dead souls(死魂灵)-第66章

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teresting　air；　and　his　chin　an　added　seductiveness；　while　his　white　collar　lent　tone　to　his　neck；　the　blue　satin　tie　heightened　the　effect　of　the　collar；　the　fashionable　dickey　set　off　the　tie；　the　rich　satin　waistcoat　emphasised　the　dickey；　and　the　smoked…grey…shot…with…flame…colour　frockcoat；　shining　like　silk；　splendidly　rounded　off　the　whole。　When　he　turned　to　the　right　he　looked　well：　when　he　turned　to　the　left　he　looked　even　better。　In　short；　it　was　a　costume　worthy　of　a　Lord　Chamberlain　or　the　species　of　dandy　who　shrinks　from　swearing　in　the　Russian　language；　but　amply　relieves　his　feelings　in　the　language　of　France。　Next；　inclining　his　head　slightly　to　one　side；　our　hero　endeavoured　to　pose　as　though　he　were　addressing　a　middle…aged　lady　of　exquisite　refinement；　and　the　result　of　these　efforts　was　a　picture　which　any　artist　might　have　yearned　to　portray。　Next；　his　delight　led　him　gracefully　to　execute　a　hop　in　ballet　fashion；　so　that　the　wardrobe　trembled　and　a　bottle　of　eau…de…Cologne　came　crashing　to　the　floor。　Yet　even　this　contretemps　did　not　upset　him；　he　merely　called　the　offending　bottle　a　fool；　and　then　debated　whom　first　he　should　visit　in　his　attractive　guise。

Suddenly　there　resounded　through　the　hall　a　clatter　of　spurred　heels；　and　then　the　voice　of　a　gendarme　saying：　〃You　are　commanded　to　present　yourself　before　the　Governor…General！〃　Turning　round；　Chichikov　stared　in　horror　at　the　spectacle　presented；　for　in　the　doorway　there　was　standing　an　apparition　wearing　a　huge　moustache；　a　helmet　surmounted　with　a　horsehair　plume；　a　pair　of　crossed　shoulder…belts；　and　a　gigantic　sword！　A　whole　army　might　have　been　combined　into　a　single　individual！　And　when　Chichikov　opened　his　mouth　to　speak　the　apparition　repeated；　〃You　are　commanded　to　present　yourself　before　the　Governor…General；〃　and　at　the　same　moment　our　hero　caught　sight　both　of　a　second　apparition　outside　the　door　and　of　a　coach　waiting　beneath　the　window。　What　was　to　be　done？　Nothing　whatever　was　possible。　Just　as　he　stoodin　his　smoked…grey…shot…with…flame…colour　suithe　had　then　and　there　to　enter　the　vehicle；　and；　shaking　in　every　limb；　and　with　a　gendarme　seated　by　his　side；　to　start　for　the　residence　of　the　Governor…General。

And　even　in　the　hall　of　that　establishment　no　time　was　given　him　to　pull　himself　together；　for　at　once　an　aide…de…camp　said：　〃Go　inside　immediately；　for　the　Prince　is　awaiting　you。〃　And　as　in　a　dream　did　our　hero　see　a　vestibule　where　couriers　were　being　handed　dispatches；　and　then　a　salon　which　he　crossed　with　the　thought；　〃I　suppose　I　am　not　to　be　allowed　a　trial；　but　shall　be　sent　straight　to　Siberia！〃　And　at　the　thought　his　heart　started　beating　in　a　manner　which　the　most　jealous　of　lovers　could　not　have　rivalled。　At　length　there　opened　a　door；　and　before　him　he　saw　a　study　full　of　portfolios；　ledgers；　and　dispatch…boxes；　with；　standing　behind　them；　the　gravely　menacing　figure　of　the　Prince。

〃There　stands　my　executioner；〃　thought　Chichikov　to　himself。　〃He　is　about　to　tear　me　to　pieces　as　a　wolf　tears　a　lamb。〃

Indeed；　the　Prince's　lips　were　simply　quivering　with　rage。

〃Once　before　did　I　spare　you；〃　he　said；　〃and　allow　you　to　remain　in　the　town　when　you　ought　to　have　been　in　prison：　yet　your　only　return　for　my　clemency　has　been　to　revert　to　a　career　of　fraudand　of　fraud　as　dishonourable　as　ever　a　man　engaged　in。〃

〃To　what　dishonourable　fraud　do　you　refer；　your　Highness？〃　asked　Chichikov；　trembling　from　head　to　foot。

The　Prince　approached；　and　looked　him　straight　in　the　eyes。

〃Let　me　tell　you；〃　he　said；　〃that　the　woman　whom　you　induced　to　witness　a　certain　will　has　been　arrested；　and　that　you　will　be　confronted　with　her。〃

The　world　seemed　suddenly　to　grow　dim　before　Chichikov's　sight。

〃Your　Highness；〃　he　gasped；　〃I　will　tell　you　the　whole　truth；　and　nothing　but　the　truth。　I　am　guiltyyes；　I　am　guilty；　but　I　am　not　so　guilty　as　you　think；　for　I　was　led　away　by　rascals。〃

〃That　any　one　can　have　led　you　away　is　impossible；〃　retorted　the　Prince。　〃Recorded　against　your　name　there　stand　more　felonies　than　even　the　most　hardened　liar　could　have　invented。　I　believe　that　never　in　your　life　have　you　done　a　deed　not　innately　dishonourablethat　not　a　kopeck　have　you　ever　obtained　by　aught　but　shameful　methods　of　trickery　and　theft；　the　penalty　for　which　is　Siberia　and　the　knut。　But　enough　of　this！　From　this　room　you　will　be　conveyed　to　prison；　where；　with　other　rogues　and　thieves；　you　will　be　confined　until　your　trial　may　come　on。　And　this　is　lenient　treatment　on　my　part；　for　you　are　worse；　far　worse；　than　the　felons　who　will　be　your　companions。　THEY　are　but　poor　men　in　smocks　and　sheepskins；　whereas　YOU〃　Without　concluding　his　words；　the　Prince　shot　a　glance　at　Chichikov's　smoked…grey…shot…with…flame…colour　apparel。

Then　he　touched　a　bell。

〃Your　Highness；〃　cried　Chichikov；　〃have　mercy　upon　me！　You　are　the　father　of　a　family！　Spare　me　for　the　sake　of　my　aged　mother！〃

〃Rubbish！〃　exclaimed　the　Prince。　〃Even　as　before　you　besought　me　for　the　sake　of　a　wife　and　children　whom　you　did　not　even　possess；　so　now　you　would　speak　to　me　of　an　aged　mother！〃

〃Your　Highness；〃　protested　Chichikov；　〃though　I　am　a　wretch　and　the　lowest　of　rascals；　and　though　it　is　true　that　I　lied　when　I　told　you　that　I　possessed　a　wife　and　children；　I　swear　that；　as　God　is　my　witness；　it　has　always　been　my　DESIRE　to　possess　a　wife；　and　to　fulfil　all　the　duties　of　a　man　and　a　citizen；　and　to　earn　the　respect　of　my　fellows　and　the　authorities。　But　what　could　be　done　against　the　force　of　circumstances？　By　hook　or　by　crook　I　have　ever　been　forced　to　win　a　living；　though　confronted　at　every　step　by　wiles　and　temptations　and　traitorous　enemies　and　despoilers。　So　much　has　this　been　so　that　my　life　has；　throughout；　resembled　a　barque　tossed　by　tempestuous　waves；　a　barque　driven　at　the　mercy　of　the　winds。　Ah；　I　am　only　a　man；　your　Highness！〃

And　in　a　moment　the　tears　had　gushed　in　torrents　from　his　eyes；　and　he　had　fallen　forward　at　the　Prince's　feetfallen　forward　just　as　he　was；　in　his　smoked…grey…shot…with…flame…colour　frockcoat；　his　velvet　waistcoat；　his　satin　tie；　and　his　exquisitely　fitting　breeches；　while　from　his　neatly　brushed　pate；　as　again　and　again　he　struck　his　hand　against　his　forehead；　there　came　an　odorous　whiff　of　best…quality　eau…de…Cologne。

〃Away　with　him！〃　exclaimed　the　Prince　to　the　gendarme　who　had　just　entered。　〃Summon　the　escort　to　remove　him。〃

〃Your　Highness！〃　Chichikov　cried　again　as　he　clasped　the　Prince's　knees；　but；　shuddering　all　over；　and　struggling　to　free　himself；　the　Prince　repeated　his　order　for　the　prisoner's　removal。

〃Your　Highness；　I　say　that　I　will　not　leave　this　room　until　you　have　accorded　me　mercy！〃　cried　Chichikov　as　he　clung　to　the　Prince's　leg　with　such　tenacity　that；　frockcoat　and　all；　he　began　to　be　dragged　along　the　floor。

〃Away　with　him；　I　say！〃　once　more　the　Prince　exclaimed　with　the　sort　of　indefinable　aversion　which　one　feels　at　the　sight　of　a　repulsive　insect　which　he　cannot　summon　up　the　courage　to　crush　with　his　boot。　So　convulsively　did　the　Prince　shudder　that　Chichikov；　clinging　to　his　leg；　received　a　kick　on　the　nose。　Yet　still　the　prisoner　retained　his　hold；　until　at　length　a　couple　of　burly　gendarmes　tore　him　away　and；　grasping　his　arms；　hurried　himpale；　dishevelled；　and　in　that　strange；　half…conscious　condition　into　which　a　man　sinks　when　he　sees　before　him　only　the　dark；　terrible　figure　of　death；　the　phantom　which　is　so　abhorrent　to　all　our　naturesfrom　the　building。　But　on　the　threshold　the　party　came　face　to　face　with　Murazov；　and　in　Chichikov's　heart　the　circumstance　revived　a　ray　of　hope。　Wresting　himself　with　almost　supernatural　strength　from　the　grasp　of　the　escorting　gendarmes；　he　threw　himself　at　the　feet　of　the　horror…stricken　old　man。

〃Paul　Ivanovitch；〃　Murazov　exclaimed；　〃what　has　happened　to　you？〃

〃Save　me！〃　gasped　Chichikov。　〃They　are　taking　me　away　to　prison　and　death！〃

Yet　almost　as　he　spoke　the　gendarmes　seized　him　again；　and　hurried　him　away　so　swiftly　that　Murazov's　reply　escaped　his　ears。

A　damp；　mouldy　cell　which　reeked　of　soldiers'　boots　and　leggings；　an　unvarnished　table；　two　sorry　chairs；　a　window　closed　with　a　grating；　a　crazy　stove　which；　while　letting　the　smoke　emerge　through　its　cracks；　gave　out　no　heatsuch　was　the　den　to　which　the　man　who　had　just　begun　to　taste　the　sweets　of　life；　and　to　attract　the　attention　of　his　fellows　with　his　new　suit　of　smoked…grey…shot…with…flame…colour；　now　found　himself　consigned。　Not　even　necessaries　had　he　been　allowed　to　bring　away　with　him；　nor　his　dispatch…box　which　contained　all　his　booty。　No；　with　the　indenture　deeds　of　the　dead　souls；　it　was　lodged　in　the　hands　of　a　tchinovnik；　and　as　he　thought　of　these　things　Chichikov　rolled　about　the　floor；　and　felt　the　cankerous　worm　of　remorse　seize　upon　and　gnaw　at　his　heart；　and　bite　its　way　ever　further　and　further　into　that　heart　so　defenceless　against　its　ravages；　until　he　made　up　his　mind　that；　should　he　have　to　suffer　another　twenty…four　hours　of　this　misery；　there　would　no　longer　be　a　Chichikov　in　the　world。　Yet　over　him；　as　over　every　one；　there　hung　poised　the　All…Saving　Hand；　and；　an　hour　after　his　arrival　at　the　prison；　the　doors　of　the　gaol　opened　to　admit　Murazov。

Compared　with　poor　Chichikov's　sense　of　relief　when　the　old　man　entered　his　cell；　even　the　pleasure　experienced　by　a　thirsty；　dusty　traveller　when　he　is　given　a　drink　of　clear　spring　water　to　cool　his　dry；　parched　throat　fades　into　insignificance。

〃Ah；　my　deliverer！〃　he　cried　as　he　rose　from　the　floor；　where　he　had　been　grovelling　in　heartrending　paroxysms　of　grief。　Seizing　the　old　man's　hand；　he　kissed　it　and　pressed　it　to　his　bosom。　Then；　bursting　into　tears；　he　added：　〃God　Himself　will　reward　you　for　having　come　to　visit　an　unfortunate　wretch！〃

Murazov　looked　at　him　sorrowfully；　and　said　no　more　than　〃Ah；　Paul　Ivanovitch；　Paul　Ivanovitch！　What　has　happened？〃

〃What　has　happened？〃　cried　Chichikov。　〃I　have　been　ruined　by　an　accursed　woman。　That　was　because　I　could　not　do　things　in　moderationI　was　powerless　to　stop　myself　in　time；　Satan　tempted　me；　and　drove　me　from　my　senses；　and　bereft　me　of　human　prudence。　Yes；　truly　I　have　sinned；　I　have　sinned！　Yet　how　came　I　so　to　sin？　To　think　that　a　dvorianinyes；　a　dvorianinshould　be　thrown　into　prison　without　process　or　trial！　I　repeat；　a　dvorianin！　Why　was　I　not　given　time　to　go　home　and　collect　my　effects？　Whereas　now　they　are　left　with　no　one　to　look　after　them！　My　dispatch…box；　my　dispatch…box！　It　contained　my　whole　property；　all　that　my　heart's　blood　and　years　of　toil　and　want　have　been　needed　to　acquire。　And　now　everything　will　be　stolen；　Athanasi　Vassilievitcheverything　will　be　taken　from　me！　My　God！〃

And；　unable　to　stand　against　the　torrent　of　grief　which　came　rushing　over　his　heart　once　more；　he　sobbed　aloud　in　tones　which　penetrated　even　the　thickness　of　the　prison　walls；　and　made　dull　echoes　awake　behind　them。　Then；　tearing　off　his　satin　tie；　and　seizing　by　the　collar；　the　smoked…grey…shot…with…flame…colour　frockcoat；　he　stripped　the　latter　from　his　shoulders。

〃Ah；　Paul　Ivanovitch；〃　said　the　old　man；　〃how　even　now　the　property　which　you　have　acquired　is　blinding　your　eyes；　and　causing　you　to　fail　to　realise　your　terrible　position！