dead souls(死魂灵)-第25章

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t。〃

〃And　how　many　runaways　have　you？〃

〃About　seventy。〃

〃Surely　not？〃

〃Alas；　yes。　Never　does　a　year　pass　without　a　certain　number　of　them　making　off。　Yet　so　gluttonous　and　idle　are　my　serfs　that　they　are　simply　bursting　with　food；　whereas　I　scarcely　get　enough　to　eat。　I　will　take　any　price　for　them　that　you　may　care　to　offer。　Tell　your　friends　about　it；　and；　should　they　find　even　a　score　of　the　runaways；　it　will　repay　them　handsomely；　seeing　that　a　living　serf　on　the　census　list　is　at　present　worth　five　hundred　roubles。〃

〃Perhaps　so；　but　I　am　not　going　to　let　any　one　but　myself　have　a　finger　in　this；〃　thought　Chichikov　to　himself；　after　which　he　explained　to　Plushkin　that　a　friend　of　the　kind　mentioned　would　be　impossible　to　discover；　since　the　legal　expenses　of　the　enterprise　would　lead　to　the　said　friend　having　to　cut　the　very　tail　from　his　coat　before　he　would　get　clear　of　the　lawyers。

〃Nevertheless；〃　added　Chichikov；　〃seeing　that　you　are　so　hard　pressed　for　money；　and　that　I　am　so　interested　in　the　matter；　I　feel　moved　to　advance　youwell；　to　advance　you　such　a　trifle　as　would　scarcely　be　worth　mentioning。〃

〃But　how　much　is　it？〃　asked　Plushkin　eagerly；　and　with　his　hands　trembling　like　quicksilver。

〃Twenty…five　kopecks　per　soul。〃

〃What？　In　ready　money？〃

〃Yesin　money　down。〃

〃Nevertheless；　consider　my　poverty；　dear　friend；　and　make　it　FORTY　kopecks　per　soul。〃

〃Venerable　sir；　would　that　I　could　pay　you　not　merely　forty　kopecks；　but　five　hundred　roubles。　I　should　be　only　too　delighted　if　that　were　possible；　since　I　perceive　that　you；　an　aged　and　respected　gentleman；　are　suffering　for　your　own　goodness　of　heart。〃

〃By　God；　that　is　true；　that　is　true。〃　Plushkin　hung　his　head；　and　wagged　it　feebly　from　side　to　side。　〃Yes；　all　that　I　have　done　I　have　done　purely　out　of　kindness。〃

〃See　how　instantaneously　I　have　divined　your　nature！　By　now　it　will　have　become　clear　to　you　why　it　is　impossible　for　me　to　pay　you　five　hundred　roubles　per　runaway　soul：　for　by　now　you　will　have　gathered　the　fact　that　I　am　not　sufficiently　rich。　Nevertheless；　I　am　ready　to　add　another　five　kopecks；　and　so　to　make　it　that　each　runaway　serf　shall　cost　me；　in　all；　thirty　kopecks。〃

〃As　you　please；　dear　sir。　Yet　stretch　another　point；　and　throw　in　another　two　kopecks。〃

〃Pardon　me；　but　I　cannot。　How　many　runaway　serfs　did　you　say　that　you　possess？　Seventy？〃

〃No；　seventy…eight。〃

〃Seventy…eight　souls　at　thirty　kopecks　each　will　amount　toto〃　only　for　a　moment　did　our　hero　halt；　since　he　was　strong　in　his　arithmetic；　〃will　amount　to　twenty…four　roubles；　ninety…six　kopecks。〃＇1＇

＇1＇　Nevertheless　Chichikov　would　appear　to　have　erred；　since　most　　　　　people　would　make　the　sum　amount　to　twenty…three　roubles；　forty　　　　　kopecks。　If　so；　Chichikov　cheated　himself　of　one　rouble；　fifty…six　　　　　kopecks。

With　that　he　requested　Plushkin　to　make　out　the　receipt；　and　then　handed　him　the　money。　Plushkin　took　it　in　both　hands；　bore　it　to　a　bureau　with　as　much　caution　as　though　he　were　carrying　a　liquid　which　might　at　any　moment　splash　him　in　the　face；　and；　arrived　at　the　bureau；　and　glancing　round　once　more；　carefully　packed　the　cash　in　one　of　his　money　bags；　where；　doubtless；　it　was　destined　to　lie　buried　until；　to　the　intense　joy　of　his　daughters　and　his　son…in…law　（and；　perhaps；　of　the　captain　who　claimed　kinship　with　him）；　he　should　himself　receive　burial　at　the　hands　of　Fathers　Carp　and　Polycarp；　the　two　priests　attached　to　his　village。　Lastly；　the　money　concealed；　Plushkin　re…seated　himself　in　the　armchair；　and　seemed　at　a　loss　for　further　material　for　conversation。

〃Are　you　thinking　of　starting？〃　at　length　he　inquired；　on　seeing　Chichikov　making　a　trifling　movement；　though　the　movement　was　only　to　extract　from　his　pocket　a　handkerchief。　Nevertheless　the　question　reminded　Chichikov　that　there　was　no　further　excuse　for　lingering。

〃Yes；　I　must　be　going；〃　he　said　as　he　took　his　hat。

〃Then　what　about　the　tea？〃

〃Thank　you；　I　will　have　some　on　my　next　visit。〃

〃What？　Even　though　I　have　just　ordered　the　samovar　to　be　got　ready？　Well；　well！　I　myself　do　not　greatly　care　for　tea；　for　I　think　it　an　expensive　beverage。　Moreover；　the　price　of　sugar　has　risen　terribly。〃

〃Proshka！〃　he　then　shouted。　〃The　samovar　will　not　be　needed。　Return　the　sugar　to　Mavra；　and　tell　her　to　put　it　back　again。　But　no。　Bring　the　sugar　here；　and　_I_　will　put　it　back。〃

〃Good…bye；　dear　sir；〃　finally　he　added　to　Chichikov。　〃May　the　Lord　bless　you！　Hand　that　letter　to　the　President　of　the　Council；　and　let　him　read　it。　Yes；　he　is　an　old　friend　of　mine。　We　knew　one　another　as　schoolfellows。〃

With　that　this　strange　phenomenon；　this　withered　old　man；　escorted　his　guest　to　the　gates　of　the　courtyard；　and；　after　the　guest　had　departed；　ordered　the　gates　to　be　closed；　made　the　round　of　the　outbuildings　for　the　purpose　of　ascertaining　whether　the　numerous　watchmen　were　at　their　posts；　peered　into　the　kitchen　（where；　under　the　pretence　of　seeing　whether　his　servants　were　being　properly　fed；　he　made　a　light　meal　of　cabbage　soup　and　gruel）；　rated　the　said　servants　soundly　for　their　thievishness　and　general　bad　behaviour；　and　then　returned　to　his　room。　Meditating　in　solitude；　he　fell　to　thinking　how　best　he　could　contrive　to　recompense　his　guest　for　the　latter's　measureless　benevolence。　〃I　will　present　him；〃　he　thought　to　himself；　〃with　a　watch。　It　is　a　good　silver　articlenot　one　of　those　cheap　metal　affairs；　and　though　it　has　suffered　some　damage；　he　can　easily　get　that　put　right。　A　young　man　always　needs　to　give　a　watch　to　his　betrothed。〃

〃No；〃　he　added　after　further　thought。　〃I　will　leave　him　the　watch　in　my　will；　as　a　keepsake。〃

Meanwhile　our　hero　was　bowling　along　in　high　spirit。　Such　an　unexpected　acquisition　both　of　dead　souls　and　of　runaway　serfs　had　come　as　a　windfall。　Even　before　reaching　Plushkin's　village　he　had　had　a　presentiment　that　he　would　do　successful　business　there；　but　not　business　of　such　pre…eminent　profitableness　as　had　actually　resulted。　As　he　proceeded　he　whistled；　hummed　with　hand　placed　trumpetwise　to　his　mouth；　and　ended　by　bursting　into　a　burst　of　melody　so　striking　that　Selifan；　after　listening　for　a　while；　nodded　his　head　and　exclaimed；　〃My　word；　but　the　master　CAN　sing！〃

By　the　time　they　reached　the　town　darkness　had　fallen；　and　changed　the　character　of　the　scene。　The　britchka　bounded　over　the　cobblestones；　and　at　length　turned　into　the　hostelry's　courtyard；　where　the　travellers　were　met　by　Petrushka。　With　one　hand　holding　back　the　tails　of　his　coat　（which　he　never　liked　to　see　fly　apart）；　the　valet　assisted　his　master　to　alight。　The　waiter　ran　out　with　candle　in　hand　and　napkin　on　shoulder。　Whether　or　not　Petrushka　was　glad　to　see　the　barin　return　it　is　impossible　to　say；　but　at　all　events　he　exchanged　a　wink　with　Selifan；　and　his　ordinarily　morose　exterior　seemed　momentarily　to　brighten。

〃Then　you　have　been　travelling　far；　sir？〃　said　the　waiter；　as　he　lit　the　way　upstarts。

〃Yes；〃　said　Chichikov。　〃What　has　happened　here　in　the　meanwhile？〃

〃Nothing；　sir；〃　replied　the　waiter；　bowing；　〃except　that　last　night　there　arrived　a　military　lieutenant。　He　has　got　room　number　sixteen。〃

〃A　lieutenant？〃

〃Yes。　He　came　from　Riazan；　driving　three　grey　horses。〃

On　entering　his　room；　Chichikov　clapped　his　hand　to　his　nose；　and　asked　his　valet　why　he　had　never　had　the　windows　opened。

〃But　I　did　have　them　opened；〃　replied　Petrushka。　Nevertheless　this　was　a　lie；　as　Chichikov　well　knew；　though　he　was　too　tired　to　contest　the　point。　After　ordering　and　consuming　a　light　supper　of　sucking　pig；　he　undressed；　plunged　beneath　the　bedclothes；　and　sank　into　the　profound　slumber　which　comes　only　to　such　fortunate　folk　as　are　troubled　neither　with　mosquitoes　nor　fleas　nor　excessive　activity　of　brain。



CHAPTER　VII

When　Chichikov　awoke　he　stretched　himself　and　realised　that　he　had　slept　well。　For　a　moment　or　two　he　lay　on　his　back；　and　then　suddenly　clapped　his　hands　at　the　recollection　that　he　was　now　owner　of　nearly　four　hundred　souls。　At　once　he　leapt　out　of　bed　without　so　much　as　glancing　at　his　face　in　the　mirror；　though；　as　a　rule；　he　had　much　solicitude　for　his　features；　and　especially　for　his　chin；　of　which　he　would　make　the　most　when　in　company　with　friends；　and　more　particularly　should　any　one　happen　to　enter　while　he　was　engaged　in　the　process　of　shaving。　〃Look　how　round　my　chin　is！〃　was　his　usual　formula。　On　the　present　occasion；　however；　he　looked　neither　at　chin　nor　at　any　other　feature；　but　at　once　donned　his　flower…embroidered　slippers　of　morroco　leather　（the　kind　of　slippers　in　which；　thanks　to　the　Russian　love　for　a　dressing…gowned　existence；　the　town　of　Torzhok　does　such　a　huge　trade）；　and；　clad　only　in　a　meagre　shirt；　so　far　forgot　his　elderliness　and　dignity　as　to　cut　a　couple　of　capers　after　the　fashion　of　a　Scottish　highlanderalighting　neatly；　each　time；　on　the　flat　of　his　heels。　Only　when　he　had　done　that　did　he　proceed　to　business。　Planting　himself　before　his　dispatch…box；　he　rubbed　his　hands　with　a　satisfaction　worthy　of　an　incorruptible　rural　magistrate　when　adjourning　for　luncheon；　after　which　he　extracted　from　the　receptacle　a　bundle　of　papers。　These　he　had　decided　not　to　deposit　with　a　lawyer；　for　the　reason　that　he　would　hasten　matters；　as　well　as　save　expense；　by　himself　framing　and　fair…copying　the　necessary　deeds　of　indenture；　and　since　he　was　thoroughly　acquainted　with　the　necessary　terminology；　he　proceeded　to　inscribe　in　large　characters　the　date；　and　then　in　smaller　ones；　his　name　and　rank。　By　two　o'clock　the　whole　was　finished；　and　as　he　looked　at　the　sheets　of　names　representing　bygone　peasants　who　had　ploughed；　worked　at　handicrafts；　cheated　their　masters；　fetched；　carried；　and　got　drunk　（though　SOME　of　them　may　have　behaved　well）；　there　came　over　him　a　strange；　unaccountable　sensation。　To　his　eye　each　list　of　names　seemed　to　possess　a　character　of　its　own；　and　even　individual　peasants　therein　seemed　to　have　taken　on　certain　qualities　peculiar　to　themselves。　For　instance；　to　the　majority　of　Madame　Korobotchka's　serfs　there　were　appended　nicknames　and　other　additions；　Plushkin's　list　was　distinguished　by　a　conciseness　of　exposition　which　had　led　to　certain　of　the　items　being　represented　merely　by　Christian　name；　patronymic；　and　a　couple　of　dots；　and　Sobakevitch's　list　was　remarkable　for　its　amplitude　and　circumstantiality；　in　that　not　a　single　peasant　had　such　of　his　peculiar　characteristics　omitted　as　that　the　deceased　had　been　〃excellent　at　joinery；〃　or　〃sober　and　ready　to　pay　attention　to　his　work。〃　Also；　in　Sobakevitch's　list　there　was　recorded　who　had　been　the　father　and　the　mother　of　each　of　the　deceased；　and　how　those　parents　had　behaved　themselves。　Only　against　the　name　of　a　certain　Thedotov　was　there　inscribed：　〃Father　unknown；　Mother　the　maidservant　Kapitolina；　Morals　and　Honesty　good。〃　These　details　communicated　to　the　document　a　certain　air　of　freshness；　they　seemed　to　connote　that　the　peasants　in　question　had　lived　but　yesterday。　As　Chichikov　scanned　the　list　he　felt　softened　in　spirit；　and　said　with　a　sigh：

〃My　friends；　what　a　concourse　of　you　is　here！　How　did　you　all　pass　your　lives；　my　brethren？　And　how　did　you　all　come　to　depart　hence？〃

As　he　spoke　his　eyes　halted　at　on