dead souls(死魂灵)-第16章

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〃　daggers；　of　which　one　bore　the　inadvertent　inscription；　〃Saveli　Sibiriakov＇2＇；　Master　Cutler。〃　Then　came　a　barrel…organ；　on　which　Nozdrev　started　to　play　some　tune　or　another。　For　a　while　the　sounds　were　not　wholly　unpleasing；　but　suddenly　something　seemed　to　go　wrong；　for　a　mazurka　started；　to　be　followed　by　〃Marlborough　has　gone　to　the　war；〃　and　to　this；　again；　there　succeeded　an　antiquated　waltz。　Also；　long　after　Nozdrev　had　ceased　to　turn　the　handle；　one　particularly　shrill…pitched　pipe　which　had；　throughout；　refused　to　harmonise　with　the　rest　kept　up　a　protracted　whistling　on　its　own　account。　Then　followed　an　exhibition　of　tobacco　pipespipes　of　clay；　of　wood；　of　meerschaum；　pipes　smoked　and　non…smoked；　pipes　wrapped　in　chamois　leather　and　not　so　wrapped；　an　amber…mounted　hookah　（a　stake　won　at　cards）　and　a　tobacco　pouch　（worked；　it　was　alleged；　by　some　countess　who　had　fallen　in　love　with　Nozdrev　at　a　posthouse；　and　whose　handiwork　Nozdrev　averred　to　constitute　the　〃sublimity　of　superfluity〃a　term　which；　in　the　Nozdrevian　vocabulary；　purported　to　signify　the　acme　of　perfection）。

＇2＇　That　is　to　say；　a　distinctively　Russian　name。

Finally；　after　some　hors…d'oeuvres　of　sturgeon's　back；　they　sat　down　to　tablethe　time　being　then　nearly　five　o'clock。　But　the　meal　did　not　constitute　by　any　means　the　best　of　which　Chichikov　had　ever　partaken；　seeing　that　some　of　the　dishes　were　overcooked；　and　others　were　scarcely　cooked　at　all。　Evidently　their　compounder　had　trusted　chiefly　to　inspirationshe　had　laid　hold　of　the　first　thing　which　had　happened　to　come　to　hand。　For　instance；　had　pepper　represented　the　nearest　article　within　reach；　she　had　added　pepper　wholesale。　Had　a　cabbage　chanced　to　be　so　encountered；　she　had　pressed　it　also　into　the　service。　And　the　same　with　milk；　bacon；　and　peas。　In　short；　her　rule　seemed　to　have　been　〃Make　a　hot　dish　of　some　sort；　and　some　sort　of　taste　will　result。〃　For　the　rest；　Nozdrev　drew　heavily　upon　the　wine。　Even　before　the　soup　had　been　served；　he　had　poured　out　for　each　guest　a　bumper　of　port　and　another　of　〃haut〃　sauterne。　（Never　in　provincial　towns　is　ordinary；　vulgar　sauterne　even　procurable。）　Next；　he　called　for　a　bottle　of　madeira〃as　fine　a　tipple　as　ever　a　field…marshall　drank〃；　but　the　madeira　only　burnt　the　mouth；　since　the　dealers；　familiar　with　the　taste　of　our　landed　gentry　（who　love　〃good〃　madeira）　invariably　doctor　the　stuff　with　copious　dashes　of　rum　and　Imperial　vodka；　in　the　hope　that　Russian　stomachs　will　thus　be　enabled　to　carry　off　the　lot。　After　this　bottle　Nozdrev　called　for　another　and　〃a　very　special〃　branda　brand　which　he　declared　to　consist　of　a　blend　of　burgundy　and　champagne；　and　of　which　he　poured　generous　measures　into　the　glasses　of　Chichikov　and　the　brother…in…law　as　they　sat　to　right　and　left　of　him。　But　since　Chichikov　noticed　that；　after　doing　so；　he　added　only　a　scanty　modicum　of　the　mixture　to　his　own　tumbler；　our　hero　determined　to　be　cautious；　and　therefore　took　advantage　of　a　moment　when　Nozdrev　had　again　plunged　into　conversation　and　was　yet　a　third　time　engaged　in　refilling　his　brother…in…law's　glass；　to　contrive　to　upset　his　（Chichikov's）　glass　over　his　plate。　In　time　there　came　also　to　table　a　tart　of　mountain…ashberriesberries　which　the　host　declared　to　equal；　in　taste；　ripe　plums；　but　which；　curiously　enough；　smacked　more　of　corn　brandy。　Next；　the　company　consumed　a　sort　of　pasty　of　which　the　precise　name　has　escaped　me；　but　which　the　host　rendered　differently　even　on　the　second　occasion　of　its　being　mentioned。　The　meal　over；　and　the　whole　tale　of　wines　tried；　the　guests　still　retained　their　seatsa　circumstance　which　embarrassed　Chichikov；　seeing　that　he　had　no　mind　to　propound　his　pet　scheme　in　the　presence　of　Nozdrev's　brother…in…law；　who　was　a　complete　stranger　to　him。　No；　that　subject　called　for　amicable　and　PRIVATE　conversation。　Nevertheless；　the　brother…in…law　appeared　to　bode　little　danger；　seeing　that　he　had　taken　on　board　a　full　cargo；　and　was　now　engaged　in　doing　nothing　of　a　more　menacing　nature　than　picking　his　nose。　At　length　he　himself　noticed　that　he　was　not　altogether　in　a　responsible　condition；　wherefore　he　rose　and　began　to　make　excuses　for　departing　homewards；　though　in　a　tone　so　drowsy　and　lethargic　that；　to　quote　the　Russian　proverb；　he　might　almost　have　been　〃pulling　a　collar　on　to　a　horse　by　the　clasps。〃

〃No；　no！〃　cried　Nozdrev。　〃I　am　NOT　going　to　let　you　go。〃

〃But　I　MUST　go；〃　replied　the　brother…in…law。　〃Don't　dry　to　hinder　me。　You　are　annoying　me　greatly。〃

〃Rubbish！　We　are　going　to　play　a　game　of　banker。〃

〃No；　no。　You　must　play　it　without　me；　my　friend。　My　wife　is　expecting　me　at　home；　and　I　must　go　and　tell　her　all　about　the　fair。　Yes；　I　MUST　go　if　I　am　to　please　her。　Do　not　try　to　detain　me。〃

〃Your　wife　be！　But　have　you　REALLY　an　important　piece　of　business　with　her？〃

〃No；　no；　my　friend。　The　real　reason　is　that　she　is　a　good　and　trustful　woman；　and　that　she　does　a　great　deal　for　me。　The　tears　spring　to　my　eyes　as　I　think　of　it。　Do　not　detain　me。　As　an　honourable　man　I　say　that　I　must　go。　Of　that　I　do　assure　you　in　all　sincerity。〃

〃Oh；　let　him　go；〃　put　in　Chichikov　under　his　breath。　〃What　use　will　he　be　here？〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Nozdrev；　〃though；　damn　it；　I　do　not　like　fellows　who　lose　their　heads。〃　Then　he　added　to　his　brother…in…law：　〃All　right；　Thetuk＇3＇。　Off　you　go　to　your　wife　and　your　woman's　talk　and　may　the　devil　go　with　you！〃

＇3＇　A　jeering　appellation　which　owes　its　origin　to　the　fact　that　　　　　certain　Russians　cherish　a　prejudice　against　the　initial　character　　　　　of　the　wordnamely；　the　Greek　theta；　or　TH。

〃Do　not　insult　me　with　the　term　Thetuk；〃　retorted　the　brother…in…law。　〃To　her　I　owe　my　life；　and　she　is　a　dear；　good　woman；　and　has　shown　me　much　affection。　At　the　very　thought　of　it　I　could　weep。　You　see；　she　will　be　asking　me　what　I　have　seen　at　the　fair；　and　tell　her　about　it　I　must；　for　she　is　such　a　dear；　good　woman。〃

〃Then　off　you　go　to　her　with　your　pack　of　lies。　Here　is　your　cap。〃

〃No；　good　friend；　you　are　not　to　speak　of　her　like　that。　By　so　doing　you　offend　me　greatlyI　say　that　she　is　a　dear；　good　woman。〃

〃Then　run　along　home　to　her。〃

〃Yes；　I　am　just　going。　Excuse　me　for　having　been　unable　to　stay。　Gladly　would　I　have　stayed；　but　really　I　cannot。〃

The　brother…in…law　repeated　his　excuses　again　and　again　without　noticing　that　he　had　entered　the　britchka；　that　it　had　passed　through　the　gates；　and　that　he　was　now　in　the　open　country。　Permissibly　we　may　suppose　that　his　wife　succeeded　in　gleaning　from　him　few　details　of　the　fair。

〃What　a　fool！〃　said　Nozdrev　as；　standing　by　the　window；　he　watched　the　departing　vehicle。　〃Yet　his　off…horse　is　not　such　a　bad　one。　For　a　long　time　past　I　have　been　wanting　to　get　hold　of　it。　A　man　like　that　is　simply　impossible。　Yes；　he　is　a　Thetuk；　a　regular　Thetuk。〃

With　that　they　repaired　to　the　parlour；　where；　on　Porphyri　bringing　candles；　Chichikov　perceived　that　his　host　had　produced　a　pack　of　cards。

〃I　tell　you　what；〃　said　Nozdrev；　pressing　the　sides　of　the　pack　together；　and　then　slightly　bending　them；　so　that　the　pack　cracked　and　a　card　flew　out。　〃How　would　it　be　if；　to　pass　the　time；　I　were　to　make　a　bank　of　three　hundred？〃

Chichikov　pretended　not　to　have　heard　him；　but　remarked　with　an　air　of　having　just　recollected　a　forgotten　point：

〃By　the　way；　I　had　omitted　to　say　that　I　have　a　request　to　make　of　you。〃

〃What　request？〃

〃First　give　me　your　word　that　you　will　grant　it。〃

〃What　is　the　request；　I　say？〃

〃Then　you　give　me　your　word；　do　you？〃

〃Certainly。〃

〃Your　word　of　honour？〃

〃My　word　of　honour。〃

〃This；　then；　is　my　request。　I　presume　that　you　have　a　large　number　of　dead　serfs　whose　names　have　not　yet　been　removed　from　the　revision　list？〃

〃I　have。　But　why　do　you　ask？〃

〃Because　I　want　you　to　make　them　over　to　me。〃

〃Of　what　use　would　they　be　to　you？〃

〃Never　mind。　I　have　a　purpose　in　wanting　them。〃

〃What　purpose？〃

〃A　purpose　which　is　strictly　my　own　affair。　In　short；　I　need　them。〃

〃You　seem　to　have　hatched　a　very　fine　scheme。　Out　with　it；　now！　What　is　in　the　wind？〃

〃How　could　I　have　hatched　such　a　scheme　as　you　say？　One　could　not　very　well　hatch　a　scheme　out　of　such　a　trifle　as　this。〃

〃Then　for　what　purpose　do　you　want　the　serfs？〃

〃Oh；　the　curiosity　of　the　man！　He　wants　to　poke　his　fingers　into　and　smell　over　every　detail！〃

〃Why　do　you　decline　to　say　what　is　in　your　mind？　At　all　events；　until　you　DO　say　I　shall　not　move　in　the　matter。〃

〃But　how　would　it　benefit　you　to　know　what　my　plans　are？　A　whim　has　seized　me。　That　is　all。　Nor　are　you　playing　fair。　You　have　given　me　your　word　of　honour；　yet　now　you　are　trying　to　back　out　of　it。〃

〃No　matter　what　you　desire　me　to　do；　I　decline　to　do　it　until　you　have　told　me　your　purpose。〃

〃What　am　I　to　say　to　the　fellow？〃　thought　Chichikov。　He　reflected　for　a　moment；　and　then　explained　that　he　wanted　the　dead　souls　in　order　to　acquire　a　better　standing　in　society；　since　at　present　he　possessed　little　landed　property；　and　only　a　handful　of　serfs。

〃You　are　lying；〃　said　Nozdrev　without　even　letting　him　finish。　〃Yes；　you　are　lying　my　good　friend。〃

Chichikov　himself　perceived　that　his　device　had　been　a　clumsy　one；　and　his　pretext　weak。　〃I　must　tell　him　straight　out；〃　he　said　to　himself　as　he　pulled　his　wits　together。

〃Should　I　tell　you　the　truth；〃　he　added　aloud；　〃I　must　beg　of　you　not　to　repeat　it。　The　truth　is　that　I　am　thinking　of　getting　married。　But；　unfortunately；　my　betrothed's　father　and　mother　are　very　ambitious　people；　and　do　not　want　me　to　marry　her；　since　they　desire　the　bridegroom　to　own　not　less　than　three　hundred　souls；　whereas　I　own　but　a　hundred　and　fifty；　and　that　number　is　not　sufficient。〃

〃Again　you　are　lying；〃　said　Nozdrev。

〃Then　look　here；　I　have　been　lying　only　to　this　extent。〃　And　Chichikov　marked　off　upon　his　little　finger　a　minute　portion。

〃Nevertheless　I　will　bet　my　head　that　you　have　been　lying　throughout。〃

〃Come；　come！　That　is　not　very　civil　of　you。　Why　should　I　have　been　lying？〃

〃Because　I　know　you；　and　know　that　you　are　a　regular　skinflint。　I　say　that　in　all　friendship。　If　I　possessed　any　power　over　you　I　should　hang　you　to　the　nearest　tree。〃

This　remark　hurt　Chichikov；　for　at　any　time　he　disliked　expressions　gross　or　offensive　to　decency；　and　never　allowed　any　oneno；　not　even　persons　of　the　highest　rankto　behave　towards　him　with　an　undue　measure　of　familiarity。　Consequently　his　sense　of　umbrage　on　the　present　occasion　was　unbounded。

〃By　God；　I　WOULD　hang　you！〃　repeated　Nozdrev。　〃I　say　this　frankly；　and　not　for　the　purpose　of　offending　you；　but　simply　to　communicate　to　you　my　friendly　opinion。〃

〃To　everything　there　are　limits；〃　retorted　Chichikov　stiffly。　〃If　you　want　to　indulge　in　speeches　of　that　sort　you　had　better　return　to　the　barracks。〃

However；　after　a　pause　he　added：

〃If　you　do　not　care　to　give　me　the　serfs；　why　not　SELL　them？〃

〃SELL　them？　_I_　know　you；　you　rascal！　You　wouldn't　give　me　very　much　for　them；　WOULD　you？〃

〃A　nice　fellow！　Look　here。　What　are　they　to　you？　So　many　diamonds；　eh？〃

〃I　thought　so！　_I_　know　you！〃

〃Pardon　me；　but　I　could　wish　that　you　were　a　member　of　the　Jewish　persuasion。　You　would　give　them　to　me　fast　enough　then。〃

〃On　the　cont