dead souls(死魂灵)-第54章

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　the　〃thief〃　work　hard　at　their　tasks。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　their　appellations　had　been　given　them　merely　to　spur　them　to　greater　activity；　for；　in　general；　the　barin　was　no　lover　of　abuse；　but；　rather；　a　kind…hearted　man　who；　like　most　Russians；　could　not　get　on　without　a　sharp　word　or　two。　That　is　to　say；　he　needed　them　for　his　tongue　as　he　need　a　glass　of　vodka　for　his　digestion。　What　else　could　you　expect？　It　was　his　nature　to　care　for　nothing　mild。

To　the　zakuski　succeeded　the　meal　itself；　and　the　host　became　a　perfect　glutton　on　his　guests'　behalf。　Should　he　notice　that　a　guest　had　taken　but　a　single　piece　of　a　comestible；　he　added　thereto　another　one；　saying：　〃Without　a　mate；　neither　man　nor　bird　can　live　in　this　world。〃　Should　any　one　take　two　pieces；　he　added　thereto　a　third；　saying：　〃What　is　the　good　of　the　number　2？　God　loves　a　trinity。〃　Should　any　one　take　three　pieces；　he　would　say：　〃Where　do　you　see　a　waggon　with　three　wheels？　Who　builds　a　three…cornered　hut？〃　Lastly；　should　any　one　take　four　pieces；　he　would　cap　them　with　a　fifth；　and　add　thereto　the　punning　quip；　〃Na　piat　opiat＇5＇〃。　After　devouring　at　least　twelve　steaks　of　sturgeon；　Chichikov　ventured　to　think　to　himself；　〃My　host　cannot　possibly　add　to　THEM；〃　but　found　that　he　was　mistaken；　for；　without　a　word；　Pietukh　heaped　upon　his　plate　an　enormous　portion　of　spit…roasted　veal；　and　also　some　kidneys。　And　what　veal　it　was！

＇5＇　〃One　more　makes　five。〃

〃That　calf　was　fed　two　years　on　milk；〃　he　explained。　〃I　cared　for　it　like　my　own　son。〃

〃Nevertheless　I　can　eat　no　more；〃　said　Chichikov。

〃Do　you　try　the　veal　before　you　say　that　you　can　eat　no　more。〃

〃But　I　could　not　get　it　down　my　throat。　There　is　no　room　left。〃

〃If　there　be　no　room　in　a　church　for　a　newcomer；　the　beadle　is　sent　for；　and　room　is　very　soon　madeyes；　even　though　before　there　was　such　a　crush　that　an　apple　couldn't　have　been　dropped　between　the　people。　Do　you　try　the　veal；　I　say。　That　piece　is　the　titbit　of　all。〃

So　Chichikov　made　the　attempt；　and　in　very　truth　the　veal　was　beyond　all　praise；　and　room　was　found　for　it；　even　though　one　would　have　supposed　the　feat　impossible。

〃Fancy　this　good　fellow　removing　to　St。　Petersburg　or　Moscow！〃　said　the　guest　to　himself。　〃Why；　with　a　scale　of　living　like　this；　he　would　be　ruined　in　three　years。〃　For　that　matter；　Pietukh　might　well　have　been　ruined　already；　for　hospitality　can　dissipate　a　fortune　in　three　months　as　easily　as　it　can　in　three　years。

The　host　also　dispensed　the　wine　with　a　lavish　hand；　and　what　the　guests　did　not　drink　he　gave　to　his　sons；　who　thus　swallowed　glass　after　glass。　Indeed；　even　before　coming　to　table；　it　was　possible　to　discern　to　what　department　of　human　accomplishment　their　bent　was　turned。　When　the　meal　was　over；　however；　the　guests　had　no　mind　for　further　drinking。　Indeed；　it　was　all　that　they　could　do　to　drag　themselves　on　to　the　balcony；　and　there　to　relapse　into　easy　chairs。　Indeed；　the　moment　that　the　host　subsided　into　his　seatit　was　large　enough　for　fourhe　fell　asleep；　and　his　portly　presence；　converting　itself　into　a　sort　of　blacksmith's　bellows；　started　to　vent；　through　open　mouth　and　distended　nostrils；　such　sounds　as　can　have　greeted　the　reader's　ear　but　seldomsounds　as　of　a　drum　being　beaten　in　combination　with　the　whistling　of　a　flute　and　the　strident　howling　of　a　dog。

〃Listen　to　him！〃　said　Platon。

Chichikov　smiled。

〃Naturally；　on　such　dinners　as　that；〃　continued　the　other；　〃our　host　does　NOT　find　the　time　dull。　And　as　soon　as　dinner　is　ended　there　can　ensue　sleep。〃

〃Yes；　but；　pardon　me；　I　still　fail　to　understand　why　you　should　find　life　wearisome。　There　are　so　many　resources　against　ennui！〃

〃As　for　instance？〃

〃For　a　young　man；　dancing；　the　playing　of　one　or　another　musical　instrument；　andwell；　yes；　marriage。〃

〃Marriage　to　whom？〃

〃To　some　maiden　who　is　both　charming　and　rich。　Are　there　none　in　these　parts？〃

〃No。〃

〃Then；　were　I　you；　I　should　travel；　and　seek　a　maiden　elsewhere。〃　And　a　brilliant　idea　therewith　entered　Chichikov's　head。　〃This　last　resource；〃　he　added；　〃is　the　best　of　all　resources　against　ennui。〃

〃What　resource　are　you　speaking　of？〃

〃Of　travel。〃

〃But　whither？〃

〃Well；　should　it　so　please　you；　you　might　join　me　as　my　companion。〃　This　said；　the　speaker　added　to　himself　as　he　eyed　Platon：　〃Yes；　that　would　suit　me　exactly；　for　then　I　should　have　half　my　expenses　paid；　and　could　charge　him　also　with　the　cost　of　mending　the　koliaska。〃

〃And　whither　should　we　go？〃

〃In　that　respect　I　am　not　wholly　my　own　master；　as　I　have　business　to　do　for　others　as　well　as　for　myself。　For　instance；　General　Betristchevan　intimate　friend　and；　I　might　add；　a　generous　benefactor　of　minehas　charged　me　with　commissions　to　certain　of　his　relatives。　However；　though　relatives　are　relatives；　I　am　travelling　likewise　on　my　own　account；　since　I　wish　to　see　the　world　and　the　whirligig　of　humanitywhich；　in　spite　of　what　people　may　say；　is　as　good　as　a　living　book　or　a　second　education。〃　As　a　matter　of　fact；　Chichikov　was　reflecting；　〃Yes；　the　plan　is　an　excellent　one。　I　might　even　contrive　that　he　should　have　to　bear　the　whole　of　our　expenses；　and　that　his　horses　should　be　used　while　my　own　should　be　put　out　to　graze　on　his　farm。〃

〃Well；　why　should　I　not　adopt　the　suggestion？〃　was　Platon's　thought。　〃There　is　nothing　for　me　to　do　at　home；　since　the　management　of　the　estate　is　in　my　brother's　hands；　and　my　going　would　cause　him　no　inconvenience。　Yes；　why　should　I　not　do　as　Chichikov　has　suggested？〃

Then　he　added　aloud：

〃Would　you　come　and　stay　with　my　brother　for　a　couple　of　days？　Otherwise　he　might　refuse　me　his　consent。〃

〃With　great　pleasure；〃　said　Chichikov。　〃Or　even　for　three　days。〃

〃Then　here　is　my　hand　on　it。　Let　us　be　off　at　once。〃　Platon　seemed　suddenly　to　have　come　to　life　again。

〃Where　are　you　off　to？〃　put　in　their　host　unexpectedly　as　he　roused　himself　and　stared　in　astonishment　at　the　pair。　〃No；　no；　my　good　sirs。　I　have　had　the　wheels　removed　from　your　koliaska；　Monsieur　Chichikov；　and　have　sent　your　horse；　Platon　Mikhalitch；　to　a　grazing　ground　fifteen　versts　away。　Consequently　you　must　spend　the　night　here；　and　depart　to…morrow　morning　after　breakfast。〃

What　could　be　done　with　a　man　like　Pietukh？　There　was　no　help　for　it　but　to　remain。　In　return；　the　guests　were　rewarded　with　a　beautiful　spring　evening；　for；　to　spend　the　time；　the　host　organised　a　boating　expedition　on　the　river；　and　a　dozen　rowers；　with　a　dozen　pairs　of　oars；　conveyed　the　party　（to　the　accompaniment　of　song）　across　the　smooth　surface　of　the　lake　and　up　a　great　river　with　towering　banks。　From　time　to　time　the　boat　would　pass　under　ropes；　stretched　across　for　purposes　of　fishing；　and　at　each　turn　of　the　rippling　current　new　vistas　unfolded　themselves　as　tier　upon　tier　of　woodland　delighted　the　eye　with　a　diversity　of　timber　and　foliage。　In　unison　did　the　rowers　ply　their　sculls；　yet　it　was　though　of　itself　that　the　skiff　shot　forward；　bird…like；　over　the　glassy　surface　of　the　water；　while　at　intervals　the　broad…shouldered　young　oarsman　who　was　seated　third　from　the　bow　would　raise；　as　from　a　nightingale's　throat；　the　opening　staves　of　a　boat　song；　and　then　be　joined　by　five　or　six　more；　until　the　melody　had　come　to　pour　forth　in　a　volume　as　free　and　boundless　as　Russia　herself。　And　Pietukh；　too；　would　give　himself　a　shake；　and　help　lustily　to　support　the　chorus；　and　even　Chichikov　felt　acutely　conscious　of　the　fact　that　he　was　a　Russian。　Only　Platon　reflected：　〃What　is　there　so　splendid　in　these　melancholy　songs？　They　do　but　increase　one's　depression　of　spirits。〃

The　journey　homeward　was　made　in　the　gathering　dusk。　Rhythmically　the　oars　smote　a　surface　which　no　longer　reflected　the　sky；　and　darkness　had　fallen　when　they　reached　the　shore；　along　which　lights　were　twinkling　where　the　fisherfolk　were　boiling　live　eels　for　soup。　Everything　had　now　wended　its　way　homeward　for　the　night；　the　cattle　and　poultry　had　been　housed；　and　the　herdsmen；　standing　at　the　gates　of　the　village　cattle…pens；　amid　the　trailing　dust　lately　raised　by　their　charges；　were　awaiting　the　milk…pails　and　a　summons　to　partake　of　the　eel…broth。　Through　the　dusk　came　the　hum　of　humankind；　and　the　barking　of　dogs　in　other　and　more　distant　villages；　while；　over　all；　the　moon　was　rising；　and　the　darkened　countryside　was　beginning　to　glimmer　to　light　again　under　her　beams。　What　a　glorious　picture！　Yet　no　one　thought　of　admiring　it。　Instead　of　galloping　over　the　countryside　on　frisky　cobs；　Nikolasha　and　Aleksasha　were　engaged　in　dreaming　of　Moscow；　with　its　confectioners'　shops　and　the　theatres　of　which　a　cadet；　newly　arrived　on　a　visit　from　the　capital；　had　just　been　telling　them；　while　their　father　had　his　mind　full　of　how　best　to　stuff　his　guests　with　yet　more　food；　and　Platon　was　given　up　to　yawning。　Only　in　Chichikov　was　a　spice　of　animation　visible。　〃Yes；〃　he　reflected；　〃some　day　I；　too；　will　become　lord　of　such　a　country　place。〃　And　before　his　mind's　eye　there　arose　also　a　helpmeet　and　some　little　Chichikovs。

By　the　time　that　supper　was　finished　the　party　had　again　over…eaten　themselves；　and　when　Chichikov　entered　the　room　allotted　him　for　the　night；　he　lay　down　upon　the　bed；　and　prodded　his　stomach。　〃It　is　as　tight　as　a　drum；〃　he　said　to　himself。　〃Not　another　titbit　of　veal　could　now　get　into　it。〃　Also；　circumstances　had　so　brought　it　about　that　next　door　to　him　there　was　situated　his　host's　apartment；　and　since　the　intervening　wall　was　thin；　Chichikov　could　hear　every　word　that　was　said　there。　At　the　present　moment　the　master　of　the　house　was　engaged　in　giving　the　cook　orders　for　what；　under　the　guise　of　an　early　breakfast；　promised　to　constitute　a　veritable　dinner。　You　should　have　heard　Pietukh's　behests！　They　would　have　excited　the　appetite　of　a　corpse。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　sucking　his　lips；　and　drawing　a　deep　breath；　〃in　the　first　place；　make　a　pasty　in　four　divisions。　Into　one　of　the　divisions　put　the　sturgeon's　cheeks　and　some　viaziga＇6＇；　and　into　another　division　some　buckwheat　porridge；　young　mushrooms　and　onions；　sweet　milk；　calves'　brains；　and　anything　else　that　you　may　find　suitableanything　else　that　you　may　have　got　handy。　Also；　bake　the　pastry　to　a　nice　brown　on　one　side；　and　but　lightly　on　the　other。　Yes；　and；　as　to　the　under　side；　bake　it　so　that　it　will　be　all　juicy　and　flaky；　so　that　it　shall　not　crumble　into　bits；　but　melt　in　the　mouth　like　the　softest　snow　that　ever　you　heard　of。〃　And　as　he　said　this　Pietukh　fairly　smacked　his　lips。

＇6＇　Dried　spinal　marrow　of　the　sturgeon。

〃The　devil　take　him！〃　muttered　Chichikov；　thrusting　his　head　beneath　the　bedclothes　to　avoid　hearing　more。　〃The　fellow　won't　give　one　a　chance　to　sleep。〃

Nevertheless　he　heard　through　the　blankets：

〃And　garnish　the　sturgeon　with　beetroot；　smelts；　peppered　mushrooms；　young　radishes；　carrots；　beans；　and　anything　else　you　like；　so　as　to　have　plenty　of　trimmings。　Yes；　and　put　a　lump　of　ice　into　the　pig's　bladder；　so　as　to　swell　it　up。〃

Many　other　dishes　did　Pietukh　order；　and　nothing　was　to　be　heard　but　his　talk　of　boiling；　roasting；　and　stewing。　Finally；　just　as　mention　was　being　made　of　a　turkey　cock；　Chichikov　fell　asleep。

Next　morning　the　guest's　state　of　repletion　had　reached　the　point　of　Platon　being　un