dead souls(死魂灵)-第60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！


ties；　and　giving　himself　up　to　hard　work　and　husbandry。　Yes；　already　could　he　taste　the　pleasure　which　would　be　his　when　he　had　built　up　a　complete　industrial　organisation；　and　the　springs　of　the　industrial　machine　were　in　vigorous　working　order；　and　each　had　become　able　to　reinforce　the　other。　Labour　should　be　kept　in　active　operation；　and；　even　as；　in　a　mill；　flour　comes　flowing　from　grain；　so　should　cash；　and　yet　more　cash；　come　flowing　from　every　atom　of　refuse　and　remnant。　And　all　the　while　he　could　see　before　him　the　landowner　who　was　one　of　the　leading　men　in　Russia；　and　for　whom　he　had　conceived　such　an　unbounded　respect。　Hitherto　only　for　rank　or　for　opulence　had　Chichikov　respected　a　mannever　for　mere　intellectual　power；　but　now　he　made　a　first　exception　in　favour　of　Kostanzhoglo；　seeing　that　he　felt　that　nothing　undertaken　by　his　host　could　possibly　come　to　naught。　And　another　project　which　was　occupying　Chichikov's　mind　was　the　project　of　purchasing　the　estate　of　a　certain　landowner　named　Khlobuev。　Already　Chichikov　had　at　his　disposal　ten　thousand　roubles；　and　a　further　fifteen　thousand　he　would　try　and　borrow　of　Kostanzhoglo　（seeing　that　the　latter　had　himself　said　that　he　was　prepared　to　help　any　one　who　really　desired　to　grow　rich）；　while；　as　for　the　remainder；　he　would　either　raise　the　sum　by　mortgaging　the　estate　or　force　Khlobuev　to　wait　for　itjust　to　tell　him　to　resort　to　the　courts　if　such　might　be　his　pleasure。

Long　did　our　hero　ponder　the　scheme；　until　at　length　the　slumber　which　had；　these　four　hours　past；　been　holding　the　rest　of　the　household　in　its　embraces　enfolded　also　Chichikov；　and　he　sank　into　oblivion。



CHAPTER　IV

Next　day；　with　Platon　and　Constantine；　Chichikov　set　forth　to　interview　Khlobuev；　the　owner　whose　estate　Constantine　had　consented　to　help　Chichikov　to　purchase　with　a　non…interest…bearing；　uncovenanted　loan　of　ten　thousand　roubles。　Naturally；　our　hero　was　in　the　highest　of　spirits。　For　the　first　fifteen　versts　or　so　the　road　led　through　forest　land　and　tillage　belonging　to　Platon　and　his　brother…in…law；　but　directly　the　limit　of　these　domains　was　reached；　forest　land　began　to　be　replaced　with　swamp；　and　tillage　with　waste。　Also；　the　village　in　Khlobuev's　estate　had　about　it　a　deserted　air；　and　as　for　the　proprietor　himself；　he　was　discovered　in　a　state　of　drowsy　dishevelment；　having　not　long　left　his　bed。　A　man　of　about　forty；　he　had　his　cravat　crooked；　his　frockcoat　adorned　with　a　large　stain；　and　one　of　his　boots　worn　through。　Nevertheless　he　seemed　delighted　to　see　his　visitors。

〃What？〃　he　exclaimed。　〃Constantine　Thedorovitch　and　Platon　Mikhalitch？　Really　I　must　rub　my　eyes！　Never　again　in　this　world　did　I　look　to　see　callers　arriving。　As　a　rule；　folk　avoid　me　like　the　devil；　for　they　cannot　disabuse　their　minds　of　the　idea　that　I　am　going　to　ask　them　for　a　loan。　Yes；　it　is　my　own　fault；　I　know；　but　what　would　you？　To　the　end　will　swine　cheat　swine。　Pray　excuse　my　costume。　You　will　observe　that　my　boots　are　in　holes。　But　how　can　I　afford　to　get　them　mended？〃

〃Never　mind；〃　said　Constantine。　〃We　have　come　on　business　only。　May　I　present　to　you　a　possible　purchaser　of　your　estate；　in　the　person　of　Paul　Ivanovitch　Chichikov？〃

〃I　am　indeed　glad　to　meet　you！〃　was　Khlobuev's　response。　〃Pray　shake　hands　with　me；　Paul　Ivanovitch。〃

Chichikov　offered　one　hand；　but　not　both。

〃I　can　show　you　a　property　worth　your　attention；〃　went　on　the　master　of　the　estate。　〃May　I　ask　if　you　have　yet　dined？〃

〃Yes；　we　have；〃　put　in　Constantine；　desirous　of　escaping　as　soon　as　possible。　〃To　save　you　further　trouble；　let　us　go　and　view　the　estate　at　once。〃

〃Very　well；〃　replied　Khlobuev。　〃Pray　come　and　inspect　my　irregularities　and　futilities。　You　have　done　well　to　dine　beforehand；　for　not　so　much　as　a　fowl　is　left　in　the　place；　so　dire　are　the　extremities　to　which　you　see　me　reduced。〃

Sighing　deeply；　he　took　Platon　by　the　arm　（it　was　clear　that　he　did　not　look　for　any　sympathy　from　Constantine）　and　walked　ahead；　while　Constantine　and　Chichikov　followed。

〃Things　are　going　hard　with　me；　Platon　Mikhalitch；〃　continued　Khlobuev。　〃How　hard　you　cannot　imagine。　No　money　have　I；　no　food；　no　boots。　Were　I　still　young　and　a　bachelor；　it　would　have　come　easy　to　me　to　live　on　bread　and　cheese；　but　when　a　man　is　growing　old；　and　has　got　a　wife　and　five　children；　such　trials　press　heavily　upon　him；　and；　in　spite　of　himself；　his　spirits　sink。〃

〃But；　should　you　succeed　in　selling　the　estate；　that　would　help　to　put　you　right；　would　it　not？〃　said　Platon。

〃How　could　it　do　so？〃　replied　Khlobuev　with　a　despairing　gesture。　〃What　I　might　get　for　the　property　would　have　to　go　towards　discharging　my　debts；　and　I　should　find　myself　left　with　less　than　a　thousand　roubles　besides。〃

〃Then　what　do　you　intend　to　do？〃

〃God　knows。〃

〃But　is　there　NOTHING　to　which　you　could　set　your　hand　in　order　to　clear　yourself　of　your　difficulties？〃

〃How　could　there　be？〃

〃Well；　you　might　accept　a　Government　post。〃

〃Become　a　provincial　secretary；　you　mean？　How　could　I　obtain　such　a　post？　They　would　not　offer　me　one　of　the　meanest　possible　kind。　Even　supposing　that　they　did；　how　could　I　live　on　a　salary　of　five　hundred　roublesI　who　have　a　wife　and　five　children？〃

〃Then　try　and　obtain　a　bailiff's　post。〃

〃Who　would　entrust　their　property　to　a　man　who　has　squandered　his　own　estate？〃

〃Nevertheless；　when　death　and　destitution　threaten；　a　man　must　either　do　something　or　starve。　Shall　I　ask　my　brother　to　use　his　influence　to　procure　you　a　post？〃

〃No；　no；　Platon　Mikhalitch；〃　sighed　Khlobuev；　gripping　the　other's　hand。　〃I　am　no　longer　serviceableI　am　grown　old　before　my　time；　and　find　that　liver　and　rheumatism　are　paying　me　for　the　sins　of　my　youth。　Why　should　the　Government　be　put　to　a　loss　on　my　account？not　to　speak　of　the　fact　that　for　every　salaried　post　there　are　countless　numbers　of　applicants。　God　forbid　that；　in　order　to　provide　me　with　a　livelihood　further　burdens　should　be　imposed　upon　an　impoverished　public！〃

〃Such　are　the　results　of　improvident　management！〃　thought　Platon　to　himself。　〃The　disease　is　even　worse　than　my　slothfulness。〃

Meanwhile　Kostanzhoglo；　walking　by　Chichikov's　side；　was　almost　taking　leave　of　his　senses。

〃Look　at　it！〃　he　cried　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。　〃See　to　what　wretchedness　the　peasant　has　become　reduced！　Should　cattle　disease　come；　Khlobuev　will　have　nothing　to　fall　back　upon；　but　will　be　forced　to　sell　his　allto　leave　the　peasant　without　a　horse；　and　therefore　without　the　means　to　labour；　even　though　the　loss　of　a　single　day's　work　may　take　years　of　labour　to　rectify。　Meanwhile　it　is　plain　that　the　local　peasant　has　become　a　mere　dissolute；　lazy　drunkard。　Give　a　muzhik　enough　to　live　upon　for　twelve　months　without　working；　and　you　will　corrupt　him　for　ever；　so　inured　to　rags　and　vagrancy　will　he　grow。　And　what　is　the　good　of　that　piece　of　pasture　thereof　that　piece　on　the　further　side　of　those　huts？　It　is　a　mere　flooded　tract。　Were　it　mine；　I　should　put　it　under　flax；　and　clear　five　thousand　roubles；　or　else　sow　it　with　turnips；　and　clear；　perhaps；　four　thousand。　And　see　how　the　rye　is　drooping；　and　nearly　laid。　As　for　wheat；　I　am　pretty　sure　that　he　has　not　sown　any。　Look；　too；　at　those　ravines！　Were　they　mine；　they　would　be　standing　under　timber　which　even　a　rook　could　not　top。　To　think　of　wasting　such　quantities　of　land！　Where　land　wouldn't　bear　corn；　I　should　dig　it　up；　and　plant　it　with　vegetables。　What　ought　to　be　done　is　that　Khlobuev　ought　to　take　a　spade　into　his　own　hands；　and　to　set　his　wife　and　children　and　servants　to　do　the　same；　and　even　if　they　died　of　the　exertion；　they　would　at　least　die　doing　their　duty；　and　not　through　guzzling　at　the　dinner　table。〃

This　said；　Kostanzhoglo　spat；　and　his　brow　flushed　with　grim　indignation。

Presently　they　reached　an　elevation　whence　the　distant　flashing　of　a　river；　with　its　flood　waters　and　subsidiary　streams；　caught　the　eye；　while；　further　off；　a　portion　of　General　Betristchev's　homestead　could　be　discerned　among　the　trees；　and；　over　it；　a　blue；　densely　wooded　hill　which　Chichikov　guessed　to　be　the　spot　where　Tientietnikov's　mansion　was　situated。

〃This　is　where　I　should　plant　timber；〃　said　Chichikov。　〃And；　regarded　as　a　site　for　a　manor　house；　the　situation　could　scarcely　be　beaten　for　beauty　of　view。〃

〃You　seem　to　get　great　store　upon　views　and　beauty；〃　remarked　Kostanzhoglo　with　reproof　in　his　tone。　〃Should　you　pay　too　much　attention　to　those　things；　you　might　find　yourself　without　crops　or　view。　Utility　should　be　placed　first；　not　beauty。　Beauty　will　come　of　itself。　Take；　for　example；　towns。　The　fairest　and　most　beautiful　towns　are　those　which　have　built　themselvesthose　in　which　each　man　has　built　to　suit　his　own　exclusive　circumstances　and　needs；　whereas　towns　which　men　have　constructed　on　regular；　string…taut　lines　are　no　better　than　collections　of　barracks。　Put　beauty　aside；　and　look　only　to　what　is　NECESSARY。〃

〃Yes；　but　to　me　it　would　always　be　irksome　to　have　to　wait。　All　the　time　that　I　was　doing　so　I　should　be　hungering　to　see　in　front　of　the　me　the　sort　of　prospect　which　I　prefer。〃

〃Come；　come！　Are　you　a　man　of　twenty…fiveyou　who　have　served　as　a　tchinovnik　in　St。　Petersburg？　Have　patience；　have　patience。　For　six　years　work；　and　work　hard。　Plant；　sow；　and　dig　the　earth　without　taking　a　moment's　rest。　It　will　be　difficult；　I　knowyes；　difficult　indeed；　but　at　the　end　of　that　time；　if　you　have　thoroughly　stirred　the　soil；　the　land　will　begin　to　help　you　as　nothing　else　can　do。　That　is　to　say；　over　and　above　your　seventy　or　so　pairs　of　hands；　there　will　begin　to　assist　in　the　work　seven　hundred　pairs　of　hands　which　you　cannot　see。　Thus　everything　will　be　multiplied　tenfold。　I　myself　have　ceased　even　to　have　to　lift　a　finger；　for　whatsoever　needs　to　be　done　gets　done　of　itself。　Nature　loves　patience：　always　remember　that。　It　is　a　law　given　her　of　God　Himself；　who　has　blessed　all　those　who　are　strong　to　endure。〃

〃To　hear　your　words　is　to　be　both　encouraged　and　strengthened；〃　said　Chichikov。　To　this　Kostanzhoglo　made　no　reply；　but　presently　went　on：

〃And　see　how　that　piece　of　land　has　been　ploughed！　To　stay　here　longer　is　more　than　I　can　do。　For　me；　to　have　to　look　upon　such　want　of　orderliness　and　foresight　is　death。　Finish　your　business　with　Khlobuev　without　me；　and　whatsoever　you　do；　get　this　treasure　out　of　that　fool's　hands　as　quickly　as　possible；　for　he　is　dishonouring　God's　gifts。〃

And　Kostanzhoglo；　his　face　dark　with　the　rage　that　was　seething　in　his　excitable　soul；　left　Chichikov；　and　caught　up　the　owner　of　the　establishment。

〃What；　Constantine　Thedorovitch？〃　cried　Khlobuev　in　astonishment。　〃Just　arrived；　you　are　going　already？〃

〃Yes；　I　cannot　help　it；　urgent　business　requires　me　at　home。〃　And　entering　his　gig；　Kostanzhoglo　drove　rapidly　away。　Somehow　Khlobuev　seemed　to　divine　the　cause　of　his　sudden　departure。

〃It　was　too　much　for　him；〃　he　remarked。　〃An　agriculturist　of　that　kind　does　not　like　to　have　to　look　upon　the　results　of　such　feckless　management　as　mine。　Would　you　believe　it；　Paul　Ivanovitch；　but　this　year　I　have　been　unable　to　sow　any　wheat！　Am　I　not　a　fine　husbandman？　There　was　no　seed　for　the　purpose；　nor　yet　anything　with　which　to　prepare　the　ground。　No；　I　am