructions；　she　ordered　her　to　return　with　a　second　batch　of　hot　pancakes。

〃Your　pancakes　are　indeed　splendid；〃　said　Chichikov；　applying　himself　to　the　second　consignment　of　fried　dainties　when　they　had　arrived。

〃Yes；　we　make　them　well　here；〃　replied　Madame。　〃Yet　how　unfortunate　it　is　that　the　harvest　should　have　proved　so　poor　as　to　have　prevented　me　from　earning　anything　on　my　But　why　should　you　be　in　such　a　hurry　to　depart；　good　sir？〃　She　broke　off　on　seeing　Chichikov　reach　for　his　cap。　〃The　britchka　is　not　yet　ready。〃

〃Then　it　is　being　got　so；　madam；　it　is　being　got　so；　and　I　shall　need　a　moment　or　two　to　pack　my　things。〃

〃As　you　please；　dear　sir；　but　do　not　forget　me　in　connection　with　those　Government　contracts。〃

〃No；　I　have　said　that　NEVER　shall　I　forget　you；〃　replied　Chichikov　as　he　hurried　into　the　hall。

〃And　would　you　like　to　buy　some　lard？〃　continued　his　hostess；　pursuing　him。

〃Lard？　Oh　certainly。　Why　not？　Only；　onlyI　will　do　so　ANOTHER　time。〃

〃I　shall　have　some　ready　at　about　Christmas。〃

〃Quite　so；　madam。　THEN　I　will　buy　anything　and　everythingthe　lard　included。〃

〃And　perhaps　you　will　be　wanting　also　some　feathers？　I　shall　be　having　some　for　sale　about　St。　Philip's　Day。〃

〃Very　well；　very　well；　madam。〃

〃There　you　see！〃　she　remarked　as　they　stepped　out　on　to　the　verandah。　〃The　britchka　is　NOT　yet　ready。〃

〃But　it　soon　will　be；　it　soon　will　be。　Only　direct　me　to　the　main　road。〃

〃How　am　I　to　do　that？〃　said　Madame。　〃'Twould　puzzle　a　wise　man　to　do　so；　for　in　these　parts　there　are　so　many　turnings。　However；　I　will　send　a　girl　to　guide　you。　You　could　find　room　for　her　on　the　box…seat；　could　you　not？〃

〃Yes；　of　course。〃

〃Then　I　will　send　her。　She　knows　the　way　thoroughly。　Only　do　not　carry　her　off　for　good。　Already　some　traders　have　deprived　me　of　one　of　my　girls。〃

Chichikov　reassured　his　hostess　on　the　point；　and　Madame　plucked　up　courage　enough　to　scan；　first　of　all；　the　housekeeper；　who　happened　to　be　issuing　from　the　storehouse　with　a　bowl　of　honey；　and；　next；　a　young　peasant　who　happened　to　be　standing　at　the　gates；　and；　while　thus　engaged；　she　became　wholly　absorbed　in　her　domestic　pursuits。　But　why　pay　her　so　much　attention？　The　Widow　Korobotchka；　Madame　Manilov；　domestic　life；　non…domestic　lifeaway　with　them　all！　How　strangely　are　things　compounded！　In　a　trice　may　joy　turn　to　sorrow；　should　one　halt　long　enough　over　it：　in　a　trice　only　God　can　say　what　ideas　may　strike　one。　You　may　fall　even　to　thinking：　〃After　all；　did　Madame　Korobotchka　stand　so　very　low　in　the　scale　of　human　perfection？　Was　there　really　such　a　very　great　gulf　between　her　and　Madame　Manilovbetween　her　and　the　Madame　Manilov　whom　we　have　seen　entrenched　behind　the　walls　of　a　genteel　mansion　in　which　there　were　a　fine　staircase　of　wrought　metal　and　a　number　of　rich　carpets；　the　Madame　Manilov　who　spent　most　of　her　time　in　yawning　behind　half…read　books；　and　in　hoping　for　a　visit　from　some　socially　distinguished　person　in　order　that　she　might　display　her　wit　and　carefully　rehearsed　thoughtsthoughts　which　had　been　de　rigeur　in　town　for　a　week　past；　yet　which　referred；　not　to　what　was　going　on　in　her　household　or　on　her　estateboth　of　which　properties　were　at　odds　and　ends；　owing　to　her　ignorance　of　the　art　of　managing　thembut　to　the　coming　political　revolution　in　France　and　the　direction　in　which　fashionable　Catholicism　was　supposed　to　be　moving？　But　away　with　such　things！　Why　need　we　speak　of　them？　Yet　how　comes　it　that　suddenly　into　the　midst　of　our　careless；　frivolous；　unthinking　moments　there　may　enter　another；　and　a　very　different；　tendency？that　the　smile　may　not　have　left　a　human　face　before　its　owner　will　have　radically　changed　his　or　her　nature　（though　not　his　or　her　environment）　with　the　result　that　the　face　will　suddenly　become　lit　with　a　radiance　never　before　seen　there？　。　。　。

〃Here　is　the　britchka；　here　is　the　britchka！〃　exclaimed　Chichikov　on　perceiving　that　vehicle　slowly　advancing。　〃Ah；　you　blockhead！〃　he　went　on　to　Selifan。　〃Why　have　you　been　loitering　about？　I　suppose　last　night's　fumes　have　not　yet　left　your　brain？〃

To　this　Selifan　returned　no　reply。

〃Good…bye；　madam；〃　added　the　speaker。　〃But　where　is　the　girl　whom　you　promised　me？〃

〃Here；　Pelagea！〃　called　the　hostess　to　a　wench　of　about　eleven　who　was　dressed　in　home…dyed　garments　and　could　boast　of　a　pair　of　bare　feet　which；　from　a　distance；　might　almost　have　been　mistaken　for　boots；　so　encrusted　were　they　with　fresh　mire。　〃Here；　Pelagea！　Come　and　show　this　gentleman　the　way。〃

Selifan　helped　the　girl　to　ascend　to　the　box…seat。　Placing　one　foot　upon　the　step　by　which　the　gentry　mounted；　she　covered　the　said　step　with　mud；　and　then；　ascending　higher；　attained　the　desired　position　beside　the　coachman。　Chichikov　followed　in　her　wake　（causing　the　britchka　to　heel　over　with　his　weight　as　he　did　so）；　and　then　settled　himself　back　into　his　place　with　an　〃All　right！　Good…bye；　madam！〃　as　the　horses　moved　away　at　a　trot。

Selifan　looked　gloomy　as　he　drove；　but　also　very　attentive　to　his　business。　This　was　invariably　his　custom　when　he　had　committed　the　fault　of　getting　drunk。　Also；　the　horses　looked　unusually　well…groomed。　In　particular；　the　collar　on　one　of　them　had　been　neatly　mended；　although　hitherto　its　state　of　dilapidation　had　been　such　as　perennially　to　allow　the　stuffing　to　protrude　through　the　leather。　The　silence　preserved　was　well…nigh　complete。　Merely　flourishing　his　whip；　Selifan　spoke　to　the　team　no　word　of　instruction；　although　the　skewbald　was　as　ready　as　usual　to　listen　to　conversation　of　a　didactic　nature；　seeing　that　at　such　times　the　reins　hung　loosely　in　the　hands　of　the　loquacious　driver；　and　the　whip　wandered　merely　as　a　matter　of　form　over　the　backs　of　the　troika。　This　time；　however；　there　could　be　heard　issuing　from　Selifan's　sullen　lips　only　the　uniformly　unpleasant　exclamation；　〃Now　then；　you　brutes！　Get　on　with　you；　get　on　with　you！〃　The　bay　and　the　Assessor　too　felt　put　out　at　not　hearing　themselves　called　〃my　pets〃　or　〃good　lads〃；　while；　in　addition；　the　skewbald　came　in　for　some　nasty　cuts　across　his　sleek　and　ample　quarters。　〃What　has　put　master　out　like　this？〃　thought　the　animal　as　it　shook　its　head。　〃Heaven　knows　where　he　does　not　keep　beating　meacross　the　back；　and　even　where　I　am　tenderer　still。　Yes；　he　keeps　catching　the　whip　in　my　ears；　and　lashing　me　under　the　belly。〃

〃To　the　right；　eh？〃　snapped　Selifan　to　the　girl　beside　him　as　he　pointed　to　a　rain…soaked　road　which　trended　away　through　fresh　green　fields。

〃No；　no；〃　she　replied。　〃I　will　show　you　the　road　when　the　time　comes。〃

〃Which　way；　then？〃　he　asked　again　when　they　had　proceeded　a　little　further。

〃This　way。〃　And　she　pointed　to　the　road　just　mentioned。

〃Get　along　with　you！〃　retorted　the　coachman。　〃That　DOES　go　to　the　right。　You　don't　know　your　right　hand　from　your　left。〃

The　weather　was　fine；　but　the　ground　so　excessively　sodden　that　the　wheels　of　the　britchka　collected　mire　until　they　had　become　caked　as　with　a　layer　of　felt；　a　circumstance　which　greatly　increased　the　weight　of　the　vehicle；　and　prevented　it　from　clearing　the　neighbouring　parishes　before　the　afternoon　was　arrived。　Also；　without　the　girl's　help　the　finding　of　the　way　would　have　been　impossible；　since　roads　wiggled　away　in　every　direction；　like　crabs　released　from　a　net；　and；　but　for　the　assistance　mentioned；　Selifan　would　have　found　himself　left　to　his　own　devices。　Presently　she　pointed　to　a　building　ahead；　with　the　words；　〃THERE　is　the　main　road。〃

〃And　what　is　the　building？〃　asked　Selifan。

〃A　tavern；〃　she　said。

〃Then　we　can　get　along　by　ourselves；〃　he　observed。　〃Do　you　get　down；　and　be　off　home。〃

With　that　he　stopped；　and　helped　her　to　alightmuttering　as　he　did　so：　〃Ah；　you　blackfooted　creature！〃

Chichikov　added　a　copper　groat；　and　she　departed　well　pleased　with　her　ride　in　the　gentleman's　carriage。



CHAPTER　IV

On　reaching　the　tavern；　Chichikov　called　a　halt。　His　reasons　for　this　were　twofoldnamely；　that　he　wanted　to　rest　the　horses；　and　that　he　himself　desired　some　refreshment。　In　this　connection　the　author　feels　bound　to　confess　that　the　appetite　and　the　capacity　of　such　men　are　greatly　to　be　envied。　Of　those　well…to…do　folk　of　St。　Petersburg　and　Moscow　who　spend　their　time　in　considering　what　they　shall　eat　on　the　morrow；