dead souls(死魂灵)-第26章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃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　one　name　in　particularthat　of　the　same　Peter　Saveliev　Neuvazhai　Korito　who　had　once　been　the　property　of　the　window　Korobotchka。　Once　more　he　could　not　help　exclaiming：

〃What　a　series　of　titles！　They　occupy　a　whole　line！　Peter　Saveliev；　I　wonder　whether　you　were　an　artisan　or　a　plain　muzhik。　Also；　I　wonder　how　you　came　to　meet　your　end；　whether　in　a　tavern；　or　whether　through　going　to　sleep　in　the　middle　of　the　road　and　being　run　over　by　a　train　of　waggons。　Again；　I　see　the　name；　'Probka　Stepan；　carpenter；　very　sober。'　That　must　be　the　hero　of　whom　the　Guards　would　have　been　so　glad　to　get　hold。　How　well　I　can　imagine　him　tramping　the　country　with　an　axe　in　his　belt　and　his　boots　on　his　shoulder；　and　living　on　a　few　groats'…worth　of　bread　and　dried　fish　per　day；　and　taking　home　a　couple　of　half…rouble　pieces　in　his　purse；　and　sewing　the　notes　into　his　breeches；　or　stuffing　them　into　his　boots！　In　what　manner　came　you　by　your　end；　Probka　Stepan？　Did　you；　for　good　wages；　mount　a　scaffold　around　the　cupola　of　the　village　church；　and；　climbing　thence　to　the　cross　above；　miss　your　footing　on　a　beam；　and　fall　headlong　with　none　at　hand　but　Uncle　Michaithe　good　uncle　who；　scratching　the　back　of　his　neck；　and　muttering；　'Ah；　Vania；　for　once　you　have　been　too　clever！'　straightway　lashed　himself　to　a　rope；　and　took　your　place？　'Maksim　Teliatnikov；　shoemaker。'　A　shoemaker；　indeed？　'As　drunk　as　a　shoemaker；'　says　the　proverb。　_I_　know　what　you　were　like；　my　friend。　If　you　wish；　I　will　tell　you　your　whole　history。　You　were　apprenticed　to　a　German；　who　fed　you　and　your　fellows　at　a　common　table；　thrashed　you　with　a　strap；　kept　you　indoors　whenever　you　had　made　a　mistake；　and　spoke　of　you　in　uncomplimentary　terms　to　his　wife　and　friends。　At　length；　when　your　apprenticeship　was　over；　you　said　to　yourself；　'I　am　going　to　set　up　on　my　own　account；　and　not　just　to　scrape　together　a　kopeck　here　and　a　kopeck　there；　as　the　Germans　do；　but　to　grow　rich　quick。'　Hence　you　took　a　shop　at　a　high　rent；　bespoke　a　few　orders；　and　set　to　work　to　buy　up　some　rotten　leather　out　of　which　you　could　make；　on　each　pair　of　boots；　a　double　profit。　But　those　boots　split　within　a　fortnight；　and　brought　down　upon　your　head　dire　showers　of　maledictions；　with　the　result　that　gradually　your　shop　grew　empty　of　customers；　and　you　fell　to　roaming　the　streets　and　exclaiming；　'The　world　is　a　very　poor　place　indeed！　A　Russian　cannot　make　a　living　for　German　competition。'　Well；　well！　'Elizabeta　Vorobei！'　But　that　is　a　WOMAN'S　name！　How　comes　SHE　to　be　on　the　list？　That　villain　Sobakevitch　must　have　sneaked　her　in　without　my　knowing　it。〃

〃'Grigori　Goiezhai…ne…Doiedesh；'〃　he　went　on。　〃What　sort　of　a　man　were　YOU；　I　wonder？　Were　you　a　carrier　who；　having　set　up　a　team　of　three　horses　and　a　tilt　waggon；　left　your　home；　your　native　hovel；　for　ever；　and　departed　to　cart　merchandise　to　market？　Was　it　on　the　highway　that　you　surrendered　your　soul　to　God；　or　did　your　friends　first　marry　you　to　some　fat；　red…faced　soldier's　daughter；　after　which　your　harness　and　team　of　rough；　but　sturdy；　horses　caught　a　highwayman's　fancy；　and　you；　lying　on　your　pallet；　thought　things　over　until；　willy…nilly；　you　felt　that　you　must　get　up　and　make　for　the　tavern；　thereafter　blundering　into　an　icehole？　Ah；　our　peasant　of　Russia！　Never　do　you　welcome　death　when　it　comes！〃

〃And　you；　my　friends？〃　continued　Chichikov；　turning　to　the　sheet　whereon　were　inscribed　the　names　of　Plushkin's　absconded　serfs。　〃Although　you　are　still　alive；　what　is　the　good　of　you？　You　are　practically　dead。　Whither；　I　wonder；　have　your　fugitive　feet　carried　you？　Did　you　fare　hardly　at　Plushkin's；　or　was　it　that　your　natural　inclinations　led　you　to　prefer　roaming　the　wilds　and　plundering　travellers？　Are　you；　by　this　time；　in　gaol；　or　have　you　taken　service　with　other　masters　for　the　tillage　of　their　lands？　'Eremei　Kariakin；　Nikita　Volokita　and　Anton　Volokita　（son　of　the　foregoing）。'　To　judge　from　your　surnames；　you　would　seem　to　have　been　born　gadabouts＇1＇。　'Popov；　household　serf。'　Probably　you　are　an　educated　man；　good　Popov；　and　go　in　for　polite　thieving；　as　distinguished　from　the　more　vulgar　cut…throat　sort。　In　my　mind's　eye　I　seem　to　see　a　Captain　of　Rural　Police　challenging　you　for　being　without　a　passport；　whereupon　you　stake　your　all　upon　a　single　throw。　'To　whom　do　you　belong？'　asks　the　Captain；　probably　adding　to　his　question　a　forcible　expletive。　'To　such　and　such　a　landowner；'　stoutly　you　reply。　'And　what　are　you　doing　here？'　continues　the　Captain。　'I　have　just　received　permission　to　go　and　earn　my　obrok；'　is　your　fluent　explanation。　'Then　where　is　your　passport？'　'At　Miestchanin＇2＇　Pimenov's。'　'Pimenov's？　Then　are　you　Pimenov　himself？'　'Yes；　I　am　Pimenov　himself。'　'He　has　given　you　his　passport？'　'No；　he　has　not　given　me　his　passport。'　'Come；　come！'　shouts　the　Captain　with　another　forcible　expletive。　'You　are　lying！'　'No；　I　am　not；'　is　your　dogged　reply。　'It　is　only　that　last　night　I　could　not　return　him　his　passport；　because　I　came　home　late；　so　I　handed　it　to　Antip　Prochorov；　the　bell…ringer；　for　him　to　take　care　of。'　'Bell…ringer；　indeed！　Then　HE　gave　you　a　passport？'　'No；　I　did　not　receive　a　passport　from　him　either。'　'What？'and　here　the　Captain　shouts　another　expletive'How　dare　you　keep　on　lying？　Where　is　YOUR　OWN　passport？'　'I　had　one　all　right；'　you　reply　cunningly；　'but　must　have　dropped　it　somewhere　on　the　road　as　I　came　along。'　'And　what　about　that　soldier's　coat？'　asks　the　Captain　with　an　impolite　addition。　'Whence　did　you　get　it？　And　what　of　the　priest's　cashbox　and　copper　money？''　'About　them　I　know　nothing；'　you　reply　doggedly。　'Never　at　any　time　have　I　committed　a　theft。'　'Then　how　is　it　that　the　coat　was　found　at　your　place？'　'I　do　not　know。　Probably　some　one　else　put　it　there。'　'You　rascal；　you　rascal！'　shouts　the　Captain；　shaking　his　head；　and　closing　in　upon　you。　'Put　the　leg…irons　upon　him；　and　off　with　him　to　prison！'　'With　pleasure；'　you　reply　as；　taking　a　snuff…box　from　your　pocket；　you　offer　a　pinch　to　each　of　the　two　gendarmes　who　are　manacling　you；　while　also　inquiring　how　long　they　have　been　discharged　from　the　army；　and　in　what　wars　they　may　have　served。　And　in　prison　you　remain　until　your　case　comes　on；　when　the　justice　orders　you　to　be　removed　from　Tsarev…Kokshaika　to　such　and　such　another　prison；　and　a　second　justice　orders　you　to　be　transferred　thence　to　Vesiegonsk　or　somewhere　else；　and　you　go　flitting　from　gaol　to　gaol；　and　saying　each　time；　as　you　eye　your　new　habitation；　'The　last　place　was　a　good　deal　cleaner　than　this　one　is；　and　one　could　play　babki＇3＇　there；　and　stretch　one's　legs；　and　see　a　little　society。'〃

＇1＇　The　names　Kariakin　and　Volokita　might；　perhaps；　be　translated　as　　　　　〃Gallant〃　and　〃Loafer。〃

＇2＇　Tradesman　or　citizen。

＇3＇　The　game　of　knucklebones。

〃'Abakum　Thirov；'〃　Chichikov　went　on　after　a　pause。　〃What　of　YOU；　brother？　Where；　and　in　what　capacity；　are　YOU　disporting　yourself？　Have　you　gone　to　the　Volga　country；　and　become　bitten　with　the　life　of　freedom；　and　joined　the　fishermen　of　the　river？〃

Here；　breaking　off；　Chichikov　relapsed　into　silent　meditation。　Of　what　was　he　thinking　as　he　sat　there？　Was　he　thinking　of　the　fortunes　of　Abakum　Thirov；　or　was　he　meditating　as　meditates　every　Russian　when　his　thoughts　once　turn　to　the　joys　of　an　emancipated　existence？

〃Ah；　well！〃　he　sighed；　looking　at　his　watch。　〃It　has　now　gone　twelve　o'clock。　Why　have　I　so　forgotten　myself？　There　is　still　much　to　be　done；　yet　I　go　shutting　myself　up　and　letting　my　thoughts　wander！　What　a　fool　I　am！〃

So　saying；　he　exchanged　his　Scottish　costume　（of　a　shirt　and　nothing　else）　for　attire　of　a　more　European　nature；　after　which　he　pulled　tight　the　waistcoat　over　his　ample　stomach；　sprinkled　himself　with　eau…de…Cologne；　tucked　his　papers　under　his　arm；　took　his　fur　cap；　and　set　out　for　the　municipal　offices；　for　the　purpose　of　completing　the　transfer　of　souls。　The　fact　that　he　hurried　along　was　not　due　to　a　fear　of　being　late　（seeing　that　the　President　of　the　Local　Council　was　an　intimate　acquaintance　of　his；　as　well　as　a　functionary　who　could　shorten　or　prolong　an　interview　at　will；　even　as　Homer's　Zeus　was　able　to　shorten　or　to　prolong　a　night　or　a　day；　whenever　it　became　necessary　to　put　an　end　to　the　fighting　of　his　favourite　heroes；　or　to　enable　them　to　join　battle）；　but　rather　to　a　feeling　that　he　would　like　to　have　the　affair　concluded　as　quickly　as　possible；　seeing　that；　throughout；　it　had　been　an　anxious　and　difficult　business。　Also；　he　could　not　get　rid　of　the　idea　that　his　souls　were　unsubstantial　things；　and　that　therefore；　under　the　circumstances；　his　shoulders　had　better　be　relieved　of　their　load　with　the　least　possible　delay。　Pulling　on　his　cinnamon…coloured；　bear…lined　overcoat　as　he　went；　he　had　just　stepped　thoughtfully　into　the　street　when　he　collided　with　a　gentleman　dressed　in　a　similar　coat　and　an　ear…lappeted　fur　cap。　Upon　that　the　gentleman　uttered　an　exclamation。　Behold；　it　was　Manilov！　At　once　the　friends　became　folded　in　a　strenuous　embrace；　and　remained　so　locked　for　fully　five　minutes。　Indeed；　the　kisses　exchanged　were　so　vigorous　that　both　suffered　from　toothache　for　the　greater　portion　of　the　day。　Also；　Manilov's　delight　was　such　that　only　his　nose　and　lips　remained　visiblethe　eyes　completely　disappeared。　Afterwards　he　spent　about　a　quarter　of　an　hour　in　holding　Chichikov's　hand　and　chafing　it　vigorously。　Lastly；　he；　in　the　most　pleasant　and　exquisite　terms　possible；　intimated　to　his　friend　that　he　had　just　been　on　his　way　to　embrace　Paul　Ivanovitch；　and　upon　this　followed　a　compliment　of　the　kind　which　would　more　fittingly　have　been　addressed　to　a　lady　who　was　being　asked　to　accord　a　partner　the　favour　of　a　dance。　Chichikov　had　opened　his　mouth　to　replythough　even　HE　felt　at　a　loss　how　to　acknowledge　what　had　just　been　saidwhen　Manilov　cut　him　short　by　producing　from　under　his　coat　a　roll　of　paper　tied　with　red　riband。

〃What　have　you　there？〃　asked　Chichikov。

〃The　list　of　my　souls。〃

〃Ah！〃　And　as　Chichikov　unrolled　the　document　and　ran　his　eye　over　it　he　could　not　but　marvel　at　the　elegant　neatness　with　which　it　had　been　inscribed。

〃It　is　a　beautiful　piece　of　writing；〃　he　said。　〃In　fact；　there　will　be　no　need　to　make　a　copy　of　it。　Also；　it　has　a　border　around　its　edge！　Who　worked　that　exquisite　border？〃

〃Do　not　ask　me；〃　said　Manilov。

〃Did　YOU　do　it？〃

〃No；　my　wife。〃

〃Dear；　dear！〃　Chichikov　cried。　〃To　think　that　I　should　have　put　her　to　so　much　trouble！〃

〃NOTHING　could　be　too　much　trouble　where　Paul　Ivanovitch　is　concerned。

Chichikov　bowed　his　acknowledgements。　Next；　on　learning　that　he　was　on　his　way　to　the　municipal　offices　for　the　purpose　of　completing　the　transfer；　Manilov　expressed　his　readiness　to　accompany　him；　wherefore　the　pair　linked　arm　in　arm　and　proceeded　together。　Whenever　they　encountered　a　slight　rise　in　the　groundeven　the　smallest　unevenness　or　difference　of　levelManilov　supported　Chichikov　with　such　energy　as　almost　to　lift　him　off　his　feet；　while　accompanying　the　service　with　a　smiling　implication　that　not　if　HE　could　help　it　should　Paul　Ivanovitc