dead souls(死魂灵)-第21章

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h　devices　are　no　good　at　all。〃　Sobakevitch　shook　his　head　wrathfully。　〃Fellows　like　those　are　for　ever　talking　of　civilisation。　As　if　THAT　sort　of　thing　was　civilisation！　Phew！〃　（Perhaps　the　speaker's　concluding　exclamation　would　have　been　even　stronger　had　he　not　been　seated　at　table。）　〃For　myself；　I　will　have　none　of　it。　When　I　eat　pork　at　a　meal；　give　me　the　WHOLE　pig；　when　mutton；　the　WHOLE　sheep；　when　goose；　the　WHOLE　of　the　bird。　Two　dishes　are　better　than　a　thousand；　provided　that　one　can　eat　of　them　as　much　as　one　wants。〃

And　he　proceeded　to　put　precept　into　practice　by　taking　half　the　shoulder　of　mutton　on　to　his　plate；　and　then　devouring　it　down　to　the　last　morsel　of　gristle　and　bone。

〃My　word！〃　reflected　Chichikov。　〃The　fellow　has　a　pretty　good　holding　capacity！〃

〃None　of　it　for　me；〃　repeated　Sobakevitch　as　he　wiped　his　hands　on　his　napkin。　〃I　don't　intend　to　be　like　a　fellow　named　Plushkin；　who　owns　eight　hundred　souls；　yet　dines　worse　than　does　my　shepherd。〃

〃Who　is　Plushkin？〃　asked　Chichikov。

〃A　miser；〃　replied　Sobakevitch。　〃Such　a　miser　as　never　you　could　imagine。　Even　convicts　in　prison　live　better　than　he　does。　And　he　starves　his　servants　as　well。〃

〃Really？〃　ejaculated　Chichikov；　greatly　interested。　〃Should　you；　then；　say　that　he　has　lost　many　peasants　by　death？〃

〃Certainly。　They　keep　dying　like　flies。〃

〃Then　how　far　from　here　does　he　reside？〃

〃About　five　versts。〃

〃Only　five　versts？〃　exclaimed　Chichikov；　feeling　his　heart　beating　joyously。　〃Ought　one；　when　leaving　your　gates；　to　turn　to　the　right　or　to　the　left？〃

〃I　should　be　sorry　to　tell　you　the　way　to　the　house　of　such　a　cur；〃　said　Sobakevitch。　〃A　man　had　far　better　go　to　hell　than　to　Plushkin's。〃

〃Quite　so；〃　responded　Chichikov。　〃My　only　reason　for　asking　you　is　that　it　interests　me　to　become　acquainted　with　any　and　every　sort　of　locality。〃

To　the　shoulder　of　mutton　there　succeeded；　in　turn；　cutlets　（each　one　larger　than　a　plate）；　a　turkey　of　about　the　size　of　a　calf；　eggs；　rice；　pastry；　and　every　conceivable　thing　which　could　possibly　be　put　into　a　stomach。　There　the　meal　ended。　When　he　rose　from　table　Chichikov　felt　as　though　a　pood's　weight　were　inside　him。　In　the　drawing…room　the　company　found　dessert　awaiting　them　in　the　shape　of　pears；　plums；　and　apples；　but　since　neither　host　nor　guest　could　tackle　these　particular　dainties　the　hostess　removed　them　to　another　room。　Taking　advantage　of　her　absence；　Chichikov　turned　to　Sobakevitch　（who；　prone　in　an　armchair；　seemed；　after　his　ponderous　meal；　to　be　capable　of　doing　little　beyond　belching　and　gruntingeach　such　grunt　or　belch　necessitating　a　subsequent　signing　of　the　cross　over　the　mouth）；　and　intimated　to　him　a　desire　to　have　a　little　private　conversation　concerning　a　certain　matter。　At　this　moment　the　hostess　returned。

〃Here　is　more　dessert；〃　she　said。　〃Pray　have　a　few　radishes　stewed　in　honey。〃

〃Later；　later；〃　replied　Sobakevitch。　〃Do　you　go　to　your　room；　and　Paul　Ivanovitch　and　I　will　take　off　our　coats　and　have　a　nap。〃

Upon　this　the　good　lady　expressed　her　readiness　to　send　for　feather　beds　and　cushions；　but　her　husband　expressed　a　preference　for　slumbering　in　an　armchair；　and　she　therefore　departed。　When　she　had　gone　Sobakevitch　inclined　his　head　in　an　attitude　of　willingness　to　listen　to　Chichikov's　business。　Our　hero　began　in　a　sort　of　detached　mannertouching　lightly　upon　the　subject　of　the　Russian　Empire；　and　expatiating　upon　the　immensity　of　the　same；　and　saying　that　even　the　Empire　of　Ancient　Rome　had　been　of　considerably　smaller　dimensions。　Meanwhile　Sobakevitch　sat　with　his　head　drooping。

From　that　Chichikov　went　on　to　remark　that；　according　to　the　statutes　of　the　said　Russian　Empire　（which　yielded　to　none　in　gloryso　much　so　that　foreigners　marvelled　at　it）；　peasants　on　the　census　lists　who　had　ended　their　earthly　careers　were　nevertheless；　on　the　rendering　of　new　lists；　returned　equally　with　the　living；　to　the　end　that　the　courts　might　be　relieved　of　a　multitude　of　trifling；　useless　emendations　which　might　complicate　the　already　sufficiently　complex　mechanism　of　the　State。　Nevertheless；　said　Chichikov；　the　general　equity　of　this　measure　did　not　obviate　a　certain　amount　of　annoyance　to　landowners；　since　it　forced　them　to　pay　upon　a　non…living　article　the　tax　due　upon　a　living。　Hence　（our　hero　concluded）　he　（Chichikov）　was　prepared；　owing　to　the　personal　respect　which　he　felt　for　Sobakevitch；　to　relieve　him；　in　part；　of　the　irksome　obligation　referred　to　（in　passing；　it　may　be　said　that　Chichikov　referred　to　his　principal　point　only　guardedly；　for　he　called　the　souls　which　he　was　seeking　not　〃dead；〃　but　〃non…existent〃）。

Meanwhile　Sobakevitch　listened　with　bent　head；　though　something　like　a　trace　of　expression　dawned　in　his　face　as　he　did　so。　Ordinarily　his　body　lacked　a　soulor；　if　he　did　posses　a　soul；　he　seemed　to　keep　it　elsewhere　than　where　it　ought　to　have　been；　so　that；　buried　beneath　mountains　（as　it　were）　or　enclosed　within　a　massive　shell；　its　movements　produced　no　sort　of　agitation　on　the　surface。

〃Well？〃　said　Chichikovthough　not　without　a　certain　tremor　of　diffidence　as　to　the　possible　response。

〃You　are　after　dead　souls？〃　were　Sobakevitch's　perfectly　simple　words。　He　spoke　without　the　least　surprise　in　his　tone；　and　much　as　though　the　conversation　had　been　turning　on　grain。

〃Yes；〃　replied　Chichikov；　and　then；　as　before；　softened　down　the　expression　〃dead　souls。〃

〃They　are　to　be　found；〃　said　Sobakevitch。　〃Why　should　they　not　be？〃

〃Then　of　course　you　will　be　glad　to　get　rid　of　any　that　you　may　chance　to　have？〃

〃Yes；　I　shall　have　no　objection　to　SELLING　them。〃　At　this　point　the　speaker　raised　his　head　a　little；　for　it　had　struck　him　that　surely　the　would…be　buyer　must　have　some　advantage　in　view。

〃The　devil！〃　thought　Chichikov　to　himself。　〃Here　is　he　selling　the　goods　before　I　have　even　had　time　to　utter　a　word！〃

〃And　what　about　the　price？〃　he　added　aloud。　〃Of　course；　the　articles　are　not　of　a　kind　very　easy　to　appraise。〃

〃I　should　be　sorry　to　ask　too　much；〃　said　Sobakevitch。　〃How　would　a　hundred　roubles　per　head　suit　you？〃

〃What；　a　hundred　roubles　per　head？〃　Chichikov　stared　open…mouthed　at　his　hostdoubting　whether　he　had　heard　aright；　or　whether　his　host's　slow…moving　tongue　might　not　have　inadvertently　substituted　one　word　for　another。

〃Yes。　Is　that　too　much　for　you？〃　said　Sobakevitch。　Then　he　added：　〃What　is　your　own　price？〃

〃My　own　price？　I　think　that　we　cannot　properly　have　understood　one　anotherthat　you　must　have　forgotten　of　what　the　goods　consist。　With　my　hand　on　my　heart　do　I　submit　that　eight　grivni　per　soul　would　be　a　handsome；　a　VERY　handsome；　offer。〃

〃What？　Eight　grivni？〃

〃In　my　opinion；　a　higher　offer　would　be　impossible。〃

〃But　I　am　not　a　seller　of　boots。〃

〃No；　yet　you；　for　your　part；　will　agree　that　these　souls　are　not　live　human　beings？〃

〃I　suppose　you　hope　to　find　fools　ready　to　sell　you　souls　on　the　census　list　for　a　couple　of　groats　apiece？〃

〃Pardon　me；　but　why　do　you　use　the　term　'on　the　census　list'？　The　souls　themselves　have　long　since　passed　away；　and　have　left　behind　them　only　their　names。　Not　to　trouble　you　with　any　further　discussion　of　the　subject；　I　can　offer　you　a　rouble　and　a　half　per　head；　but　no　more。〃

〃You　should　be　ashamed　even　to　mention　such　a　sum！　Since　you　deal　in　articles　of　this　kind；　quote　me　a　genuine　price。〃

〃I　cannot；　Michael　Semenovitch。　Believe　me；　I　cannot。　What　a　man　cannot　do；　that　he　cannot　do。〃　The　speaker　ended　by　advancing　another　half…rouble　per　head。

〃But　why　hang　back　with　your　money？〃　said　Sobakevitch。　〃Of　a　truth　I　am　not　asking　much　of　you。　Any　other　rascal　than　myself　would　have　cheated　you　by　selling　you　old　rubbish　instead　of　good；　genuine　souls；　whereas　I　should　be　ready　to　give　you　of　my　best；　even　were　you　buying　only　nut…kernels。　For　instance；　look　at　wheelwright　Michiev。　Never　was　there　such　a　one　to　build　spring　carts！　And　his　handiwork　was　not　like　your　Moscow　handiworkgood　only　for　an　hour。　No；　he　did　it　all　himself；　even　down　to　the　varnishing。〃

Chichikov　opened　his　mouth　to　remark　that；　nevertheless；　the　said　Michiev　had　long　since　departed　this　world；　but　Sobakevitch's　eloquence　had　got　too　thoroughly　into　its　stride　to　admit　of　any　interruption。

〃And　look；　too；　at　Probka　Stepan；　the　carpenter；〃　his　host　went　on。　〃I　will　wager　my　head　that　nowhere　else　would　you　find　such　a　workman。　What　a　strong　fellow　he　was！　He　had　served　in　the　Guards；　and　the　Lord　only　knows　what　they　had　given　for　him；　seeing　that　he　was　over　three　arshins　in　height。〃

Again　Chichikov　tried　to　remark　that　Probka　was　dead；　but　Sobakevitch's　tongue　was　borne　on　the　torrent　of　its　own　verbiage；　and　the　only　thing　to　be　done　was　to　listen。

〃And　Milushkin；　the　bricklayer！　He　could　build　a　stove　in　any　house　you　liked！　And　Maksim　Teliatnikov；　the　bootmaker！　Anything　that　he　drove　his　awl　into　became　a　pair　of　bootsand　boots　for　which　you　would　be　thankful；　although　he　WAS　a　bit　foul　of　the　mouth。　And　Eremi　Sorokoplechin；　too！　He　was　the　best　of　the　lot；　and　used　to　work　at　his　trade　in　Moscow；　where　he　paid　a　tax　of　five　hundred　roubles。　Well；　THERE'S　an　assortment　of　serfs　for　you！a　very　different　assortment　from　what　Plushkin　would　sell　you！〃

〃But　permit　me；〃　at　length　put　in　Chichikov；　astounded　at　this　flood　of　eloquence　to　which　there　appeared　to　be　no　end。　〃Permit　me；　I　say；　to　inquire　why　you　enumerate　the　talents　of　the　deceased；　seeing　that　they　are　all　of　them　dead；　and　that　therefore　there　can　be　no　sense　in　doing　so。　'A　dead　body　is　only　good　to　prop　a　fence　with；'　says　the　proverb。〃

〃Of　course　they　are　dead；〃　replied　Sobakevitch；　but　rather　as　though　the　idea　had　only　just　occurred　to　him；　and　was　giving　him　food　for　thought。　〃But　tell　me；　now：　what　is　the　use　of　listing　them　as　still　alive？　And　what　is　the　use　of　them　themselves？　They　are　flies；　not　human　beings。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Chichikov；　〃they　exist；　though　only　in　idea。〃

〃But　noNOT　only　in　idea。　I　tell　you　that　nowhere　else　would　you　find　such　a　fellow　for　working　heavy　tools　as　was　Michiev。　He　had　the　strength　of　a　horse　in　his　shoulders。〃　And；　with　the　words；　Sobakevitch　turned；　as　though　for　corroboration；　to　the　portrait　of　Bagration；　as　is　frequently　done　by　one　of　the　parties　in　a　dispute　when　he　purports　to　appeal　to　an　extraneous　individual　who　is　not　only　unknown　to　him；　but　wholly　unconnected　with　the　subject　in　hand；　with　the　result　that　the　individual　is　left　in　doubt　whether　to　make　a　reply；　or　whether　to　betake　himself　elsewhere。

〃Nevertheless；　I　CANNOT　give　you　more　than　two　roubles　per　head；〃　said　Chichikov。

〃Well；　as　I　don't　want　you　to　swear　that　I　have　asked　too　much　of　you　and　won't　meet　you　halfway；　suppose；　for　friendship's　sake；　that　you　pay　me　seventy…five　roubles　in　assignats？〃

〃Good　heavens！〃　thought　Chichikov　to　himself。　〃Does　the　man　take　me　for　a　fool？〃　Then　he　added　aloud：　〃The　situation　seems　to　me　a　strange　one；　for　it　is　as　though　we　were　performing　a　stage　comedy。　No　other　explanation　would　meet　the　case。　Yet　you　appear　to　be　a　man　of　sense；　and　possessed　of　some　education。　The　matter　is　a　very　simple　one。　The　question　is：　what　is　a　dead　soul　worth；　and　is　it　of　any　use　to　any　one？〃

〃It　is　of　use　to　YOU；　or　you　would