dead souls(死魂灵)-第27章

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lp　it　should　Paul　Ivanovitch　slip　or　fall。　Nevertheless　this　conduct　appeared　to　embarrass　Chichikov；　either　because　he　could　not　find　any　fitting　words　of　gratitude　or　because　he　considered　the　proceeding　tiresome；　and　it　was　with　a　sense　of　relief　that　he　debouched　upon　the　square　where　the　municipal　officesa　large；　three…storied　building　of　a　chalky　whiteness　which　probably　symbolised　the　purity　of　the　souls　engaged　withinwere　situated。　No　other　building　in　the　square　could　vie　with　them　in　size；　seeing　that　the　remaining　edifices　consisted　only　of　a　sentry…box；　a　shelter　for　two　or　three　cabmen；　and　a　long　hoardingthe　latter　adorned　with　the　usual　bills；　posters；　and　scrawls　in　chalk　and　charcoal。　At　intervals；　from　the　windows　of　the　second　and　third　stories　of　the　municipal　offices；　the　incorruptible　heads　of　certain　of　the　attendant　priests　of　Themis　would　peer　quickly　forth；　and　as　quickly　disappear　againprobably　for　the　reason　that　a　superior　official　had　just　entered　the　room。　Meanwhile　the　two　friends　ascended　the　staircasenay；　almost　flew　up　it；　since；　longing　to　get　rid　of　Manilov's　ever…supporting　arm；　Chichikov　hastened　his　steps；　and　Manilov　kept　darting　forward　to　anticipate　any　possible　failure　on　the　part　of　his　companion's　legs。　Consequently　the　pair　were　breathless　when　they　reached　the　first　corridor。　In　passing　it　may　be　remarked　that　neither　corridors　nor　rooms　evinced　any　of　that　cleanliness　and　purity　which　marked　the　exterior　of　the　building；　for　such　attributes　were　not　troubled　about　within；　and　anything　that　was　dirty　remained　so；　and　donned　no　meritricious；　purely　external；　disguise。　It　was　as　though　Themis　received　her　visitors　in　neglige　and　a　dressing…gown。　The　author　would　also　give　a　description　of　the　various　offices　through　which　our　hero　passed；　were　it　not　that　he　（the　author）　stands　in　awe　of　such　legal　haunts。

Approaching　the　first　desk　which　he　happened　to　encounter；　Chichikov　inquired　of　the　two　young　officials　who　were　seated　at　it　whether　they　would　kindly　tell　him　where　business　relating　to　serf…indenture　was　transacted。

〃Of　what　nature；　precisely；　IS　your　business？〃　countered　one　of　the　youthful　officials　as　he　turned　himself　round。

〃I　desire　to　make　an　application。〃

〃In　connection　with　a　purchase？〃

〃Yes。　But；　as　I　say；　I　should　like　first　to　know　where　I　can　find　the　desk　devoted　to　such　business。　Is　it　here　or　elsewhere？〃

〃You　must　state　what　it　is　you　have　bought；　and　for　how　much。　THEN　we　shall　be　happy　to　give　you　the　information。〃

Chichikov　perceived　that　the　officials'　motive　was　merely　one　of　curiosity；　as　often　happens　when　young　tchinovniks　desire　to　cut　a　more　important　and　imposing　figure　than　is　rightfully　theirs。

〃Look　here；　young　sirs；〃　he　said。　〃I　know　for　a　fact　that　all　serf　business；　no　matter　to　what　value；　is　transacted　at　one　desk　alone。　Consequently　I　again　request　you　to　direct　me　to　that　desk。　Of　course；　if　you　do　not　know　your　business　I　can　easily　ask　some　one　else。〃

To　this　the　tchinovniks　made　no　reply　beyond　pointing　towards　a　corner　of　the　room　where　an　elderly　man　appeared　to　be　engaged　in　sorting　some　papers。　Accordingly　Chichikov　and　Manilov　threaded　their　way　in　his　direction　through　the　desks；　whereupon　the　elderly　man　became　violently　busy。

〃Would　you　mind　telling　me；〃　said　Chichikov；　bowing；　〃whether　this　is　the　desk　for　serf　affairs？〃

The　elderly　man　raised　his　eyes；　and　said　stiffly：

〃This　is　NOT　the　desk　for　serf　affairs。〃

〃Where　is　it；　then？〃

〃In　the　Serf　Department。〃

〃And　where　might　the　Serf　Department　be？〃

〃In　charge　of　Ivan　Antonovitch。〃

〃And　where　is　Ivan　Antonovitch？〃

The　elderly　man　pointed　to　another　corner　of　the　room；　whither　Chichikov　and　Manilov　next　directed　their　steps。　As　they　advanced；　Ivan　Antonovitch　cast　an　eye　backwards　and　viewed　them　askance。　Then；　with　renewed　ardour；　he　resumed　his　work　of　writing。

〃Would　you　mind　telling　me；〃　said　Chichikov；　bowing；　〃whether　this　is　the　desk　for　serf　affairs？〃

It　appeared　as　though　Ivan　Antonovitch　had　not　heard；　so　completely　did　he　bury　himself　in　his　papers　and　return　no　reply。　Instantly　it　became　plain　that　HE　at　least　was　of　an　age　of　discretion；　and　not　one　of　your　jejune　chatterboxes　and　harum…scarums；　for；　although　his　hair　was　still　thick　and　black；　he　had　long　ago　passed　his　fortieth　year。　His　whole　face　tended　towards　the　noseit　was　what；　in　common　parlance；　is　known　as　a　〃pitcher…mug。〃

〃Would　you　mind　telling　me；〃　repeated　Chichikov；　〃whether　this　is　the　desk　for　serf　affairs？〃

〃It　is　that；〃　said　Ivan　Antonovitch；　again　lowering　his　jug…shaped　jowl；　and　resuming　his　writing。

〃Then　I　should　like　to　transact　the　following　business。　From　various　landowners　in　this　canton　I　have　purchased　a　number　of　peasants　for　transfer。　Here　is　the　purchase　list；　and　it　needs　but　to　be　registered。〃

〃Have　you　also　the　vendors　here？〃

〃Some　of　them；　and　from　the　rest　I　have　obtained　powers　of　attorney。〃

〃And　have　you　your　statement　of　application？〃

〃Yes。　I　desireindeed；　it　is　necessary　for　me　so　to　doto　hasten　matters　a　little。　Could　the　affair；　therefore；　be　carried　through　to…day？〃

〃To…day？　Oh；　dear　no！〃　said　Ivan　Antonovitch。　〃Before　that　can　be　done　you　must　furnish　me　with　further　proofs　that　no　impediments　exist。〃

〃Then；　to　expedite　matters；　let　me　say　that　Ivan　Grigorievitch；　the　President　of　the　Council；　is　a　very　intimate　friend　of　mine。〃

〃Possibly；〃　said　Ivan　Antonovitch　without　enthusiasm。　〃But　Ivan　Grigorievitch　alone　will　not　doit　is　customary　to　have　others　as　well。〃

〃Yes；　but　the　absence　of　others　will　not　altogether　invalidate　the　transaction。　I　too　have　been　in　the　service；　and　know　how　things　can　be　done。〃

〃You　had　better　go　and　see　Ivan　Grigorievitch；〃　said　Ivan　Antonovitch　more　mildly。　〃Should　he　give　you　an　order　addressed　to　whom　it　may　concern；　we　shall　soon　be　able　to　settle　the　matter。〃

Upon　that　Chichikov　pulled　from　his　pocket　a　paper；　and　laid　it　before　Ivan　Antonovitch。　At　once　the　latter　covered　it　with　a　book。　Chichikov　again　attempted　to　show　it　to　him；　but；　with　a　movement　of　his　head；　Ivan　Antonovitch　signified　that　that　was　unnecessary。

〃A　clerk；〃　he　added；　〃will　now　conduct　you　to　Ivan　Grigorievitch's　room。〃

Upon　that　one　of　the　toilers　in　the　service　of　Themisa　zealot　who　had　offered　her　such　heartfelt　sacrifice　that　his　coat　had　burst　at　the　elbows　and　lacked　a　liningescorted　our　friends　（even　as　Virgil　had　once　escorted　Dante）　to　the　apartment　of　the　Presence。　In　this　sanctum　were　some　massive　armchairs；　a　table　laden　with　two　or　three　fat　books；　and　a　large　looking…glass。　Lastly；　in　（apparently）　sunlike　isolation；　there　was　seated　at　the　table　the　President。　On　arriving　at　the　door　of　the　apartment；　our　modern　Virgil　seemed　to　have　become　so　overwhelmed　with　awe　that；　without　daring　even　to　intrude　a　foot；　he　turned　back；　and；　in　so　doing；　once　more　exhibited　a　back　as　shiny　as　a　mat；　and　having　adhering　to　it；　in　one　spot；　a　chicken's　feather。　As　soon　as　the　two　friends　had　entered　the　hall　of　the　Presence　they　perceived　that　the　President　was　NOT　alone；　but；　on　the　contrary；　had　seated　by　his　side　Sobakevitch；　whose　form　had　hitherto　been　concealed　by　the　intervening　mirror。　The　newcomers'　entry　evoked　sundry　exclamations　and　the　pushing　back　of　a　pair　of　Government　chairs　as　the　voluminous…sleeved　Sobakevitch　rose　into　view　from　behind　the　looking…glass。　Chichikov　the　President　received　with　an　embrace；　and　for　a　while　the　hall　of　the　Presence　resounded　with　osculatory　salutations　as　mutually　the　pair　inquired　after　one　another's　health。　It　seemed　that　both　had　lately　had　a　touch　of　that　pain　under　the　waistband　which　comes　of　a　sedentary　life。　Also；　it　seemed　that　the　President　had　just　been　conversing　with　Sobakevitch　on　the　subject　of　sales　of　souls；　since　he　now　proceeded　to　congratulate　Chichikov　on　the　samea　proceeding　which　rather　embarrassed　our　hero；　seeing　that　Manilov　and　Sobakevitch；　two　of　the　vendors；　and　persons　with　whom　he　had　bargained　in　the　strictest　privacy；　were　now　confronting　one　another　direct。　However；　Chichikov　duly　thanked　the　President；　and　then；　turning　to　Sobakevitch；　inquired　after　HIS　health。

〃Thank　God；　I　have　nothing　to　complain　of；〃　replied　Sobakevitch：　which　was　true　enough；　seeing　that　a　piece　of　iron　would　have　caught　cold　and　taken　to　sneezing　sooner　than　would　that　uncouthly　fashioned　landowner。

〃Ah；　yes；　you　have　always　had　good　health；　have　you　not？〃　put　in　the　President。　〃Your　late　father　was　equally　strong。〃

〃Yes；　he　even　went　out　bear　hunting　alone；〃　replied　Sobakevitch。

〃I　should　think　that　you　too　could　worst　a　bear　if　you　were　to　try　a　tussle　with　him；〃　rejoined　the　President。

〃Oh　no；〃　said　Sobakevitch。　〃My　father　was　a　stronger　man　than　I　am。〃　Then　with　a　sigh　the　speaker　added：　〃But　nowadays　there　are　no　such　men　as　he。　What　is　even　a　life　like　mine　worth？〃

〃Then　you　do　not　have　a　comfortable　time　of　it？〃　exclaimed　the　President。

〃No；　far　from　it；〃　rejoined　Sobakevitch；　shaking　his　head。　〃Judge　for　yourself；　Ivan　Grigorievitch。　I　am　fifty　years　old；　yet　never　in　my　life　had　been　ill；　except　for　an　occasional　carbuncle　or　boil。　That　is　not　a　good　sign。　Sooner　or　later　I　shall　have　to　pay　for　it。〃　And　he　relapsed　into　melancholy。

〃Just　listen　to　the　fellow！〃　was　Chichikov's　and　the　President's　joint　inward　comment。　〃What　on　earth　has　HE　to　complain　of？〃

〃I　have　a　letter　for　you；　Ivan　Grigorievitch；〃　went　on　Chichikov　aloud　as　he　produced　from　his　pocket　Plushkin's　epistle。

〃From　whom？〃　inquired　the　President。　Having　broken　the　seal；　he　exclaimed：　〃Why；　it　is　from　Plushkin！　To　think　that　HE　is　still　alive！　What　a　strange　world　it　is！　He　used　to　be　such　a　nice　fellow；　and　now〃

〃And　now　he　is　a　cur；〃　concluded　Sobakevitch；　〃as　well　as　a　miser　who　starves　his　serfs　to　death。〃

〃Allow　me　a　moment；〃　said　the　President。　Then　he　read　the　letter　through。　When　he　had　finished　he　added：　〃Yes；　I　am　quite　ready　to　act　as　Plushkin's　attorney。　When　do　you　wish　the　purchase　deeds　to　be　registered；　Monsieur　Chichikovnow　or　later？〃

〃Now；　if　you　please；〃　replied　Chichikov。　〃Indeed；　I　beg　that；　if　possible；　the　affair　may　be　concluded　to…day；　since　to…morrow　I　wish　to　leave　the　town。　I　have　brought　with　me　both　the　forms　of　indenture　and　my　statement　of　application。〃

〃Very　well。　Nevertheless　we　cannot　let　you　depart　so　soon。　The　indentures　shall　be　completed　to…day；　but　you　must　continue　your　sojourn　in　our　midst。　I　will　issue　the　necessary　orders　at　once。〃

So　saying；　he　opened　the　door　into　the　general　office；　where　the　clerks　looked　like　a　swarm　of　bees　around　a　honeycomb　（if　I　may　liken　affairs　of　Government　to　such　an　article？）。

〃Is　Ivan　Antonovitch　here？〃　asked　the　President。

〃Yes；〃　replied　a　voice　from　within。

〃Then　send　him　here。〃

Upon　that　the　pitcher…faced　Ivan　Antonovitch　made　his　appearance　in　the　doorway；　and　bowed。

〃Take　these　indentures；　Ivan　Antonovitch；〃　said　the　President；　〃and　see　that　they〃

〃But　first　I　would　ask　you　to　remember；〃　put　in　Sobakevitch；　〃that　witnesses　ought　to　be　in　attendancenot　less　than　two　on　behalf　of　either　party。　Let　us；　therefore；　send　for　the　Public　Prosecutor；　who　has　little　to　do；　and　has　even　that　little　done　for　him　by　his　chief