dead souls(死魂灵)-第56章

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eep　lists　of　all　who　have　mortgages　to　repay。　But　what　is　there　so　clever　about　that？　Any　man；　if　you　pinch　him　sufficiently；　will　surrender　you　a　mortgage　at　half…price；any　man；　that　is　to　say；　except　myself；　who　care　nothing　for　your　money。　Were　a　loan　of　mine　to　remain　out　three　years；　I　should　never　demand　a　kopeck　of　interest　on　it。〃

〃Quite　so；　Constantine　Thedorovitch；〃　replied　the　factor。　〃But　I　am　asking　this　of　you　more　for　the　purpose　of　establishing　us　on　a　business　footing　than　because　I　desire　to　win　your　favour。　Prey；　therefore；　accept　this　earnest　money　of　three　thousand　roubles。〃　And　the　man　drew　from　his　breast　pocket　a　dirty　roll　of　bank…notes；　which；　carelessly　receiving；　Kostanzhoglo　thrust；　uncounted；　into　the　back　pocket　of　his　overcoat。

〃Hm！〃　thought　Chichikov。　〃For　all　he　cares；　the　notes　might　have　been　a　handkerchief。〃

When　Kostanzhoglo　appeared　at　closer　quartersthat　is　to　say；　in　the　doorway　of　the　drawing…roomhe　struck　Chichikov　more　than　ever　with　the　swarthiness　of　his　complexion；　the　dishevelment　of　his　black；　slightly　grizzled　locks；　the　alertness　of　his　eye；　and　the　impression　of　fiery　southern　origin　which　his　whole　personality　diffused。　For　he　was　not　wholly　a　Russian；　nor　could　he　himself　say　precisely　who　his　forefathers　had　been。　Yet；　inasmuch　as　he　accounted　genealogical　research　no　part　of　the　science　of　estate…management；　but　a　mere　superfluity；　he　looked　upon　himself　as；　to　all　intents　and　purposes；　a　native　of　Russia；　and　the　more　so　since　the　Russian　language　was　the　only　tongue　he　knew。

Platon　presented　Chichikov；　and　the　pair　exchanged　greetings。

〃To　get　rid　of　my　depression；　Constantine；〃　continued　Platon；　〃I　am　thinking　of　accompanying　our　guest　on　a　tour　through　a　few　of　the　provinces。〃

〃An　excellent　idea；〃　said　Kostanzhoglo。　〃But　precisely　whither？〃　he　added；　turning　hospitably　to　Chichikov。

〃To　tell　you　the　truth；〃　replied　that　personage　with　an　affable　inclination　of　the　head　as　he　smoothed　the　arm　of　his　chair　with　his　hand；　〃I　am　travelling　less　on　my　own　affairs　than　on　the　affairs　of　others。　That　is　to　say；　General　Betristchev；　an　intimate　friend；　and；　I　might　add；　a　generous　benefactor；　of　mine；　has　charged　me　with　commissions　to　some　of　his　relatives。　Nevertheless；　though　relatives　are　relatives；　I　may　say　that　I　am　travelling　on　my　own　account　as　well；　in　that；　in　addition　to　possible　benefit　to　my　health；　I　desire　to　see　the　world　and　the　whirligig　of　humanity；　which　constitute；　so　to　speak；　a　living　book；　a　second　course　of　education。〃

〃Yes；　there　is　no　harm　in　looking　at　other　corners　of　the　world　besides　one's　own。〃

〃You　speak　truly。　There　IS　no　harm　in　such　a　proceeding。　Thereby　one　may　see　things　which　one　has　not　before　encountered；　one　may　meet　men　with　whom　one　has　not　before　come　in　contact。　And　with　some　men　of　that　kind　a　conversation　is　as　precious　a　benefit　as　has　been　conferred　upon　me　by　the　present　occasion。　I　come　to　you；　most　worthy　Constantine　Thedorovitch；　for　instruction；　and　again　for　instruction；　and　beg　of　you　to　assuage　my　thirst　with　an　exposition　of　the　truth　as　it　is。　I　hunger　for　the　favour　of　your　words　as　for　manna。〃

〃But　how　so？　What　can　_I_　teach　you？〃　exclaimed　Kostanzhoglo　in　confusion。　〃I　myself　was　given　but　the　plainest　of　educations。〃

〃Nay；　most　worthy　sir；　you　possess　wisdom；　and　again　wisdom。　Wisdom　only　can　direct　the　management　of　a　great　estate；　that　can　derive　a　sound　income　from　the　same；　that　can　acquire　wealth　of　a　real；　not　a　fictitious；　order　while　also　fulfilling　the　duties　of　a　citizen　and　thereby　earning　the　respect　of　the　Russian　public。　All　this　I　pray　you　to　teach　me。〃

〃I　tell　you　what；〃　said　Kostanzhoglo；　looking　meditatively　at　his　guest。　〃You　had　better　stay　with　me　for　a　few　days；　and　during　that　time　I　can　show　you　how　things　are　managed　here；　and　explain　to　you　everything。　Then　you　will　see　for　yourself　that　no　great　wisdom　is　required　for　the　purpose。〃

〃Yes；　certainly　you　must　stay　here；〃　put　in　the　lady　of　the　house。　Then；　turning　to　her　brother；　she　added：　〃And　you　too　must　stay。　Why　should　you　be　in　such　a　hurry？〃

〃Very　well；〃　he　replied。　〃But　what　say　YOU；　Paul　Ivanovitch？〃

〃I　say　the　same　as　you；　and　with　much　pleasure；〃　replied　Chichikov。　〃But　also　I　ought　to　tell　you　this：　that　there　is　a　relative　of　General　Betristchev's；　a　certain　Colonel　Koshkarev〃

〃Yes；　we　know　him；　but　he　is　quite　mad。〃

〃As　you　say；　he　is　mad；　and　I　should　not　have　been　intending　to　visit　him；　were　it　not　that　General　Betristchev　is　an　intimate　friend　of　mine；　as　well　as；　I　might　add；　my　most　generous　benefactor。〃

〃Then；〃　said　Kostanzhoglo；　〃do　you　go　and　see　Colonel　Koshkarev　NOW。　He　lives　less　than　ten　versts　from　here；　and　I　have　a　gig　already　harnessed。　Go　to　him　at　once；　and　return　here　for　tea。〃

〃An　excellent　idea！〃　cried　Chichikov；　and　with　that　he　seized　his　cap。

Half　an　hour's　drive　sufficed　to　bring　him　to　the　Colonel's　establishment。　The　village　attached　to　the　manor　was　in　a　state　of　utter　confusion；　since　in　every　direction　building　and　repairing　operations　were　in　progress；　and　the　alleys　were　choked　with　heaps　of　lime；　bricks；　and　beams　of　wood。　Also；　some　of　the　huts　were　arranged　to　resemble　offices；　and　superscribed　in　gilt　letters　〃Depot　for　Agricultural　Implements；〃　〃Chief　Office　of　Accounts；〃　〃Estate　Works　Committee；〃　〃Normal　School　for　the　Education　of　Colonists；〃　and　so　forth。

Chichikov　found　the　Colonel　posted　behind　a　desk　and　holding　a　pen　between　his　teeth。　Without　an　instant's　delay　the　master　of　the　establishmentwho　seemed　a　kindly；　approachable　man；　and　accorded　to　his　visitor　a　very　civil　welcomeplunged　into　a　recital　of　the　labour　which　it　had　cost　him　to　bring　the　property　to　its　present　condition　of　affluence。　Then　he　went　on　to　lament　the　fact　that　he　could　not　make　his　peasantry　understand　the　incentives　to　labour　which　the　riches　of　science　and　art　provide；　for　instance；　he　had　failed　to　induce　his　female　serfs　to　wear　corsets；　whereas　in　Germany；　where　he　had　resided　for　fourteen　years；　every　humble　miller's　daughter　could　play　the　piano。　None　the　less；　he　said；　he　meant　to　peg　away　until　every　peasant　on　the　estate　should；　as　he　walked　behind　the　plough；　indulge　in　a　regular　course　of　reading　Franklin's　Notes　on　Electricity；　Virgil's　Georgics；　or　some　work　on　the　chemical　properties　of　soil。

〃Good　gracious！〃　mentally　exclaimed　Chichikov。　〃Why；　I　myself　have　not　had　time　to　finish　that　book　by　the　Duchesse　de　la　Valliere！〃

Much　else　the　Colonel　said。　In　particular　did　he　aver　that；　provided　the　Russian　peasant　could　be　induced　to　array　himself　in　German　costume；　science　would　progress；　trade　increase；　and　the　Golden　Age　dawn　in　Russia。

For　a　while　Chichikov　listened　with　distended　eyes。　Then　he　felt　constrained　to　intimate　that　with　all　that　he　had　nothing　to　do；　seeing　that　his　business　was　merely　to　acquire　a　few　souls；　and　thereafter　to　have　their　purchase　confirmed。

〃If　I　understand　you　aright；〃　said　the　Colonel；　〃you　wish　to　present　a　Statement　of　Plea？〃

〃Yes；　that　is　so。〃

〃Then　kindly　put　it　into　writing；　and　it　shall　be　forwarded　to　the　Office　for　the　Reception　of　Reports　and　Returns。　Thereafter　that　Office　will　consider　it；　and　return　it　to　me；　who　will；　in　turn；　dispatch　it　to　the　Estate　Works　Committee；　who　will；　in　turn；　revise　it；　and　present　it　to　the　Administrator；　who；　jointly　with　the　Secretary；　will〃

〃Pardon　me；〃　expostulated　Chichikov；　〃but　that　procedure　will　take　up　a　great　deal　of　time。　Why　need　I　put　the　matter　into　writing　at　all？　It　is　simply　this。　I　want　a　few　souls　which　arewell；　which　are；　so　to　speak；　dead。〃

〃Very　good；〃　commented　the　Colonel。　〃Do　you　write　down　in　your　Statement　of　Plea　that　the　souls　which　you　desire　are；　'so　to　speak；　dead。'〃

〃But　what　would　be　the　use　of　my　doing　so？　Though　the　souls　are　dead；　my　purpose　requires　that　they　should　be　represented　as　alive。〃

〃Very　good；〃　again　commented　the　Colonel。　〃Do　you　write　down　in　your　Statement　that　'it　is　necessary'　（or；　should　you　prefer　an　alternative　phrase；　'it　is　requested；'　or　'it　is　desiderated；'　or　'it　is　prayed；'）　'that　the　souls　be　represented　as　alive。'　At　all　events；　WITHOUT　documentary　process　of　that　kind；　the　matter　cannot　possibly　be　carried　through。　Also；　I　will　appoint　a　Commissioner　to　guide　you　round　the　various　Offices。〃

And　he　sounded　a　bell；　whereupon　there　presented　himself　a　man　whom；　addressing　as　〃Secretary；〃　the　Colonel　instructed　to　summon　the　〃Commissioner。〃　The　latter；　on　appearing；　was　seen　to　have　the　air；　half　of　a　peasant；　half　of　an　official。

〃This　man；〃　the　Colonel　said　to　Chichikov；　〃will　act　as　your　escort。〃

What　could　be　done　with　a　lunatic　like　Koshkarev？　In　the　end；　curiosity　moved　Chichikov　to　accompany　the　Commissioner。　The　Committee　for　the　Reception　of　Reports　and　Returns　was　discovered　to　have　put　up　its　shutters；　and　to　have　locked　its　doors；　for　the　reason　that　the　Director　of　the　Committee　had　been　transferred　to　the　newly…formed　Committee　of　Estate　Management；　and　his　successor　had　been　annexed　by　the　same　Committee。　Next；　Chichikov　and　his　escort　rapped　at　the　doors　of　the　Department　of　Estate　Affairs；　but　that　Department's　quarters　happened　to　be　in　a　state　of　repair；　and　no　one　could　be　made　to　answer　the　summons　save　a　drunken　peasant　from　whom　not　a　word　of　sense　was　to　be　extracted。　At　length　the　escort　felt　himself　removed　to　remark：

〃There　is　a　deal　of　foolishness　going　on　here。　Fellows　like　that　drunkard　lead　the　barin　by　the　nose；　and　everything　is　ruled　by　the　Committee　of　Management；　which　takes　men　from　their　proper　work；　and　sets　them　to　do　any　other　it　likes。　Indeed；　only　through　the　Committee　does　ANYTHING　get　done。〃

By　this　time　Chichikov　felt　that　he　had　seen　enough；　wherefore　he　returned　to　the　Colonel；　and　informed　him　that　the　Office　for　the　Reception　of　Reports　and　Returns　had　ceased　to　exist。　At　once　the　Colonel　flamed　to　noble　rage。　Pressing　Chichikov's　hand　in　token　of　gratitude　for　the　information　which　the　guest　had　furnished；　he　took　paper　and　pen；　and　noted　eight　searching　questions　under　three　separate　headings：　（1）　〃Why　has　the　Committee　of　Management　presumed　to　issue　orders　to　officials　not　under　its　jurisdiction？〃　（2）　〃Why　has　the　Chief　Manager　permitted　his　predecessor；　though　still　in　retention　of　his　post；　to　follow　him　to　another　Department？〃　and　（3）　〃Why　has　the　Committee　of　Estate　Affairs　suffered　the　Office　for　the　Reception　of　Reports　and　Returns　to　lapse？〃

〃Now　for　a　row！〃　thought　Chichikov　to　himself；　and　turned　to　depart；　but　his　host　stopped　him；　saying：

〃I　cannot　let　you　go；　for；　in　addition　to　my　honour　having　become　involved；　it　behoves　me　to　show　my　people　how　the　regular；　the　organised；　administration　of　an　estate　may　be　conducted。　Herewith　I　will　hand　over　the　conduct　of　your　affair　to　a　man　who　is　worth　all　the　rest　of　the　staff　put　together；　and　has　had　a　university　education。　Also；　the　better　to　lose　no　time；　may　I　humbly　beg　you　to　step　into　my　library；　where　you　will　find　notebooks；　paper；　pens；　and　everything　else　that　you　may　require。　Of　these　articles　pray　make　full　use；　for　you　are　a　gentleman　of　letters；　and　it　is　your　and　my　joint　duty　to　bring　enlightenment　to　all。〃

So　saying；　he　ushered　his　gu