dead souls(死魂灵)-第14章

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〃No；　for　what　would　be　the　use　of　betting　about　it？〃

〃Then　at　least　wager　the　gun　which　you　have　bought。〃

〃No；　I　am　not　going　to　do　anything　of　the　kind。〃

〃Just　as　an　experiment？〃

〃No。〃

〃It　is　as　well　for　you　that　you　don't；　since；　otherwise；　you　would　have　found　yourself　minus　both　gun　and　cap。　However；　friend　Chichikov；　it　is　a　pity　you　were　not　there。　Had　you　been　there；　I　feel　sure　you　would　have　found　yourself　unable　to　part　with　Lieutenant　Kuvshinnikov。　You　and　he　would　have　hit　it　off　splendidly。　You　know；　he　is　quite　a　different　sort　from　the　Public　Prosecutor　and　our　other　provincial　skinflintsfellows　who　shiver　in　their　shoes　before　they　will　spend　a　single　kopeck。　HE　will　play　faro；　or　anything　else；　and　at　any　time。　Why　did　you　not　come　with　us；　instead　of　wasting　your　time　on　cattle　breeding　or　something　of　the　sort？　But　never　mind。　Embrace　me。　I　like　you　immensely。　Mizhuev；　see　how　curiously　things　have　turned　out。　Chichikov　has　nothing　to　do　with　me；　or　I　with　him；　yet　here　is　he　come　from　God　knows　where；　and　landed　in　the　very　spot　where　I　happen　to　be　living！　I　may　tell　you　that；　no　matter　how　many　carriages　I　possessed；　I　should　gamble　the　lot　away。　Recently　I　went　in　for　a　turn　at　billiards；　and　lost　two　jars　of　pomade；　a　china　teapot；　and　a　guitar。　Then　I　staked　some　more　things；　and；　like　a　fool；　lost　them　all；　and　six　roubles　in　addition。　What　a　dog　is　that　Kuvshinnikov！　He　and　I　attended　nearly　every　ball　in　the　place。　In　particular；　there　was　a　womandecolletee；　and　such　a　swell！　I　merely　thought　to　myself；　'The　devil　take　her！'　but　Kuvshinnikov　is　such　a　wag　that　he　sat　down　beside　her；　and　began　paying　her　strings　of　compliments　in　French。　However；　I　did　not　neglect　the　damsels　altogetheralthough　HE　calls　that　sort　of　thing　'going　in　for　strawberries。'　By　the　way；　I　have　a　splendid　piece　of　fish　and　some　caviare　with　me。　'Tis　all　I　HAVE　brought　back！　In　fact　it　is　a　lucky　chance　that　I　happened　to　buy　the　stuff　before　my　money　was　gone。　Where　are　you　for？〃

〃I　am　about　to　call　on　a　friend。〃

〃On　what　friend？　Let　him　go　to　the　devil；　and　come　to　my　place　instead。〃

〃I　cannot；　I　cannot。　I　have　business　to　do。〃

〃Oh；　business　again！　I　thought　so！〃

〃But　I　HAVE　business　to　doand　pressing　business　at　that。〃

〃I　wager　that　you're　lying。　If　not；　tell　me　whom　you're　going　to　call　upon。〃

〃Upon　Sobakevitch。〃

Instantly　Nozdrev　burst　into　a　laugh　compassable　only　by　a　healthy　man　in　whose　head　every　tooth　still　remains　as　white　as　sugar。　By　this　I　mean　the　laugh　of　quivering　cheeks；　the　laugh　which　causes　a　neighbour　who　is　sleeping　behind　double　doors　three　rooms　away　to　leap　from　his　bed　and　exclaim　with　distended　eyes；　〃Hullo！　Something　HAS　upset　him！〃

〃What　is　there　to　laugh　at？〃　asked　Chichikov；　a　trifle　nettled；　but　Nozdrev　laughed　more　unrestrainedly　than　ever；　ejaculating：　〃Oh；　spare　us　all！　The　thing　is　so　amusing　that　I　shall　die　of　it！〃

〃I　say　that　there　is　nothing　to　laugh　at；〃　repeated　Chichikov。　〃It　is　in　fulfilment　of　a　promise　that　I　am　on　my　way　to　Sobakevitch's。〃

〃Then　you　will　scarcely　be　glad　to　be　alive　when　you've　got　there；　for　he　is　the　veriest　miser　in　the　countryside。　Oh；　_I_　know　you。　However；　if　you　think　to　find　there　either　faro　or　a　bottle　of　'Bonbon'　you　are　mistaken。　Look　here；　my　good　friend。　Let　Sobakevitch　go　to　the　devil；　and　come　to　MY　place；　where　at　least　I　shall　have　a　piece　of　sturgeon　to　offer　you　for　dinner。　Ponomarev　said　to　me　on　parting：　'This　piece　is　just　the　thing　for　you。　Even　if　you　were　to　search　the　whole　market；　you　would　never　find　a　better　one。'　But　of　course　he　is　a　terrible　rogue。　I　said　to　him　outright：　'You　and　the　Collector　of　Taxes　are　the　two　greatest　skinflints　in　the　town。'　But　he　only　stroked　his　beard　and　smiled。　Every　day　I　used　to　breakfast　with　Kuvshinnikov　in　his　restaurant。　Well；　what　I　was　nearly　forgetting　is　this：　that；　though　I　am　aware　that　you　can't　forgo　your　engagement；　I　am　not　going　to　give　you　upno；　not　for　ten　thousand　roubles　of　money。　I　tell　you　that　in　advance。〃

Here　he　broke　off　to　run　to　the　window　and　shout　to　his　servant　（who　was　holding　a　knife　in　one　hand　and　a　crust　of　bread　and　a　piece　of　sturgeon　in　the　otherhe　had　contrived　to　filch　the　latter　while　fumbling　in　the　britchka　for　something　else）：

〃Hi；　Porphyri！　Bring　here　that　puppy；　you　rascal！　What　a　puppy　it　is！　Unfortunately　that　thief　of　a　landlord　has　given　it　nothing　to　eat；　even　though　I　have　promised　him　the　roan　filly　which；　as　you　may　remember；　I　swopped　from　Khvostirev。〃　As　a　matter　of　act；　Chichikov　had　never　in　his　life　seen　either　Khvostirev　or　the　roan　filly。

〃Barin；　do　you　wish　for　anything　to　eat？〃　inquired　the　landlady　as　she　entered。

〃No；　nothing　at　all。　Ah；　friend　Chichikov；　what　times　we　had！　Yes；　give　me　a　glass　of　vodka；　old　woman。　What　sort　to　you　keep？〃

〃Aniseed。〃

〃Then　bring　me　a　glass　of　it；〃　repeated　Nozdrev。

〃And　one　for　me　as　well；〃　added　the　flaxen…haired　man。

〃At　the　theatre；〃　went　on　Nozdrev；　〃there　was　an　actress　who　sang　like　a　canary。　Kuvshinnikov；　who　happened　to　be　sitting　with　me；　said：　'My　boy；　you　had　better　go　and　gather　that　strawberry。'　As　for　the　booths　at　the　fair；　they　numbered；　I　should　say；　fifty。〃　At　this　point　he　broke　off　to　take　the　glass　of　vodka　from　the　landlady；　who　bowed　low　in　acknowledgement　of　his　doing　so。　At　the　same　moment　Porphyria　fellow　dressed　like　his　master　（that　is　to　say；　in　a　greasy；　wadded　overcoat）entered　with　the　puppy。

〃Put　the　brute　down　here；〃　commanded　Nozdrev；　〃and　then　fasten　it　up。〃

Porphyri　deposited　the　animal　upon　the　floor；　whereupon　it　proceeded　to　act　after　the　manner　of　dogs。

〃THERE'S　a　puppy　for　you！〃　cried　Nozdrev；　catching　hold　of　it　by　the　back；　and　lifting　it　up。　The　puppy　uttered　a　piteous　yelp。

〃I　can　see　that　you　haven't　done　what　I　told　you　to　do；〃　he　continued　to　Porphyri　after　an　inspection　of　the　animal's　belly。　〃You　have　quite　forgotten　to　brush　him。〃

〃I　DID　brush　him；〃　protested　Porphyri。

〃Then　where　did　these　fleas　come　from？〃

〃I　cannot　think。　Perhaps　they　have　leapt　into　his　coat　out　of　the　britchka。〃

〃You　liar！　As　a　matter　of　fact；　you　have　forgotten　to　brush　him。　Nevertheless；　look　at　these　ears；　Chichikov。　Just　feel　them。〃

〃Why　should　I？　Without　doing　that；　I　can　see　that　he　is　well…bred。〃

〃Nevertheless；　catch　hold　of　his　ears　and　feel　them。〃

To　humour　the　fellow　Chichikov　did　as　he　had　requested；　remarking：　〃Yes；　he　seems　likely　to　turn　out　well。〃

〃And　feel　the　coldness　of　his　nose！　Just　take　it　in　your　hand。〃

Not　wishing　to　offend　his　interlocutor；　Chichikov　felt　the　puppy's　nose；　saying：　〃Some　day　he　will　have　an　excellent　scent。〃

〃Yes；　will　he　not？　'Tis　the　right　sort　of　muzzle　for　that。　I　must　say　that　I　have　long　been　wanting　such　a　puppy。　Porphyri；　take　him　away　again。〃

Porphyri　lifted　up　the　puppy；　and　bore　it　downstairs。

〃Look　here；　Chichikov；〃　resumed　Nozdrev。　〃You　MUST　come　to　my　place。　It　lies　only　five　versts　away；　and　we　can　go　there　like　the　wind；　and　you　can　visit　Sobakevitch　afterwards。〃

〃Shall　I；　or　shall　I　not；　go　to　Nozdrev's？〃　reflected　Chichikov。　〃Is　he　likely　to　prove　any　more　useful　than　the　rest？　Well；　at　least　he　is　as　promising；　even　though　he　has　lost　so　much　at　play。　But　he　has　a　head　on　his　shoulders；　and　therefore　I　must　go　carefully　if　I　am　to　tackle　him　concerning　my　scheme。〃

With　that　he　added　aloud：　〃Very　well；　I　WILL　come　with　you；　but　do　not　let　us　be　long；　for　my　time　is　very　precious。〃

〃That's　right；　that's　right！〃　cried　Nozdrev。　〃Splendid；　splendid！　Let　me　embrace　you！〃　And　he　fell　upon　Chichikov's　neck。　〃All　three　of　us　will　go。〃

〃No；　no；〃　put　in　the　flaxen…haired　man。　〃You　must　excuse　me；　for　I　must　be　off　home。〃

〃Rubbish；　rubbish！　I　am　NOT　going　to　excuse　you。〃

〃But　my　wife　will　be　furious　with　me。　You　and　Monsieur　Chichikov　must　change　into　the　other　britchka。〃

〃Come；　come！　The　thing　is　not　to　be　thought　of。〃

The　flaxen…haired　man　was　one　of　those　people　in　whose　character；　at　first　sight；　there　seems　to　lurk　a　certain　grain　of　stubbornnessso　much　so　that；　almost　before　one　has　begun　to　speak；　they　are　ready　to　dispute　one's　words；　and　to　disagree　with　anything　that　may　be　opposed　to　their　peculiar　form　of　opinion。　For　instance；　they　will　decline　to　have　folly　called　wisdom；　or　any　tune　danced　to　but　their　own。　Always；　however；　will　there　become　manifest　in　their　character　a　soft　spot；　and　in　the　end　they　will　accept　what　hitherto　they　have　denied；　and　call　what　is　foolish　sensible；　and　even　danceyes；　better　than　any　one　else　will　doto　a　tune　set　by　some　one　else。　In　short；　they　generally　begin　well；　but　always　end　badly。

〃Rubbish！〃　said　Nozdrev　in　answer　to　a　further　objection　on　his　brother…in…law's　part。　And；　sure　enough；　no　sooner　had　Nozdrev　clapped　his　cap　upon　his　head　than　the　flaxen…haired　man　started　to　follow　him　and　his　companion。

〃But　the　gentleman　has　not　paid　for　the　vodka？〃　put　in　the　old　woman。

〃All　right；　all　right；　good　mother。　Look　here；　brother…in…law。　Pay　her；　will　you；　for　I　have　not　a　kopeck　left。〃

〃How　much？〃　inquired　the　brother…in…law。

〃What；　sir？　Eighty　kopecks；　if　you　please；〃　replied　the　old　woman。

〃A　lie！　Give　her　half　a　rouble。　That　will　be　quite　enough。〃

〃No；　it　will　NOT；　barin；〃　protested　the　old　woman。　However；　she　took　the　money　gratefully；　and　even　ran　to　the　door　to　open　it　for　the　gentlemen。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　she　had　lost　nothing　by　the　transaction；　since　she　had　demanded　fully　a　quarter　more　than　the　vodka　was　worth。

The　travellers　then　took　their　seats；　and　since　Chichikov's　britchka　kept　alongside　the　britchka　wherein　Nozdrev　and　his　brother…in…law　were　seated；　it　was　possible　for　all　three　men　to　converse　together　as　they　proceeded。　Behind　them　came　Nozdrev's　smaller　buggy；　with　its　team　of　lean　stage　horses　and　Porphyri　and　the　puppy。　But　inasmuch　as　the　conversation　which　the　travellers　maintained　was　not　of　a　kind　likely　to　interest　the　reader；　I　might　do　worse　than　say　something　concerning　Nozdrev　himself；　seeing　that　he　is　destined　to　play　no　small　role　in　our　story。

Nozdrev's　face　will　be　familiar　to　the　reader；　seeing　that　every　one　must　have　encountered　many　such。　Fellows　of　the　kind　are　known　as　〃gay　young　sparks；〃　and；　even　in　their　boyhood　and　school　days；　earn　a　reputation　for　being　bons　camarades　（though　with　it　all　they　come　in　for　some　hard　knocks）　for　the　reason　that　their　faces　evince　an　element　of　frankness；　directness；　and　enterprise　which　enables　them　soon　to　make　friends；　and；　almost　before　you　have　had　time　to　look　around；　to　start　addressing　you　in　the　second　person　singular。　Yet；　while　cementing　such　friendships　for　all　eternity；　almost　always　they　begin　quarrelling　the　same　evening；　since；　throughout；　they　are　a　loquacious；　dissipated；　high…spirited；　over…showy　tribe。　Indeed；　at　thirty…five　Nozdrev　was　just　what　he　had　been　an　eighteen　and　twentyhe　was　just　such　a　lover　of　fast　living。　Nor　had　his　marriage　in　any　way　changed　him；　and　the　less　so　since　his　wife　had　soon　departed　to　another　world；　and　left　behind　her　two　children；　whom　he　did　not　want；　and　who　were　therefore　placed　in　the　charge　of　a　good…looking　nursemaid。　Never　at　any　time　could　he　remain　at　home　for　more　than　a　single　day；　for　his　keen