dead souls(死魂灵)-第20章

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hikov　into　the　hall；　where　he　was　met　by　the　master　of　the　house　himself；　who　requested　his　guest　to　enter；　and　then　led　him　into　the　inner　part　of　the　mansion。

A　covert　glance　at　Sobakevitch　showed　our　hero　that　his　host　exactly　resembled　a　moderate…sized　bear。　To　complete　the　resemblance；　Sobakevitch's　long　frockcoat　and　baggy　trousers　were　of　the　precise　colour　of　a　bear's　hide；　while；　when　shuffling　across　the　floor；　he　made　a　criss…cross　motion　of　the　legs；　and　had；　in　addition；　a　constant　habit　of　treading　upon　his　companion's　toes。　As　for　his　face；　it　was　of　the　warm；　ardent　tint　of　a　piatok＇2＇。　Persons　of　this　kindpersons　to　whose　designing　nature　has　devoted　not　much　thought；　and　in　the　fashioning　of　whose　frames　she　has　used　no　instruments　so　delicate　as　a　file　or　a　gimlet　and　so　forthare　not　uncommon。　Such　persons　she　merely　roughhews。　One　cut　with　a　hatchet；　and　there　results　a　nose；　another　such　cut　with　a　hatchet；　and　there　materialises　a　pair　of　lips；　two　thrusts　with　a　drill；　and　there　issues　a　pair　of　eyes。　Lastly；　scorning　to　plane　down　the　roughness；　she　sends　out　that　person　into　the　world；　saying：　〃There　is　another　live　creature。〃　Sobakevitch　was　just　such　a　ragged；　curiously　put　together　figurethough　the　above　model　would　seem　to　have　been　followed　more　in　his　upper　portion　than　in　his　lower。　One　result　was　that　he　seldom　turned　his　head　to　look　at　the　person　with　whom　he　was　speaking；　but；　rather；　directed　his　eyes　towards；　say；　the　stove　corner　or　the　doorway。　As　host　and　guest　crossed　the　dining…room　Chichikov　directed　a　second　glance　at　his　companion。　〃He　is　a　bear；　and　nothing　but　a　bear；〃　he　thought　to　himself。　And；　indeed；　the　strange　comparison　was　inevitable。　Incidentally；　Sobakevitch's　Christian　name　and　patronymic　were　Michael　Semenovitch。　Of　his　habit　of　treading　upon　other　people's　toes　Chichikov　had　become　fully　aware；　wherefore　he　stepped　cautiously；　and；　throughout；　allowed　his　host　to　take　the　lead。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　Sobakevitch　himself　seemed　conscious　of　his　failing；　for　at　intervals　he　would　inquire：　〃I　hope　I　have　not　hurt　you？〃　and　Chichikov；　with　a　word　of　thanks；　would　reply　that　as　yet　he　had　sustained　no　injury。

＇2＇　A　copper　coin　worth　five　kopecks。

At　length　they　reached　the　drawing…room；　where　Sobakevitch　pointed　to　an　armchair；　and　invited　his　guest　to　be　seated。　Chichikov　gazed　with　interest　at　the　walls　and　the　pictures。　In　every　such　picture　there　were　portrayed　either　young　men　or　Greek　generals　of　the　type　of　Movrogordato　（clad　in　a　red　uniform　and　breaches）；　Kanaris；　and　others；　and　all　these　heroes　were　depicted　with　a　solidity　of　thigh　and　a　wealth　of　moustache　which　made　the　beholder　simply　shudder　with　awe。　Among　them　there　were　placed　also；　according　to　some　unknown　system；　and　for　some　unknown　reason；　firstly；　Bagration＇3＇tall　and　thin；　and　with　a　cluster　of　small　flags　and　cannon　beneath　him；　and　the　whole　set　in　the　narrowest　of　framesand；　secondly；　the　Greek　heroine；　Bobelina；　whose　legs　looked　larger　than　do　the　whole　bodies　of　the　drawing…room　dandies　of　the　present　day。　Apparently　the　master　of　the　house　was　himself　a　man　of　health　and　strength；　and　therefore　liked　to　have　his　apartments　adorned　with　none　but　folk　of　equal　vigour　and　robustness。　Lastly；　in　the　window；　and　suspected　cheek　by　jowl　with　Bobelina；　there　hung　a　cage　whence　at　intervals　there　peered　forth　a　white…spotted　blackbird。　Like　everything　else　in　the　apartment；　it　bore　a　strong　resemblance　to　Sobakevitch。　When　host　and　guest　had　been　conversing　for　two　minutes　or　so　the　door　opened；　and　there　entered　the　hostessa　tall　lady　in　a　cap　adorned　with　ribands　of　domestic　colouring　and　manufacture。　She　entered　deliberately；　and　held　her　head　as　erect　as　a　palm。

＇3＇　A　Russian　general　who　fought　against　Napoleon；　and　was　mortally　　　　　wounded　at　Borodino。

〃This　is　my　wife；　Theodulia　Ivanovna；〃　said　Sobakevitch。

Chichikov　approached　and　took　her　hand。　The　fact　that　she　raised　it　nearly　to　the　level　of　his　lips　apprised　him　of　the　circumstance　that　it　had　just　been　rinsed　in　cucumber　oil。

〃My　dear；　allow　me　to　introduce　Paul　Ivanovitch　Chichikov；〃　added　Sobakevitch。　〃He　has　the　honour　of　being　acquainted　both　with　our　Governor　and　with　our　Postmaster。〃

Upon　this　Theodulia　Ivanovna　requested　her　guest　to　be　seated；　and　accompanied　the　invitation　with　the　kind　of　bow　usually　employed　only　by　actresses　who　are　playing　the　role　of　queens。　Next；　she　took　a　seat　upon　the　sofa；　drew　around　her　her　merino　gown；　and　sat　thereafter　without　moving　an　eyelid　or　an　eyebrow。　As　for　Chichikov；　he　glanced　upwards；　and　once　more　caught　sight　of　Kanaris　with　his　fat　thighs　and　interminable　moustache；　and　of　Bobelina　and　the　blackbird。　For　fully　five　minutes　all　present　preserved　a　complete　silencethe　only　sound　audible　being　that　of　the　blackbird's　beak　against　the　wooden　floor　of　the　cage　as　the　creature　fished　for　grains　of　corn。　Meanwhile　Chichikov　again　surveyed　the　room；　and　saw　that　everything　in　it　was　massive　and　clumsy　in　the　highest　degree；　as　also　that　everything　was　curiously　in　keeping　with　the　master　of　the　house。　For　example；　in　one　corner　of　the　apartment　there　stood　a　hazelwood　bureau　with　a　bulging　body　on　four　grotesque　legsthe　perfect　image　of　a　bear。　Also；　the　tables　and　the　chairs　were　of　the　same　ponderous；　unrestful　order；　and　every　single　article　in　the　room　appeared　to　be　saying　either；　〃I；　too；　am　a　Sobakevitch；〃　or　〃I　am　exactly　like　Sobakevitch。〃

〃I　heard　speak　of　you　one　day　when　I　was　visiting　the　President　of　the　Council；〃　said　Chichikov；　on　perceiving　that　no　one　else　had　a　mind　to　begin　a　conversation。　〃That　was　on　Thursday　last。　We　had　a　very　pleasant　evening。〃

〃Yes；　on　that　occasion　I　was　not　there；〃　replied　Sobakevitch。

〃What　a　nice　man　he　is！〃

〃Who　is？〃　inquired　Sobakevitch；　gazing　into　the　corner　by　the　stove。

〃The　President　of　the　Local　Council。〃

〃Did　he　seem　so　to　you？　True；　he　is　a　mason；　but　he　is　also　the　greatest　fool　that　the　world　ever　saw。〃

Chichikov　started　a　little　at　this　mordant　criticism；　but　soon　pulled　himself　together　again；　and　continued：

〃Of　course；　every　man　has　his　weakness。　Yet　the　President　seems　to　be　an　excellent　fellow。〃

〃And　do　you　think　the　same　of　the　Governor？〃

〃Yes。　Why　not？〃

〃Because　there　exists　no　greater　rogue　than　he。〃

〃What？　The　Governor　a　rogue？〃　ejaculated　Chichikov；　at　a　loss　to　understand　how　the　official　in　question　could　come　to　be　numbered　with　thieves。　〃Let　me　say　that　I　should　never　have　guessed　it。　Permit　me　also　to　remark　that　his　conduct　would　hardly　seem　to　bear　out　your　opinionhe　seems　so　gentle　a　man。〃　And　in　proof　of　this　Chichikov　cited　the　purses　which　the　Governor　knitted；　and　also　expatiated　on　the　mildness　of　his　features。

〃He　has　the　face　of　a　robber；〃　said　Sobakevitch。　〃Were　you　to　give　him　a　knife；　and　to　turn　him　loose　on　a　turnpike；　he　would　cut　your　throat　for　two　kopecks。　And　the　same　with　the　Vice…Governor。　The　pair　are　just　Gog　and　Magog。〃

〃Evidently　he　is　not　on　good　terms　with　them；〃　thought　Chichikov　to　himself。　〃I　had　better　pass　to　the　Chief　of　Police；　which　whom　he　DOES　seem　to　be　friendly。〃　Accordingly　he　added　aloud：　〃For　my　own　part；　I　should　give　the　preference　to　the　Head　of　the　Gendarmery。　What　a　frank；　outspoken　nature　he　has！　And　what　an　element　of　simplicity　does　his　expression　contain！〃

〃He　is　mean　to　the　core；〃　remarked　Sobakevitch　coldly。　〃He　will　sell　you　and　cheat　you；　and　then　dine　at　your　table。　Yes；　I　know　them　all；　and　every　one　of　them　is　a　swindler；　and　the　town　a　nest　of　rascals　engaged　in　robbing　one　another。　Not　a　man　of　the　lot　is　there　but　would　sell　Christ。　Yet　stay：　ONE　decent　fellow　there　isthe　Public　Prosecutor；　though　even　HE；　if　the　truth　be　told；　is　little　better　than　a　pig。〃

After　these　eulogia　Chichikov　saw　that　it　would　be　useless　to　continue　running　through　the　list　of　officialsmore　especially　since　suddenly　he　had　remembered　that　Sobakevitch　was　not　at　any　time　given　to　commending　his　fellow　man。

〃Let　us　go　to　luncheon；　my　dear；〃　put　in　Theodulia　Ivanovna　to　her　spouse。

〃Yes；　pray　come　to　table；〃　said　Sobakevitch　to　his　guest；　whereupon　they　consumed　the　customary　glass　of　vodka　（accompanied　by　sundry　snacks　of　salted　cucumber　and　other　dainties）　with　which　Russians；　both　in　town　and　country；　preface　a　meal。　Then　they　filed　into　the　dining…room　in　the　wake　of　the　hostess；　who　sailed　on　ahead　like　a　goose　swimming　across　a　pond。　The　small　dining…table　was　found　to　be　laid　for　four　personsthe　fourth　place　being　occupied　by　a　lady　or　a　young　girl　（it　would　have　been　difficult　to　say　which　exactly）　who　might　have　been　either　a　relative；　the　housekeeper；　or　a　casual　visitor。　Certain　persons　in　the　world　exist；　not　as　personalities　in　themselves；　but　as　spots　or　specks　on　the　personalities　of　others。　Always　they　are　to　be　seen　sitting　in　the　same　place；　and　holding　their　heads　at　exactly　the　same　angle；　so　that　one　comes　within　an　ace　of　mistaking　them　for　furniture；　and　thinks　to　oneself　that　never　since　the　day　of　their　birth　can　they　have　spoken　a　single　word。

〃My　dear；〃　said　Sobakevitch；　〃the　cabbage　soup　is　excellent。〃　With　that　he　finished　his　portion；　and　helped　himself　to　a　generous　measure　of　niania＇4＇the　dish　which　follows　shtchi　and　consists　of　a　sheep's　stomach　stuffed　with　black　porridge；　brains；　and　other　things。　〃What　niania　this　is！〃　he　added　to　Chichikov。　〃Never　would　you　get　such　stuff　in　a　town；　where　one　is　given　the　devil　knows　what。〃

＇4＇　Literally；　〃nursemaid。〃

〃Nevertheless　the　Governor　keeps　a　fair　table；〃　said　Chichikov。

〃Yes；　but　do　you　know　what　all　the　stuff　is　MADE　OF？〃　retorted　Sobakevitch。　〃If　you　DID　know　you　would　never　touch　it。〃

〃Of　course　I　am　not　in　a　position　to　say　how　it　is　prepared；　but　at　least　the　pork　cutlets　and　the　boiled　fish　seemed　excellent。〃

〃Ah；　it　might　have　been　thought　so；　yet　I　know　the　way　in　which　such　things　are　bought　in　the　market…place。　They　are　bought　by　some　rascal　of　a　cook　whom　a　Frenchman　has　taught　how　to　skin　a　tomcat　and　then　serve　it　up　as　hare。〃

〃Ugh！　What　horrible　things　you　say！〃　put　in　Madame。

〃Well；　my　dear；　that　is　how　things　are　done；　and　it　is　no　fault　of　mine　that　it　is　so。　Moreover；　everything　that　is　left　overeverything　that　WE　（pardon　me　for　mentioning　it）　cast　into　the　slop…pailis　used　by　such　folk　for　making　soup。〃

〃Always　at　table　you　begin　talking　like　this！〃　objected　his　helpmeet。

〃And　why　not？〃　said　Sobakevitch。　〃I　tell　you　straight　that　I　would　not　eat　such　nastiness；　even　had　I　made　it　myself。　Sugar　a　frog　as　much　as　you　like；　but　never　shall　it　pass　MY　lips。　Nor　would　I　swallow　an　oyster；　for　I　know　only　too　well　what　an　oyster　may　resemble。　But　have　some　mutton；　friend　Chichikov。　It　is　shoulder　of　mutton；　and　very　different　stuff　from　the　mutton　which　they　cook　in　noble　kitchensmutton　which　has　been　kicking　about　the　market…place　four　days　or　more。　All　that　sort　of　cookery　has　been　invented　by　French　and　German　doctors；　and　I　should　like　to　hang　them　for　having　done　so。　They　go　and　prescribe　diets　and　a　hunger　cure　as　though　what　suits　their　flaccid　German　systems　will　agree　with　a　Russian　stomach！　Such　devices　are　no　good　at　all。〃　Sobakevitch　shook　his　head　wrathfully。　〃Fellows　like　those　are　for　ev