dead souls(死魂灵)-第15章

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gle　day；　for　his　keen　scent　could　range　over　scores　and　scores　of　versts；　and　detect　any　fair　which　promised　balls　and　crowds。　Consequently　in　a　trice　he　would　be　therequarrelling；　and　creating　disturbances　over　the　gaming…table　（like　all　men　of　his　type；　he　had　a　perfect　passion　for　cards）　yet　playing　neither　a　faultless　nor　an　over…clean　game；　since　he　was　both　a　blunderer　and　able　to　indulge　in　a　large　number　of　illicit　cuts　and　other　devices。　The　result　was　that　the　game　often　ended　in　another　kind　of　sport　altogether。　That　is　to　say；　either　he　received　a　good　kicking；　or　he　had　his　thick　and　very　handsome　whiskers　pulled；　with　the　result　that　on　certain　occasions　he　returned　home　with　one　of　those　appendages　looking　decidedly　ragged。　Yet　his　plump；　healthy…looking　cheeks　were　so　robustly　constituted；　and　contained　such　an　abundance　of　recreative　vigour；　that　a　new　whisker　soon　sprouted　in　place　of　the　old　one；　and　even　surpassed　its　predecessor。　Again　（and　the　following　is　a　phenomenon　peculiar　to　Russia）　a　very　short　time　would　have　elapsed　before　once　more　he　would　be　consorting　with　the　very　cronies　who　had　recently　cuffed　himand　consorting　with　them　as　though　nothing　whatsoever　had　happenedno　reference　to　the　subject　being　made　by　him；　and　they　too　holding　their　tongues。

In　short；　Nozdrev　was；　as　it　were；　a　man　of　incident。　Never　was　he　present　at　any　gathering　without　some　sort　of　a　fracas　occurring　thereat。　Either　he　would　require　to　be　expelled　from　the　room　by　gendarmes；　or　his　friends　would　have　to　kick　him　out　into　the　street。　At　all　events；　should　neither　of　those　occurrences　take　place；　at　least　he　did　something　of　a　nature　which　would　not　otherwise　have　been　witnessed。　That　is　to　say；　should　he　not　play　the　fool　in　a　buffet　to　such　an　extent　as　to　make　very　one　smile；　you　may　be　sure　that　he　was　engaged　in　lying　to　a　degree　which　at　times　abashed　even　himself。　Moreover；　the　man　lied　without　reason。　For　instance；　he　would　begin　telling　a　story　to　the　effect　that　he　possessed　a　blue…coated　or　a　red…coated　horse；　until；　in　the　end；　his　listeners　would　be　forced　to　leave　him　with　the　remark；　〃You　are　giving　us　some　fine　stuff；　old　fellow！〃　Also；　men　like　Nozdrev　have　a　passion　for　insulting　their　neighbours　without　the　least　excuse　afforded。　（For　that　matter；　even　a　man　of　good　standing　and　of　respectable　exteriora　man　with　a　star　on　his　breastmay　unexpectedly　press　your　hand　one　day；　and　begin　talking　to　you　on　subjects　of　a　nature　to　give　food　for　serious　thought。　Yet　just　as　unexpectedly　may　that　man　start　abusing　you　to　your　faceand　do　so　in　a　manner　worthy　of　a　collegiate　registrar　rather　than　of　a　man　who　wears　a　star　on　his　breast　and　aspires　to　converse　on　subjects　which　merit　reflection。　All　that　one　can　do　in　such　a　case　is　to　stand　shrugging　one's　shoulders　in　amazement。）　Well；　Nozdrev　had　just　such　a　weakness。　The　more　he　became　friendly　with　a　man；　the　sooner　would　he　insult　him；　and　be　ready　to　spread　calumnies　as　to　his　reputation。　Yet　all　the　while　he　would　consider　himself　the　insulted　one's　friend；　and；　should　he　meet　him　again；　would　greet　him　in　the　most　amicable　style　possible；　and　say；　〃You　rascal；　why　have　you　given　up　coming　to　see　me。〃　Thus；　taken　all　round；　Nozdrev　was　a　person　of　many　aspects　and　numerous　potentialities。　In　one　and　the　same　breath　would　he　propose　to　go　with　you　whithersoever　you　might　choose　（even　to　the　very　ends　of　the　world　should　you　so　require）　or　to　enter　upon　any　sort　of　an　enterprise　with　you；　or　to　exchange　any　commodity　for　any　other　commodity　which　you　might　care　to　name。　Guns；　horses；　dogs；　all　were　subjects　for　barterthough　not　for　profit　so　far　as　YOU　were　concerned。　Such　traits　are　mostly　the　outcome　of　a　boisterous　temperament；　as　is　additionally　exemplified　by　the　fact　that　if　at　a　fair　he　chanced　to　fall　in　with　a　simpleton　and　to　fleece　him；　he　would　then　proceed　to　buy　a　quantity　of　the　very　first　articles　which　came　to　handhorse…collars；　cigar…lighters；　dresses　for　his　nursemaid；　foals；　raisins；　silver　ewers；　lengths　of　holland；　wheatmeal；　tobacco；　revolvers；　dried　herrings；　pictures；　whetstones；　crockery；　boots；　and　so　forth；　until　every　atom　of　his　money　was　exhausted。　Yet　seldom　were　these　articles　conveyed　home；　since；　as　a　rule；　the　same　day　saw　them　lost　to　some　more　skilful　gambler；　in　addition　to　his　pipe；　his　tobacco…pouch；　his　mouthpiece；　his　four…horsed　turn…out；　and　his　coachman：　with　the　result　that；　stripped　to　his　very　shirt；　he　would　be　forced　to　beg　the　loan　of　a　vehicle　from　a　friend。

Such　was　Nozdrev。　Some　may　say　that　characters　of　his　type　have　become　extinct；　that　Nozdrevs　no　longer　exist。　Alas！　such　as　say　this　will　be　wrong；　for　many　a　day　must　pass　before　the　Nozdrevs　will　have　disappeared　from　our　ken。　Everywhere　they　are　to　be　seen　in　our　midstthe　only　difference　between　the　new　and　the　old　being　a　difference　of　garments。　Persons　of　superficial　observation　are　apt　to　consider　that　a　man　clad　in　a　different　coat　is　quite　a　different　person　from　what　he　used　to　be。

To　continue。　The　three　vehicles　bowled　up　to　the　steps　of　Nozdrev's　house；　and　their　occupants　alighted。　But　no　preparations　whatsoever　had　been　made　for　the　guest's　reception；　for　on　some　wooden　trestles　in　the　centre　of　the　dining…room　a　couple　of　peasants　were　engaged　in　whitewashing　the　ceiling　and　drawling　out　an　endless　song　as　they　splashed　their　stuff　about　the　floor。　Hastily　bidding　peasants　and　trestles　to　be　gone；　Nozdrev　departed　to　another　room　with　further　instructions。　Indeed；　so　audible　was　the　sound　of　his　voice　as　he　ordered　dinner　that　Chichikovwho　was　beginning　to　feel　hungry　once　morewas　enabled　to　gather　that　it　would　be　at　least　five　o'clock　before　a　meal　of　any　kind　would　be　available。　On　his　return；　Nozdrev　invited　his　companions　to　inspect　his　establishmenteven　though　as　early　as　two　o'clock　he　had　to　announce　that　nothing　more　was　to　be　seen。

The　tour　began　with　a　view　of　the　stables；　where　the　party　saw　two　mares　（the　one　a　grey；　and　the　other　a　roan）　and　a　colt；　which　latter　animal；　though　far　from　showy；　Nozdrev　declared　to　have　cost　him　ten　thousand　roubles。

〃You　NEVER　paid　ten　thousand　roubles　for　the　brute！〃　exclaimed　the　brother…in…law。　〃He　isn't　worth　even　a　thousand。〃

〃By　God；　I　DID　pay　ten　thousand！〃　asserted　Nozdrev。

〃You　can　swear　that　as　much　as　you　like；〃　retorted　the　other。

〃Will　you　bet　that　I　did　not？〃　asked　Nozdrev；　but　the　brother…in…law　declined　the　offer。

Next；　Nozdrev　showed　his　guests　some　empty　stalls　where　a　number　of　equally　fine　animals　（so　he　alleged）　had　lately　stood。　Also　there　was　on　view　the　goat　which　an　old　belief　still　considers　to　be　an　indispensable　adjunct　to　such　places；　even　though　its　apparent　use　is　to　pace　up　and　down　beneath　the　noses　of　the　horses　as　though　the　place　belonged　to　it。　Thereafter　the　host　took　his　guests　to　look　at　a　young　wolf　which　he　had　got　tied　to　a　chain。　〃He　is　fed　on　nothing　but　raw　meat；〃　he　explained；　〃for　I　want　him　to　grow　up　as　fierce　as　possible。〃　Then　the　party　inspected　a　pond　in　which　there　were　〃fish　of　such　a　size　that　it　would　take　two　men　all　their　time　to　lift　one　of　them　out。〃

This　piece　of　information　was　received　with　renewed　incredulity　on　the　part　of　the　brother…in…law。

〃Now；　Chichikov；〃　went　on　Nozdrev；　〃let　me　show　you　a　truly　magnificent　brace　of　dogs。　The　hardness　of　their　muscles　will　surprise　you；　and　they　have　jowls　as　sharp　as　needles。〃

So　saying；　he　led　the　way　to　a　small；　but　neatly…built；　shed　surrounded　on　every　side　with　a　fenced…in　run。　Entering　this　run；　the　visitors　beheld　a　number　of　dogs　of　all　sorts　and　sizes　and　colours。　In　their　midst　Nozdrev　looked　like　a　father　lording　it　over　his　family　circle。　Erecting　their　tailstheir　〃stems；〃　as　dog　fanciers　call　those　membersthe　animals　came　bounding　to　greet　the　party；　and　fully　a　score　of　them　laid　their　paws　upon　Chichikov's　shoulders。　Indeed；　one　dog　was　moved　with　such　friendliness　that；　standing　on　its　hind　legs；　it　licked　him　on　the　lips；　and　so　forced　him　to　spit。　That　done；　the　visitors　duly　inspected　the　couple　already　mentioned；　and　expressed　astonishment　at　their　muscles。　True　enough；　they　were　fine　animals。　Next；　the　party　looked　at　a　Crimean　bitch　which；　though　blind　and　fast　nearing　her　end；　had；　two　years　ago；　been　a　truly　magnificent　dog。　At　all　events；　so　said　Nozdrev。　Next　came　another　bitchalso　blind；　then　an　inspection　of　the　water…mill；　which　lacked　the　spindle…socket　wherein　the　upper　stone　ought　to　have　been　revolving〃fluttering；〃　to　use　the　Russian　peasant's　quaint　expression。　〃But　never　mind；〃　said　Nozdrev。　〃Let　us　proceed　to　the　blacksmith's　shop。〃　So　to　the　blacksmith's　shop　the　party　proceeded；　and　when　the　said　shop　had　been　viewed；　Nozdrev　said　as　he　pointed　to　a　field：

〃In　this　field　I　have　seen　such　numbers　of　hares　as　to　render　the　ground　quite　invisible。　Indeed；　on　one　occasion　I；　with　my　own　hands；　caught　a　hare　by　the　hind　legs。〃

〃You　never　caught　a　hare　by　the　hind　legs　with　your　hands！〃　remarked　the　brother…in…law。

〃But　I　DID〃　reiterated　Nozdrev。　〃However；　let　me　show　you　the　boundary　where　my　lands　come　to　an　end。〃

So　saying；　he　started　to　conduct　his　guests　across　a　field　which　consisted　mostly　of　moleheaps；　and　in　which　the　party　had　to　pick　their　way　between　strips　of　ploughed　land　and　of　harrowed。　Soon　Chichikov　began　to　feel　weary；　for　the　terrain　was　so　low…lying　that　in　many　spots　water　could　be　heard　squelching　underfoot；　and　though　for　a　while　the　visitors　watched　their　feet；　and　stepped　carefully；　they　soon　perceived　that　such　a　course　availed　them　nothing；　and　took　to　following　their　noses；　without　either　selecting　or　avoiding　the　spots　where　the　mire　happened　to　be　deeper　or　the　reverse。　At　length；　when　a　considerable　distance　had　been　covered；　they　caught　sight　of　a　boundary…post　and　a　narrow　ditch。

〃That　is　the　boundary；〃　said　Nozdrev。　〃Everything　that　you　see　on　this　side　of　the　post　is　mine；　as　well　as　the　forest　on　the　other　side　of　it；　and　what　lies　beyond　the　forest。〃

〃WHEN　did　that　forest　become　yours？〃　asked　the　brother…in…law。　〃It　cannot　be　long　since　you　purchased　it；　for　it　never　USED　to　be　yours。〃

〃Yes；　it　isn't　long　since　I　purchased　it；〃　said　Nozdrev。

〃How　long？〃

〃How　long？　Why；　I　purchased　it　three　days　ago；　and　gave　a　pretty　sum　for　it；　as　the　devil　knows！〃

〃Indeed？　Why；　three　days　ago　you　were　at　the　fair？〃

〃Wiseacre！　Cannot　one　be　at　a　fair　and　buy　land　at　the　same　time？　Yes；　I　WAS　at　the　fair；　and　my　steward　bought　the　land　in　my　absence。〃

〃Oh；　your　STEWARD　bought　it。〃　The　brother…in…law　seemed　doubtful；　and　shook　his　head。

The　guests　returned　by　the　same　route　as　that　by　which　they　had　come；　whereafter；　on　reaching　the　house；　Nozdrev　conducted　them　to　his　study；　which　contained　not　a　trace　of　the　things　usually　to　be　found　in　such　apartmentssuch　things　as　books　and　papers。　On　the　contrary；　the　only　articles　to　be　seen　were　a　sword　and　a　brace　of　gunsthe　one　〃of　them　worth　three　hundred　roubles；〃　and　the　other　〃about　eight　hundred。〃　The　brother…in…law　inspected　the　articles　in　question；　and　then　shook　his　head　as　before。　Next；　the　visitors　were　shown　some　〃real　Turkish〃　daggers；　of　which　one　bore　the　inadvertent　inscription；　〃Saveli　Sibiriakov＇2＇；　Master　Cutler。〃　The