dead souls(死魂灵)-第24章

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For　the　moment　he　could　say　no　more。　Yet　barely　a　minute　had　elapsed　before　this　instantaneously　aroused　emotion　had；　as　instantaneously；　disappeared　from　his　wooden　features。　Once　more　they　assumed　a　careworn　expression；　and　he　even　wiped　his　face　with　his　handkerchief；　then　rolled　it　into　a　ball；　and　rubbed　it　to　and　fro　against　his　upper　lip。

〃If　it　will　not　annoy　you　again　to　state　the　proposal；〃　he　went　on；　〃what　you　undertake　to　do　is　to　pay　the　annual　tax　upon　these　souls；　and　to　remit　the　money　either　to　me　or　to　the　Treasury？〃

〃Yes；　that　is　how　it　shall　be　done。　We　will　draw　up　a　deed　of　purchase　as　though　the　souls　were　still　alive　and　you　had　sold　them　to　myself。〃

〃Quite　soa　deed　of　purchase；〃　echoed　Plushkin；　once　more　relapsing　into　thought　and　the　chewing　motion　of　the　lips。　〃But　a　deed　of　such　a　kind　will　entail　certain　expenses；　and　lawyers　are　so　devoid　of　conscience！　In　fact；　so　extortionate　is　their　avarice　that　they　will　charge　one　half　a　rouble；　and　then　a　sack　of　flour；　and　then　a　whole　waggon…load　of　meal。　I　wonder　that　no　one　has　yet　called　attention　to　the　system。〃

Upon　that　Chichikov　intimated　that；　out　of　respect　for　his　host；　he　himself　would　bear　the　cost　of　the　transfer　of　souls。　This　led　Plushkin　to　conclude　that　his　guest　must　be　the　kind　of　unconscionable　fool　who；　while　pretending　to　have　been　a　member　of　the　Civil　Service；　has　in　reality　served　in　the　army　and　run　after　actresses；　wherefore　the　old　man　no　longer　disguised　his　delight；　but　called　down　blessings　alike　upon　Chichikov's　head　and　upon　those　of　his　children　（he　had　never　even　inquired　whether　Chichikov　possessed　a　family）。　Next；　he　shuffled　to　the　window；　and；　tapping　one　of　its　panes；　shouted　the　name　of　〃Proshka。〃　Immediately　some　one　ran　quickly　into　the　hall；　and；　after　much　stamping　of　feet；　burst　into　the　room。　This　was　Proshkaa　thirteen…year…old　youngster　who　was　shod　with　boots　of　such　dimensions　as　almost　to　engulf　his　legs　as　he　walked。　The　reason　why　he　had　entered　thus　shod　was　that　Plushkin　only　kept　one　pair　of　boots　for　the　whole　of　his　domestic　staff。　This　universal　pair　was　stationed　in　the　hall　of　the　mansion；　so　that　any　servant　who　was　summoned　to　the　house　might　don　the　said　boots　after　wading　barefooted　through　the　mud　of　the　courtyard；　and　enter　the　parlour　dry…shodsubsequently　leaving　the　boots　where　he　had　found　them；　and　departing　in　his　former　barefooted　condition。　Indeed；　had　any　one；　on　a　slushy　winter's　morning；　glanced　from　a　window　into　the　said　courtyard；　he　would　have　seen　Plushkin's　servitors　performing　saltatory　feats　worthy　of　the　most　vigorous　of　stage…dancers。

〃Look　at　that　boy's　face！〃　said　Plushkin　to　Chichikov　as　he　pointed　to　Proshka。　〃It　is　stupid　enough；　yet；　lay　anything　aside；　and　in　a　trice　he　will　have　stolen　it。　Well；　my　lad；　what　do　you　want？〃

He　paused　a　moment　or　two；　but　Proshka　made　no　reply。

〃Come；　come！〃　went　on　the　old　man。　〃Set　out　the　samovar；　and　then　give　Mavra　the　key　of　the　store…roomhere　it　isand　tell　her　to　get　out　some　loaf　sugar　for　tea。　Here！　Wait　another　moment；　fool！　Is　the　devil　in　your　legs　that　they　itch　so　to　be　off？　Listen　to　what　more　I　have　to　tell　you。　Tell　Mavra　that　the　sugar　on　the　outside　of　the　loaf　has　gone　bad；　so　that　she　must　scrape　it　off　with　a　knife；　and　NOT　throw　away　the　scrapings；　but　give　them　to　the　poultry。　Also；　see　that　you　yourself　don't　go　into　the　storeroom；　or　I　will　give　you　a　birching　that　you　won't　care　for。　Your　appetite　is　good　enough　already；　but　a　better　one　won't　hurt　you。　Don't　even　TRY　to　go　into　the　storeroom；　for　I　shall　be　watching　you　from　this　window。〃

〃You　see；〃　the　old　man　added　to　Chichikov；　〃one　can　never　trust　these　fellows。〃　Presently；　when　Proshka　and　the　boots　had　departed；　he　fell　to　gazing　at　his　guest　with　an　equally　distrustful　air；　since　certain　features　in　Chichikov's　benevolence　now　struck　him　as　a　little　open　to　question；　and　he　had　begin　to　think　to　himself：　〃After　all；　the　devil　only　knows　who　he　iswhether　a　braggart；　like　most　of　these　spendthrifts；　or　a　fellow　who　is　lying　merely　in　order　to　get　some　tea　out　of　me。〃　Finally；　his　circumspection；　combined　with　a　desire　to　test　his　guest；　led　him　to　remark　that　it　might　be　well　to　complete　the　transaction　IMMEDIATELY；　since　he　had　not　overmuch　confidence　in　humanity；　seeing　that　a　man　might　be　alive　to…day　and　dead　to…morrow。

To　this　Chichikov　assented　readily　enoughmerely　adding　that　he　should　like　first　of　all　to　be　furnished　with　a　list　of　the　dead　souls。　This　reassured　Plushkin　as　to　his　guest's　intention　of　doing　business；　so　he　got　out　his　keys；　approached　a　cupboard；　and；　having　pulled　back　the　door；　rummaged　among　the　cups　and　glasses　with　which　it　was　filled。　At　length　he　said：

〃I　cannot　find　it　now；　but　I　used　to　possess　a　splendid　bottle　of　liquor。　Probably　the　servants　have　drunk　it　all；　for　they　are　such　thieves。　Oh　no：　perhaps　this　is　it！〃

Looking　up；　Chichikov　saw　that　Plushkin　had　extracted　a　decanter　coated　with　dust。

〃My　late　wife　made　the　stuff；〃　went　on　the　old　man；　〃but　that　rascal　of　a　housekeeper　went　and　threw　away　a　lot　of　it；　and　never　even　replaced　the　stopper。　Consequently　bugs　and　other　nasty　creatures　got　into　the　decanter；　but　I　cleaned　it　out；　and　now　beg　to　offer　you　a　glassful。〃

The　idea　of　a　drink　from　such　a　receptacle　was　too　much　for　Chichikov；　so　he　excused　himself　on　the　ground　that　he　had　just　had　luncheon。

〃You　have　just　had　luncheon？〃　re…echoed　Plushkin。　〃Now；　THAT　shows　how　invariably　one　can　tell　a　man　of　good　society；　wheresoever　one　may　be。　A　man　of　that　kind　never　eats　anythinghe　always　says　that　he　has　had　enough。　Very　different　that　from　the　ways　of　a　rogue；　whom　one　can　never　satisfy；　however　much　one　may　give　him。　For　instance；　that　captain　of　mine　is　constantly　begging　me　to　let　him　have　a　mealthough　he　is　about　as　much　my　nephew　as　I　am　his　grandfather。　As　it　happens；　there　is　never　a　bite　of　anything　in　the　house；　so　he　has　to　go　away　empty。　But　about　the　list　of　those　good…for…nothing　soulsI　happen　to　possess　such　a　list；　since　I　have　drawn　one　up　in　readiness　for　the　next　revision。〃

With　that　Plushkin　donned　his　spectacles；　and　once　more　started　to　rummage　in　the　cupboard；　and　to　smother　his　guest　with　dust　as　he　untied　successive　packages　of　papersso　much　so　that　his　victim　burst　out　sneezing。　Finally　he　extracted　a　much…scribbled　document　in　which　the　names　of　the　deceased　peasants　lay　as　close…packed　as　a　cloud　of　midges；　for　there　were　a　hundred　and　twenty　of　them　in　all。　Chichikov　grinned　with　joy　at　the　sight　of　the　multitude。　Stuffing　the　list　into　his　pocket；　he　remarked　that；　to　complete　the　transaction；　it　would　be　necessary　to　return　to　the　town。

〃To　the　town？〃　repeated　Plushkin。　〃But　why？　Moreover；　how　could　I　leave　the　house；　seeing　that　every　one　of　my　servants　is　either　a　thief　or　a　rogue？　Day　by　day　they　pilfer　things；　until　soon　I　shall　have　not　a　single　coat　to　hang　on　my　back。〃

〃Then　you　possess　acquaintances　in　the　town？〃

〃Acquaintances？　No。　Every　acquaintance　whom　I　ever　possessed　has　either　left　me　or　is　dead。　But　stop　a　moment。　I　DO　know　the　President　of　the　Council。　Even　in　my　old　age　he　has　once　or　twice　come　to　visit　me；　for　he　and　I　used　to　be　schoolfellows；　and　to　go　climbing　walls　together。　Yes；　him　I　do　know。　Shall　I　write　him　a　letter？〃

〃By　all　means。〃

〃Yes；　him　I　know　well；　for　we　were　friends　together　at　school。〃

Over　Plushkin's　wooden　features　there　had　gleamed　a　ray　of　warmtha　ray　which　expressed；　if　not　feeling；　at　all　events　feeling's　pale　reflection。　Just　such　a　phenomenon　may　be　witnessed　when；　for　a　brief　moment；　a　drowning　man　makes　a　last　re…appearance　on　the　surface　of　a　river；　and　there　rises　from　the　crowd　lining　the　banks　a　cry　of　hope　that　even　yet　the　exhausted　hands　may　clutch　the　rope　which　has　been　thrown　himmay　clutch　it　before　the　surface　of　the　unstable　element　shall　have　resumed　for　ever　its　calm；　dread　vacuity。　But　the　hope　is　short…lived；　and　the　hands　disappear。　Even　so　did　Plushkin's　face；　after　its　momentary　manifestation　of　feeling；　become　meaner　and　more　insensible　than　ever。

〃There　used　to　be　a　sheet　of　clean　writing　paper　lying　on　the　table；〃　he　went　on。　〃But　where　it　is　now　I　cannot　think。　That　comes　of　my　servants　being　such　rascals。〃

Whit　that　he　fell　to　looking　also　under　the　table；　as　well　as　to　hurrying　about　with　cries　of　〃Mavra；　Mavra！〃　At　length　the　call　was　answered　by　a　woman　with　a　plateful　of　the　sugar　of　which　mention　has　been　made；　whereupon　there　ensued　the　following　conversation。

〃What　have　you　done　with　my　piece　of　writing　paper；　you　pilferer？〃

〃I　swear　that　I　have　seen　no　paper　except　the　bit　with　which　you　covered　the　glass。〃

〃Your　very　face　tells　me　that　you　have　made　off　with　it。〃

〃Why　should　I　make　off　with　it？　'Twould　be　of　no　use　to　me；　for　I　can　neither　read　nor　write。〃

〃You　lie！　You　have　taken　it　away　for　the　sexton　to　scribble　upon。〃

〃Well；　if　the　sexton　wanted　paper　he　could　get　some　for　himself。　Neither　he　nor　I　have　set　eyes　upon　your　piece。〃

〃Ah！　Wait　a　bit；　for　on　the　Judgment　Day　you　will　be　roasted　by　devils　on　iron　spits。　Just　see　if　you　are　not！〃

〃But　why　should　I　be　roasted　when　I　have　never　even　TOUCHED　the　paper？　You　might　accuse　me　of　any　other　fault　than　theft。〃

〃Nay；　devils　shall　roast　you；　sure　enough。　They　will　say　to　you；　'Bad　woman；　we　are　doing　this　because　you　robbed　your　master；'　and　then　stoke　up　the　fire　still　hotter。〃

〃Nevertheless　_I_　shall　continue　to　say；　'You　are　roasting　me　for　nothing；　for　I　never　stole　anything　at　all。'　Why；　THERE　it　is；　lying　on　the　table！　You　have　been　accusing　me　for　no　reason　whatever！〃

And；　sure　enough；　the　sheet　of　paper　was　lying　before　Plushkin's　very　eyes。　For　a　moment　or　two　he　chewed　silently。　Then　he　went　on：

〃Well；　and　what　are　you　making　such　a　noise　about？　If　one　says　a　single　word　to　you；　you　answer　back　with　ten。　Go　and　fetch　me　a　candle　to　seal　a　letter　with。　And　mind　you　bring　a　TALLOW　candle；　for　it　will　not　cost　so　much　as　the　other　sort。　And　bring　me　a　match　too。〃

Mavra　departed；　and　Plushkin；　seating　himself；　and　taking　up　a　pen；　sat　turning　the　sheet　of　paper　over　and　over；　as　though　in　doubt　whether　to　tear　from　it　yet　another　morsel。　At　length　he　came　to　the　conclusion　that　it　was　impossible　to　do　so；　and　therefore；　dipping　the　pen　into　the　mixture　of　mouldy　fluid　and　dead　flies　which　the　ink　bottle　contained；　started　to　indite　the　letter　in　characters　as　bold　as　the　notes　of　a　music　score；　while　momentarily　checking　the　speed　of　his　hand；　lest　it　should　meander　too　much　over　the　paper；　and　crawling　from　line　to　line　as　though　he　regretted　that　there　was　so　little　vacant　space　left　on　the　sheet。

〃And　do　you　happen　to　know　any　one　to　whom　a　few　runaway　serfs　would　be　of　use？〃　he　asked　as　subsequently　he　folded　the　letter。

〃What？　You　have　some　runaways　as　well？〃　exclaimed　Chichikov；　again　greatly　interested。

〃Certainly　I　have。　My　son…in…law　has　laid　the　necessary　information　against　them；　but　says　that　their　tracks　have　grown　cold。　However；　he　is　only　a　military　manthat　is　to　say；　good　at　clinking　a　pair　of　spurs；　but　of　no　use　for　laying　a　plea　before　a　court。〃

〃And　how　many　runaways　have　you？〃

〃About　seventy。〃

〃Surely　not？〃