dead souls(死魂灵)-第53章

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＇1＇　The　Elder。

＇2＇　The　Younger。

〃That　must　be　the　barinColonel　Koshkarev；〃　said　Selifan。

〃Why？〃　asked　Chichikov。

〃Because；　if　you　please；　his　skin　is　whiter　than　the　rest；　and　he　has　the　respectable　paunch　of　a　gentleman。〃

Meanwhile　good　progress　was　being　made　with　the　hauling　in　of　the　barin；　until；　feeling　the　ground　with　his　feet；　he　rose　to　an　upright　position；　and　at　the　same　moment　caught　sight　of　the　koliaska；　with　Chichikov　seated　therein；　descending　the　declivity。

〃Have　you　dined　yet？〃　shouted　the　barin　as；　still　entangled　in　the　net；　he　approached　the　shore　with　a　huge　fish　on　his　back。　With　one　hand　shading　his　eyes　from　the　sun；　and　the　other　thrown　backwards；　he　looked；　in　point　of　pose；　like　the　Medici　Venus　emerging　from　her　bath。

〃No；〃　replied　Chichikov；　raising　his　cap；　and　executing　a　series　of　bows。

〃Then　thank　God　for　that；〃　rejoined　the　gentleman。

〃Why？〃　asked　Chichikov　with　no　little　curiosity；　and　still　holding　his　cap　over　his　head。

〃Because　of　THIS。　Cast　off　the　net；　Thoma　Menshov；　and　pick　up　that　sturgeon　for　the　gentleman　to　see。　Go　and　help　him；　Telepen　Kuzma。〃

With　that　the　peasants　indicated　picked　up　by　the　head　what　was　a　veritable　monster　of　a　fish。

〃Isn't　it　a　beautya　sturgeon　fresh　run　from　the　river？〃　exclaimed　the　stout　barin。　〃And　now　let　us　be　off　home。　Coachman；　you　can　take　the　lower　road　through　the　kitchen　garden。　Run；　you　lout　of　a　Thoma　Bolshoy；　and　open　the　gate　for　him。　He　will　guide　you　to　the　house；　and　I　myself　shall　be　along　presently。〃

Thereupon　the　barelegged　Thoma　Bolshoy；　clad　in　nothing　but　a　shirt；　ran　ahead　of　the　koliaska　through　the　village；　every　hut　of　which　had　hanging　in　front　of　it　a　variety　of　nets；　for　the　reason　that　every　inhabitant　of　the　place　was　a　fisherman。　Next；　he　opened　a　gate　into　a　large　vegetable　enclosure；　and　thence　the　koliaska　emerged　into　a　square　near　a　wooden　church；　with；　showing　beyond　the　latter；　the　roofs　of　the　manorial　homestead。

〃A　queer　fellow；　that　Koshkarev！〃　said　Chichikov　to　himself。

〃Well；　whatever　I　may　be；　at　least　I'm　here；〃　said　a　voice　by　his　side。　Chichikov　looked　round；　and　perceived　that；　in　the　meanwhile；　the　barin　had　dressed　himself　and　overtaken　the　carriage。　With　a　pair　of　yellow　trousers　he　was　wearing　a　grass…green　jacket；　and　his　neck　was　as　guiltless　of　a　collar　as　Cupid's。　Also；　as　he　sat　sideways　in　his　drozhki；　his　bulk　was　such　that　he　completely　filled　the　vehicle。　Chichikov　was　about　to　make　some　remark　or　another　when　the　stout　gentleman　disappeared；　and　presently　his　drozhki　re…emerged　into　view　at　the　spot　where　the　fish　had　been　drawn　to　land；　and　his　voice　could　be　heard　reiterating　exhortations　to　his　serfs。　Yet　when　Chichikov　reached　the　verandah　of　the　house　he　found；　to　his　intense　surprise；　the　stout　gentleman　waiting　to　welcome　the　visitor。　How　he　had　contrived　to　convey　himself　thither　passed　Chichikov's　comprehension。　Host　and　guest　embraced　three　times；　according　to　a　bygone　custom　of　Russia。　Evidently　the　barin　was　one　of　the　old　school。

〃I　bring　you；〃　said　Chichikov；　〃a　greeting　from　his　Excellency。〃

〃From　whom？〃

〃From　your　relative　General　Alexander　Dmitrievitch。〃

〃Who　is　Alexander　Dmitrievitch？〃

〃What？　You　do　not　know　General　Alexander　Dmitrievitch　Betrishev？〃　exclaimed　Chichikov　with　a　touch　of　surprise。

〃No；　I　do　not；〃　replied　the　gentleman。

Chichikov's　surprise　grew　to　absolute　astonishment。

〃How　comes　that　about？〃　he　ejaculated。　〃I　hope　that　I　have　the　honour　of　addressing　Colonel　Koshkarev？〃

〃Your　hopes　are　vain。　It　is　to　my　house；　not　to　his；　that　you　have　come；　and　I　am　Peter　Petrovitch　Pietukhyes；　Peter　Petrovitch　Pietukh。〃

Chichikov；　dumbfounded；　turned　to　Selifan　and　Petrushka。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　he　exclaimed。　〃I　told　you　to　drive　to　the　house　of　Colonel　Koshkarev；　whereas　you　have　brought　me　to　that　of　Peter　Petrovitch　Pietukh。〃

〃All　the　same；　your　fellows　have　done　quite　right；〃　put　in　the　gentleman　referred　to。　〃Do　you〃　（this　to　Selifan　and　Petrushka）　〃go　to　the　kitchen；　where　they　will　give　you　a　glassful　of　vodka　apiece。　Then　put　up　the　horses；　and　be　off　to　the　servants'　quarters。〃

〃I　regret　the　mistake　extremely；〃　said　Chichikov。

〃But　it　is　not　a　mistake。　When　you　have　tried　the　dinner　which　I　have　in　store　for　you；　just　see　whether　you　think　IT　a　mistake。　Enter；　I　beg　of　you。〃　And；　taking　Chichikov　by　the　arm；　the　host　conducted　him　within；　where　they　were　met　by　a　couple　of　youths。

〃Let　me　introduce　my　two　sons；　home　for　their　holidays　from　the　Gymnasium＇3＇；〃　said　Pietukh。　〃Nikolasha；　come　and　entertain　our　good　visitor；　while　you；　Aleksasha；　follow　me。〃　And　with　that　the　host　disappeared。

＇3＇　Secondary　School。

Chichikov　turned　to　Nikolasha；　whom　he　found　to　be　a　budding　man　about　town；　since　at　first　he　opened　a　conversation　by　stating　that；　as　no　good　was　to　be　derived　from　studying　at　a　provincial　institution；　he　and　his　brother　desired　to　remove；　rather；　to　St。　Petersburg；　the　provinces　not　being　worth　living　in。

〃I　quite　understand；〃　Chichikov　thought　to　himself。　〃The　end　of　the　chapter　will　be　confectioners'　assistants　and　the　boulevards。〃

〃Tell　me；〃　he　added　aloud；　〃how　does　your　father's　property　at　present　stand？〃

〃It　is　all　mortgaged；〃　put　in　the　father　himself　as　he　re…entered　the　room。　〃Yes；　it　is　all　mortgaged；　every　bit　of　it。〃

〃What　a　pity！〃　thought　Chichikov。　〃At　this　rate　it　will　not　be　long　before　this　man　has　no　property　at　all　left。　I　must　hurry　my　departure。〃　Aloud　he　said　with　an　air　of　sympathy：　〃That　you　have　mortgaged　the　estate　seems　to　me　a　matter　of　regret。〃

〃No；　not　at　all；〃　replied　Pietukh。　〃In　fact；　they　tell　me　that　it　is　a　good　thing　to　do；　and　that　every　one　else　is　doing　it。　Why　should　I　act　differently　from　my　neighbours？　Moreover；　I　have　had　enough　of　living　here；　and　should　like　to　try　Moscowmore　especially　since　my　sons　are　always　begging　me　to　give　them　a　metropolitan　education。〃

〃Oh；　the　fool；　the　fool！〃　reflected　Chichikov。　〃He　is　for　throwing　up　everything　and　making　spendthrifts　of　his　sons。　Yet　this　is　a　nice　property；　and　it　is　clear　that　the　local　peasants　are　doing　well；　and　that　the　family；　too；　is　comfortably　off。　On　the　other　hand；　as　soon　as　ever　these　lads　begin　their　education　in　restaurants　and　theatres；　the　devil　will　away　with　every　stick　of　their　substance。　For　my　own　part；　I　could　desire　nothing　better　than　this　quiet　life　in　the　country。〃

〃Let　me　guess　what　is　in　your　mind；〃　said　Pietukh。

〃What；　then？〃　asked　Chichikov；　rather　taken　aback。

〃You　are　thinking　to　yourself：　'That　fool　of　a　Pietukh　has　asked　me　to　dinner；　yet　not　a　bite　of　dinner　do　I　see。'　But　wait　a　little。　It　will　be　ready　presently；　for　it　is　being　cooked　as　fast　as　a　maiden　who　has　had　her　hair　cut　off　plaits　herself　a　new　set　of　tresses。〃

〃Here　comes　Platon　Mikhalitch；　father！〃　exclaimed　Aleksasha；　who　had　been　peeping　out　of　the　window。

〃Yes；　and　on　a　grey　horse；〃　added　his　brother。

〃Who　is　Platon　Mikhalitch？〃　inquired　Chichikov。

〃A　neighbour　of　ours；　and　an　excellent　fellow。〃

The　next　moment　Platon　Mikhalitch　himself　entered　the　room；　accompanied　by　a　sporting　dog　named　Yarb。　He　was　a　tall；　handsome　man；　with　extremely　red　hair。　As　for　his　companion；　it　was　of　the　keen…muzzled　species　used　for　shooting。

〃Have　you　dined　yet？〃　asked　the　host。

〃Yes；〃　replied　Platon。

〃Indeed？　What　do　you　mean　by　coming　here　to　laugh　at　us　all？　Do　I　ever　go　to　YOUR　place　after　dinner？〃

The　newcomer　smiled。　〃Well；　if　it　can　bring　you　any　comfort；〃　he　said；　〃let　me　tell　you　that　I　ate　nothing　at　the　meal；　for　I　had　no　appetite。〃

〃But　you　should　see　what　I　have　caughtwhat　sort　of　a　sturgeon　fate　has　brought　my　way！　Yes；　and　what　crucians　and　carp！〃

〃Really　it　tires　one　to　hear　you。　How　come　you　always　to　be　so　cheerful？〃

〃And　how　come　YOU　always　to　be　so　gloomy？〃　retorted　the　host。

〃How；　you　ask？　Simply　because　I　am　so。〃

〃The　truth　is　you　don't　eat　enough。　Try　the　plan　of　making　a　good　dinner。　Weariness　of　everything　is　a　modern　invention。　Once　upon　a　time　one　never　heard　of　it。〃

〃Well；　boast　away；　but　have　you　yourself　never　been　tired　of　things？〃

〃Never　in　my　life。　I　do　not　so　much　as　know　whether　I　should　find　time　to　be　tired。　In　the　morning；　when　one　awakes；　the　cook　is　waiting；　and　the　dinner　has　to　be　ordered。　Then　one　drinks　one's　morning　tea；　and　then　the　bailiff　arrives　for　HIS　orders；　and　then　there　is　fishing　to　be　done；　and　then　one's　dinner　has　to　be　eaten。　Next；　before　one　has　even　had　a　chance　to　utter　a　snore；　there　enters　once　again　the　cook；　and　one　has　to　order　supper；　and　when　she　has　departed；　behold；　back　she　comes　with　a　request　for　the　following　day's　dinner！　What　time　does　THAT　leave　one　to　be　weary　of　things？〃

Throughout　this　conversation；　Chichikov　had　been　taking　stock　of　the　newcomer；　who　astonished　him　with　his　good　looks；　his　upright；　picturesque　figure；　his　appearance　of　fresh；　unwasted　youthfulness；　and　the　boyish　purity；　innocence；　and　clarity　of　his　features。　Neither　passion　nor　care　nor　aught　of　the　nature　of　agitation　or　anxiety　of　mind　had　ventured　to　touch　his　unsullied　face；　or　to　lay　a　single　wrinkle　thereon。　Yet　the　touch　of　life　which　those　emotions　might　have　imparted　was　wanting。　The　face　was；　as　it　were；　dreaming；　even　though　from　time　to　time　an　ironical　smile　disturbed　it。

〃I；　too；　cannot　understand；〃　remarked　Chichikov；　〃how　a　man　of　your　appearance　can　find　things　wearisome。　Of　course；　if　a　man　is　hard　pressed　for　money；　or　if　he　has　enemies　who　are　lying　in　wait　for　his　life　（as　have　certain　folk　of　whom　I　know）；　well；　then〃

〃Believe　me　when　I　say；〃　interrupted　the　handsome　guest；　〃that；　for　the　sake　of　a　diversion；　I　should　be　glad　of　ANY　sort　of　an　anxiety。　Would　that　some　enemy　would　conceive　a　grudge　against　me！　But　no　one　does　so。　Everything　remains　eternally　dull。〃

〃But　perhaps　you　lack　a　sufficiency　of　land　or　souls？〃

〃Not　at　all。　I　and　my　brother　own　ten　thousand　desiatins＇4＇　of　land；　and　over　a　thousand　souls。〃

＇4＇　The　desiatin　=　2。86　English　acres。

〃Curious！　I　do　not　understand　it。　But　perhaps　the　harvest　has　failed；　or　you　have　sickness　about；　and　many　of　your　male　peasants　have　died　of　it？〃

〃On　the　contrary；　everything　is　in　splendid　order；　for　my　brother　is　the　best　of　managers。〃

〃Then　to　find　things　wearisome！〃　exclaimed　Chichikov。　〃It　passes　my　comprehension。〃　And　he　shrugged　his　shoulders。

〃Well；　we　will　soon　put　weariness　to　flight；〃　interrupted　the　host。　〃Aleksasha；　do　you　run　helter…skelter　to　the　kitchen；　and　there　tell　the　cook　to　serve　the　fish　pasties。　Yes；　and　where　have　that　gawk　of　an　Emelian　and　that　thief　of　an　Antoshka　got　to？　Why　have　they　not　handed　round　the　zakuski？〃

At　this　moment　the　door　opened；　and　the　〃gawk〃　and　the　〃thief〃　in　question　made　their　appearance　with　napkins　and　a　traythe　latter　bearing　six　decanters　of　variously…coloured　beverages。　These　they　placed　upon　the　table；　and　then　ringed　them　about　with　glasses　and　platefuls　of　every　conceivable　kind　of　appetiser。　That　done；　the　servants　applied　themselves　to　bringing　in　various　comestibles　under　covers；　through　which　could　be　heard　the　hissing　of　hot　roast　viands。　In　particular　did　the　〃gawk〃　and　the　〃thief〃　work　hard　at　their　tasks。　As