dead souls(死魂灵)-第22章

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　what　is　a　dead　soul　worth；　and　is　it　of　any　use　to　any　one？〃

〃It　is　of　use　to　YOU；　or　you　would　not　be　buying　such　articles。〃

Chichikov　bit　his　lip；　and　stood　at　a　loss　for　a　retort。　He　tried　to　saying　something　about　〃family　and　domestic　circumstances；〃　but　Sobakevitch　cut　him　short　with：

〃I　don't　want　to　know　your　private　affairs；　for　I　never　poke　my　nose　into　such　things。　You　need　the　souls；　and　I　am　ready　to　sell　them。　Should　you　not　buy　them；　I　think　you　will　repent　it。〃

〃Two　roubles　is　my　price；〃　repeated　Chichikov。

〃Come；　come！　As　you　have　named　that　sum；　I　can　understand　your　not　liking　to　go　back　upon　it；　but　quote　me　a　bona　fide　figure。〃

〃The　devil　fly　away　with　him！〃　mused　Chichikov。　〃However；　I　will　add　another　half…rouble。〃　And　he　did　so。

〃Indeed？〃　said　Sobakevitch。　〃Well；　my　last　word　upon　it　isfifty　roubles　in　assignats。　That　will　mean　a　sheer　loss　to　me；　for　nowhere　else　in　the　world　could　you　buy　better　souls　than　mine。〃

〃The　old　skinflint！〃　muttered　Chichikov。　Then　he　added　aloud；　with　irritation　in　his　tone：　〃See　here。　This　is　a　serious　matter。　Any　one　but　you　would　be　thankful　to　get　rid　of　the　souls。　Only　a　fool　would　stick　to　them；　and　continue　to　pay　the　tax。〃

〃Yes；　but　remember　（and　I　say　it　wholly　in　a　friendly　way）　that　transactions　of　this　kind　are　not　generally　allowed；　and　that　any　one　would　say　that　a　man　who　engages　in　them　must　have　some　rather　doubtful　advantage　in　view。〃

〃Have　it　your　own　away；〃　said　Chichikov；　with　assumed　indifference。　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　am　not　purchasing　for　profit；　as　you　suppose；　but　to　humour　a　certain　whim　of　mine。　Two　and　a　half　roubles　is　the　most　that　I　can　offer。〃

〃Bless　your　heart！〃　retorted　the　host。　〃At　least　give　me　thirty　roubles　in　assignats；　and　take　the　lot。〃

〃No；　for　I　see　that　you　are　unwilling　to　sell。　I　must　say　good…day　to　you。〃

〃Hold　on；　hold　on！〃　exclaimed　Sobakevitch；　retaining　his　guest's　hand；　and　at　the　same　moment　treading　heavily　upon　his　toesso　heavily；　indeed；　that　Chichikov　gasped　and　danced　with　the　pain。

〃I　BEG　your　pardon！〃　said　Sobakevitch　hastily。　〃Evidently　I　have　hurt　you。　Pray　sit　down　again。〃

〃No；〃　retorted　Chichikov。　〃I　am　merely　wasting　my　time；　and　must　be　off。〃

〃Oh；　sit　down　just　for　a　moment。　I　have　something　more　agreeable　to　say。〃　And；　drawing　closer　to　his　guest；　Sobakevitch　whispered　in　his　ear；　as　though　communicating　to　him　a　secret：　〃How　about　twenty…five　roubles？〃

〃No；　no；　no！〃　exclaimed　Chichikov。　〃I　won't　give　you　even　a　QUARTER　of　that。　I　won't　advance　another　kopeck。〃

For　a　while　Sobakevitch　remained　silent；　and　Chichikov　did　the　same。　This　lasted　for　a　couple　of　minutes；　and；　meanwhile；　the　aquiline…nosed　Bagration　gazed　from　the　wall　as　though　much　interested　in　the　bargaining。

〃What　is　your　outside　price？〃　at　length　said　Sobakevitch。

〃Two　and　a　half　roubles。〃

〃Then　you　seem　to　rate　a　human　soul　at　about　the　same　value　as　a　boiled　turnip。　At　least　give　me　THREE　roubles。〃

〃No；　I　cannot。〃

〃Pardon　me；　but　you　are　an　impossible　man　to　deal　with。　However；　even　though　it　will　mean　a　dead　loss　to　me；　and　you　have　not　shown　a　very　nice　spirit　about　it；　I　cannot　well　refuse　to　please　a　friend。　I　suppose　a　purchase　deed　had　better　be　made　out　in　order　to　have　everything　in　order？〃

〃Of　course。〃

〃Then　for　that　purpose　let　us　repair　to　the　town。〃

The　affair　ended　in　their　deciding　to　do　this　on　the　morrow；　and　to　arrange　for　the　signing　of　a　deed　of　purchase。　Next；　Chichikov　requested　a　list　of　the　peasants；　to　which　Sobakevitch　readily　agreed。　Indeed；　he　went　to　his　writing…desk　then　and　there；　and　started　to　indite　a　list　which　gave　not　only　the　peasants'　names；　but　also　their　late　qualifications。

Meanwhile　Chichikov；　having　nothing　else　to　do；　stood　looking　at　the　spacious　form　of　his　host；　and　as　he　gazed　at　his　back　as　broad　as　that　of　a　cart　horse；　and　at　the　legs　as　massive　as　the　iron　standards　which　adorn　a　street；　he　could　not　help　inwardly　ejaculating：

〃Truly　God　has　endowed　you　with　much！　Though　not　adjusted　with　nicety；　at　least　you　are　strongly　built。　I　wonder　whether　you　were　born　a　bear　or　whether　you　have　come　to　it　through　your　rustic　life；　with　its　tilling　of　crops　and　its　trading　with　peasants？　Yet　no；　I　believe　that；　even　if　you　had　received　a　fashionable　education；　and　had　mixed　with　society；　and　had　lived　in　St。　Petersburg；　you　would　still　have　been　just　the　kulak＇5＇　that　you　are。　The　only　difference　is　that　circumstances；　as　they　stand；　permit　of　your　polishing　off　a　stuffed　shoulder　of　mutton　at　a　meal；　whereas　in　St。　Petersburg　you　would　have　been　unable　to　do　so。　Also；　as　circumstances　stand；　you　have　under　you　a　number　of　peasants；　whom　you　treat　well　for　the　reason　that　they　are　your　property；　whereas；　otherwise；　you　would　have　had　under　you　tchinovniks＇6＇：　whom　you　would　have　bullied　because　they　were　NOT　your　property。　Also；　you　would　have　robbed　the　Treasury；　since　a　kulak　always　remains　a　money…grubber。〃

＇5＇　Village　factor　or　usurer。

＇6＇　Subordinate　government　officials。

〃The　list　is　ready；〃　said　Sobakevitch；　turning　round。

〃Indeed？　Then　please　let　me　look　at　it。〃　Chichikov　ran　his　eye　over　the　document；　and　could　not　but　marvel　at　its　neatness　and　accuracy。　Not　only　were　there　set　forth　in　it　the　trade；　the　age；　and　the　pedigree　of　every　serf；　but　on　the　margin　of　the　sheet　were　jotted　remarks　concerning　each　serf's　conduct　and　sobriety。　Truly　it　was　a　pleasure　to　look　at　it。

〃And　do　you　mind　handing　me　the　earnest　money？〃　said　Sobakevitch？

〃Yes；　I　do。　Why　need　that　be　done？　You　can　receive　the　money　in　a　lump　sum　as　soon　as　we　visit　the　town。〃

〃But　it　is　always　the　custom；　you　know；〃　asserted　Sobakevitch。

〃Then　I　cannot　follow　it；　for　I　have　no　money　with　me。　However；　here　are　ten　roubles。〃

〃Ten　roubles；　indeed？　You　might　as　well　hand　me　fifty　while　you　are　about　it。〃

Once　more　Chichikov　started　to　deny　that　he　had　any　money　upon　him；　but　Sobakevitch　insisted　so　strongly　that　this　was　not　so　that　at　length　the　guest　pulled　out　another　fifteen　roubles；　and　added　them　to　the　ten　already　produced。

〃Kindly　give　me　a　receipt　for　the　money；〃　he　added。

〃A　receipt？　Why　should　I　give　you　a　receipt？〃

〃Because　it　is　better　to　do　so；　in　order　to　guard　against　mistakes。〃

〃Very　well；　but　first　hand　me　over　the　money。〃

〃The　money？　I　have　it　here。　Do　you　write　out　the　receipt；　and　then　the　money　shall　be　yours。〃

〃Pardon　me；　but　how　am　I　to　write　out　the　receipt　before　I　have　seen　the　cash？〃

Chichikov　placed　the　notes　in　Sobakevitch's　hand；　whereupon　the　host　moved　nearer　to　the　table；　and　added　to　the　list　of　serfs　a　note　that　he　had　received　for　the　peasants；　therewith　sold；　the　sum　of　twenty…five　roubles；　as　earnest　money。　This　done；　he　counted　the　notes　once　more。

〃This　is　a　very　OLD　note；〃　he　remarked；　holding　one　up　to　the　light。　〃Also；　it　is　a　trifle　torn。　However；　in　a　friendly　transaction　one　must　not　be　too　particular。〃

〃What　a　kulak！〃　thought　Chichikov　to　himself。　〃And　what　a　brute　beast！〃

〃Then　you　do　not　want　any　WOMEN　souls？〃　queried　Sobakevitch。

〃I　thank　you；　no。〃

〃I　could　let　you　have　some　cheapsay；　as　between　friends；　at　a　rouble　a　head？〃

〃No；　I　should　have　no　use　for　them。〃

〃Then；　that　being　so；　there　is　no　more　to　be　said。　There　is　no　accounting　for　tastes。　'One　man　loves　the　priest；　and　another　the　priest's　wife；'　says　the　proverb。〃

Chichikov　rose　to　take　his　leave。　〃Once　more　I　would　request　of　you；〃　he　said；　〃that　the　bargain　be　left　as　it　is。〃

〃Of　course；　of　course。　What　is　done　between　friends　holds　good　because　of　their　mutual　friendship。　Good…bye；　and　thank　you　for　your　visit。　In　advance　I　would　beg　that；　whenever　you　should　have　an　hour　or　two　to　spare；　you　will　come　and　lunch　with　us　again。　Perhaps　we　might　be　able　to　do　one　another　further　service？〃

〃Not　if　I　know　it！〃　reflected　Chichikov　as　he　mounted　his　britchka。　〃Not　I；　seeing　that　I　have　had　two　and　a　half　roubles　per　soul　squeezed　out　of　me　by　a　brute　of　a　kulak！〃

Altogether　he　felt　dissatisfied　with　Sobakevitch's　behaviour。　In　spite　of　the　man　being　a　friend　of　the　Governor　and　the　Chief　of　Police；　he　had　acted　like　an　outsider　in　taking　money　for　what　was　worthless　rubbish。　As　the　britchka　left　the　courtyard　Chichikov　glanced　back　and　saw　Sobakevitch　still　standing　on　the　verandahapparently　for　the　purpose　of　watching　to　see　which　way　the　guest's　carriage　would　turn。

〃The　old　villain；　to　be　still　standing　there！〃　muttered　Chichikov　through　his　teeth；　after　which　he　ordered　Selifan　to　proceed　so　that　the　vehicle's　progress　should　be　invisible　from　the　mansionthe　truth　being　that　he　had　a　mind　next　to　visit　Plushkin　（whose　serfs；　to　quote　Sobakevitch；　had　a　habit　of　dying　like　flies）；　but　not　to　let　his　late　host　learn　of　his　intention。　Accordingly；　on　reaching　the　further　end　of　the　village；　he　hailed　the　first　peasant　whom　he　sawa　man　who　was　in　the　act　of　hoisting　a　ponderous　beam　on　to　his　shoulder　before　setting　off　with　it；　ant…like；　to　his　hut。

〃Hi！〃　shouted　Chichikov。　〃How　can　I　reach　landowner　Plushkin's　place　without　first　going　past　the　mansion　here？〃

The　peasant　seemed　nonplussed　by　the　question。

〃Don't　you　know？〃　queried　Chichikov。

〃No；　barin；〃　replied　the　peasant。

〃What？　You　don't　know　skinflint　Plushkin　who　feeds　his　people　so　badly？〃

〃Of　course　I　do！〃　exclaimed　the　fellow；　and　added　thereto　an　uncomplimentary　expression　of　a　species　not　ordinarily　employed　in　polite　society。　We　may　guess　that　it　was　a　pretty　apt　expression；　since　long　after　the　man　had　become　lost　to　view　Chichikov　was　still　laughing　in　his　britchka。　And；　indeed；　the　language　of　the　Russian　populace　is　always　forcible　in　its　phraseology。



CHAPTER　VI

Chichikov's　amusement　at　the　peasant's　outburst　prevented　him　from　noticing　that　he　had　reached　the　centre　of　a　large　and　populous　village；　but；　presently；　a　violent　jolt　aroused　him　to　the　fact　that　he　was　driving　over　wooden　pavements　of　a　kind　compared　with　which　the　cobblestones　of　the　town　had　been　as　nothing。　Like　the　keys　of　a　piano；　the　planks　kept　rising　and　falling；　and　unguarded　passage　over　them　entailed　either　a　bump　on　the　back　of　the　neck　or　a　bruise　on　the　forehead　or　a　bite　on　the　tip　of　one's　tongue。　At　the　same　time　Chichikov　noticed　a　look　of　decay　about　the　buildings　of　the　village。　The　beams　of　the　huts　had　grown　dark　with　age；　many　of　their　roofs　were　riddled　with　holes；　others　had　but　a　tile　of　the　roof　remaining；　and　yet　others　were　reduced　to　the　rib…like　framework　of　the　same。　It　would　seem　as　though　the　inhabitants　themselves　had　removed　the　laths　and　traverses；　on　the　very　natural　plea　that　the　huts　were　no　protection　against　the　rain；　and　therefore；　since　the　latter　entered　in　bucketfuls；　there　was　no　particular　object　to　be　gained　by　sitting　in　such　huts　when　all　the　time　there　was　the　tavern　and　the　highroad　and　other　places　to　resort　to。

Suddenly　a　woman　appeared　from　an　outbuildingapparently　the　housekeeper　of　the　mansion；　but　so　roughly　and　dirtily　dressed　as　almost　to　seem　indistinguishable　from　a　man。　Chichikov　inquired　for　the　master　of　the　place。

〃He　is　not　at　home；〃　she　replied；　almost　before　her　interlocutor　had　had　time　to　finish。　Then　she　added：　〃What　do　you　want　with　h