dead souls(死魂灵)-第7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！


or　some　equally　unknown　reason；　Manilov　glanced　over　HIS。

〃How　long　is　it；〃　inquired　the　guest；　〃since　you　last　rendered　a　census　return？〃

〃Oh；　a　long；　long　time。　In　fact；　I　cannot　remember　when　it　was。〃

〃And　since　then　have　many　of　your　serfs　died？〃

〃I　do　not　know。　To　ascertain　that　I　should　need　to　ask　my　bailiff。　Footman；　go　and　call　the　bailiff。　I　think　he　will　be　at　home　to…day。〃

Before　long　the　bailiff　made　his　appearance。　He　was　a　man　of　under　forty；　clean…shaven；　clad　in　a　smock；　and　evidently　used　to　a　quiet　life；　seeing　that　his　face　was　of　that　puffy　fullness；　and　the　skin　encircling　his　slit…like　eyes　was　of　that　sallow　tint；　which　shows　that　the　owner　of　those　features　is　well　acquainted　with　a　feather　bed。　In　a　trice　it　could　be　seen　that　he　had　played　his　part　in　life　as　all　such　bailiffs　dothat；　originally　a　young　serf　of　elementary　education；　he　had　married　some　Agashka　of　a　housekeeper　or　a　mistress's　favourite；　and　then　himself　become　housekeeper；　and；　subsequently；　bailiff；　after　which　he　had　proceeded　according　to　the　rules　of　his　tribethat　is　to　say；　he　had　consorted　with　and　stood　in　with　the　more　well…to…do　serfs　on　the　estate；　and　added　the　poorer　ones　to　the　list　of　forced　payers　of　obrok；　while　himself　leaving　his　bed　at　nine　o'clock　in　the　morning；　and；　when　the　samovar　had　been　brought；　drinking　his　tea　at　leisure。

〃Look　here；　my　good　man；〃　said　Manilov。　〃How　many　of　our　serfs　have　died　since　the　last　census　revision？〃

〃How　many　of　them　have　died？　Why；　a　great　many。〃　The　bailiff　hiccoughed；　and　slapped　his　mouth　lightly　after　doing　so。

〃Yes；　I　imagined　that　to　be　the　case；〃　corroborated　Manilov。　〃In　fact；　a　VERY　great　many　serfs　have　died。〃　He　turned　to　Chichikov　and　repeated　the　words。

〃How　many；　for　instance？〃　asked　Chichikov。

〃Yes；　how　many？〃　re…echoed　Manilov。

〃HOW　many？〃　re…echoed　the　bailiff。　〃Well；　no　one　knows　the　exact　number；　for　no　one　has　kept　any　account。〃

〃Quite　so；〃　remarked　Manilov。　〃I　supposed　the　death…rate　to　have　been　high；　but　was　ignorant　of　its　precise　extent。〃

〃Then　would　you　be　so　good　as　to　have　it　computed　for　me？〃　said　Chichikov。　〃And　also　to　have　a　detailed　list　of　the　deaths　made　out？〃

〃Yes；　I　willa　detailed　list；〃　agreed　Manilov。

〃Very　well。〃

The　bailiff　departed。

〃For　what　purpose　do　you　want　it？〃　inquired　Manilov　when　the　bailiff　had　gone。

The　question　seemed　to　embarrass　the　guest；　for　in　Chichikov's　face　there　dawned　a　sort　of　tense　expression；　and　it　reddened　as　though　its　owner　were　striving　to　express　something　not　easy　to　put　into　words。　True　enough；　Manilov　was　now　destined　to　hear　such　strange　and　unexpected　things　as　never　before　had　greeted　human　ears。

〃You　ask　me；〃　said　Chichikov；　〃for　what　purpose　I　want　the　list。　Well；　my　purpose　in　wanting　it　is　thisthat　I　desire　to　purchase　a　few　peasants。〃　And　he　broke　off　in　a　gulp。

〃But　may　I　ask　HOW　you　desire　to　purchase　those　peasants？〃　asked　Manilov。　〃With　land；　or　merely　as　souls　for　transfermentthat　is　to　say；　by　themselves；　and　without　any　land？〃

〃I　want　the　peasants　themselves　only；〃　replied　Chichikov。　〃And　I　want　dead　ones　at　that。〃

〃What？Excuse　me；　but　I　am　a　trifle　deaf。　Really；　your　words　sound　most　strange！〃

〃All　that　I　am　proposing　to　do；〃　replied　Chichikov；　〃is　to　purchase　the　dead　peasants　who；　at　the　last　census；　were　returned　by　you　as　alive。〃

Manilov　dropped　his　pipe　on　the　floor；　and　sat　gaping。　Yes；　the　two　friends　who　had　just　been　discussing　the　joys　of　camaraderie　sat　staring　at　one　another　like　the　portraits　which；　of　old；　used　to　hang　on　opposite　sides　of　a　mirror。　At　length　Manilov　picked　up　his　pipe；　and；　while　doing　so；　glanced　covertly　at　Chichikov　to　see　whether　there　was　any　trace　of　a　smile　to　be　detected　on　his　lipswhether；　in　short；　he　was　joking。　But　nothing　of　the　sort　could　be　discerned。　On　the　contrary；　Chichikov's　face　looked　graver　than　usual。　Next；　Manilov　wondered　whether；　for　some　unknown　reason；　his　guest　had　lost　his　wits；　wherefore　he　spent　some　time　in　gazing　at　him　with　anxious　intentness。　But　the　guest's　eyes　seemed　clearthey　contained　no　spark　of　the　wild；　restless　fire　which　is　apt　to　wander　in　the　eyes　of　madmen。　All　was　as　it　should　be。　Consequently；　in　spite　of　Manilov's　cogitations；　he　could　think　of　nothing　better　to　do　than　to　sit　letting　a　stream　of　tobacco　smoke　escape　from　his　mouth。

〃So；〃　continued　Chichikov；　〃what　I　desire　to　know　is　whether　you　are　willing　to　hand　over　to　meto　resignthese　actually　non…living；　but　legally　living；　peasants；　or　whether　you　have　any　better　proposal　to　make？〃

Manilov　felt　too　confused　and　confounded　to　do　aught　but　continue　staring　at　his　interlocutor。

〃I　think　that　you　are　disturbing　yourself　unnecessarily；〃　was　Chichikov's　next　remark。

〃I？　Oh　no！　Not　at　all！〃　stammered　Manilov。　〃Onlypardon　meI　do　not　quite　comprehend　you。　You　see；　never　has　it　fallen　to　my　lot　to　acquire　the　brilliant　polish　which　is；　so　to　speak；　manifest　in　your　every　movement。　Nor　have　I　ever　been　able　to　attain　the　art　of　expressing　myself　well。　Consequently；　although　there　is　a　possibility　that　in　theerutterances　which　have　just　fallen　from　your　lips　there　may　lie　something　else　concealed；　it　may　equally　be　thateryou　have　been　pleased　so　to　express　yourself　for　the　sake　of　the　beauty　of　the　terms　wherein　that　expression　found　shape？〃

〃Oh；　no；〃　asserted　Chichikov。　〃I　mean　what　I　say　and　no　more。　My　reference　to　such　of　your　pleasant　souls　as　are　dead　was　intended　to　be　taken　literally。〃

Manilov　still　felt　at　a　lossthough　he　was　conscious　that　he　MUST　do　something；　he　MUST　propound　some　question。　But　what　question？　The　devil　alone　knew！　In　the　end　he　merely　expelled　some　more　tobacco　smokethis　time　from　his　nostrils　as　well　as　from　his　mouth。

〃So；〃　went　on　Chichikov；　〃if　no　obstacle　stands　in　the　way；　we　might　as　well　proceed　to　the　completion　of　the　purchase。〃

〃What？　Of　the　purchase　of　the　dead　souls？〃

〃Of　the　'dead'　souls？　Oh　dear　no！　Let　us　write　them　down　as　LIVING　ones；　seeing　that　that　is　how　they　figure　in　the　census　returns。　Never　do　I　permit　myself　to　step　outside　the　civil　law；　great　though　has　been　the　harm　which　that　rule　has　wrought　me　in　my　career。　In　my　eyes　an　obligation　is　a　sacred　thing。　In　the　presence　of　the　law　I　am　dumb。〃

These　last　words　reassured　Manilov　not　a　little：　yet　still　the　meaning　of　the　affair　remained　to　him　a　mystery。　By　way　of　answer；　he　fell　to　sucking　at　his　pipe　with　such　vehemence　that　at　length　the　pipe　began　to　gurgle　like　a　bassoon。　It　was　as　though　he　had　been　seeking　of　it　inspiration　in　the　present　unheard…of　juncture。　But　the　pipe　only　gurgled；　et　praeterea　nihil。

〃Perhaps　you　feel　doubtful　about　the　proposal？〃　said　Chichikov。

〃Not　at　all；〃　replied　Manilov。　〃But　you　will；　I　know；　excuse　me　if　I　say　（and　I　say　it　out　of　no　spirit　of　prejudice；　nor　yet　as　criticising　yourself　in　any　way）you　will；　I　know；　excuse　me　if　I　say　that　possibly　thiserthis；　er；　SCHEME　of　yours；　thiserTRANSACTION　of　yours；　may　fail　altogether　to　accord　with　the　Civil　Statutes　and　Provisions　of　the　Realm？〃

And　Manilov；　with　a　slight　gesture　of　the　head；　looked　meaningly　into　Chichikov's　face；　while　displaying　in　his　every　feature；　including　his　closely…compressed　lips；　such　an　expression　of　profundity　as　never　before　was　seen　on　any　human　countenanceunless　on　that　of　some　particularly　sapient　Minister　of　State　who　is　debating　some　particularly　abstruse　problem。

Nevertheless　Chichikov　rejoined　that　the　kind　of　scheme　or　transaction　which　he　had　adumbrated　in　no　way　clashed　with　the　Civil　Statutes　and　Provisions　of　Russia；　to　which　he　added　that　the　Treasury　would　even　BENEFIT　by　the　enterprise；　seeing　it　would　draw　therefrom　the　usual　legal　percentage。

〃What；　then；　do　you　propose？〃　asked　Manilov。

〃I　propose　only　what　is　above…board；　and　nothing　else。〃

〃Then；　that　being　so；　it　is　another　matter；　and　I　have　nothing　to　urge　against　it；〃　said　Manilov；　apparently　reassured　to　the　full。

〃Very　well；〃　remarked　Chichikov。　〃Then　we　need　only　to　agree　as　to　the　price。〃

〃As　to　the　price？〃　began　Manilov；　and　then　stopped。　Presently　he　went　on：　〃Surely　you　cannot　suppose　me　capable　of　taking　money　for　souls　which；　in　one　sense　at　least；　have　completed　their　existence？　Seeing　that　this　fantastic　whim　of　yours　（if　I　may　so　call　it？）　has　seized　upon　you　to　the　extent　that　it　has；　I；　on　my　side；　shall　be　ready　to　surrender　to　you　those　souls　UNCONDITIONALLY；　and　to　charge　myself　with　the　whole　expenses　of　the　sale。〃

I　should　be　greatly　to　blame　if　I　were　to　omit　that；　as　soon　as　Manilov　had　pronounced　these　words；　the　face　of　his　guest　became　replete　with　satisfaction。　Indeed；　grave　and　prudent　a　man　though　Chichikov　was；　he　had　much　ado　to　refrain　from　executing　a　leap　that　would　have　done　credit　to　a　goat　（an　animal　which；　as　we　all　know；　finds　itself　moved　to　such　exertions　only　during　moments　of　the　most　ecstatic　joy）。　Nevertheless　the　guest　did　at　least　execute　such　a　convulsive　shuffle　that　the　material　with　which　the　cushions　of　the　chair　were　covered　came　apart；　and　Manilov　gazed　at　him　with　some　misgiving。　Finally　Chichikov's　gratitude　led　him　to　plunge　into　a　stream　of　acknowledgement　of　a　vehemence　which　caused　his　host　to　grow　confused；　to　blush；　to　shake　his　head　in　deprecation；　and　to　end　by　declaring　that　the　concession　was　nothing；　and　that；　his　one　desire　being　to　manifest　the　dictates　of　his　heart　and　the　psychic　magnetism　which　his　friend　exercised；　he；　in　short；　looked　upon　the　dead　souls　as　so　much　worthless　rubbish。

〃Not　at　all；〃　replied　Chichikov；　pressing　his　hand；　after　which　he　heaved　a　profound　sigh。　Indeed；　he　seemed　in　the　right　mood　for　outpourings　of　the　heart；　for　he　continuednot　without　a　ring　of　emotion　in　his　tone：　〃If　you　but　knew　the　service　which　you　have　rendered　to　an　apparently　insignificant　individual　who　is　devoid　both　of　family　and　kindred！　For　what　have　I　not　suffered　in　my　timeI；　a　drifting　barque　amid　the　tempestuous　billows　of　life？　What　harryings；　what　persecutions；　have　I　not　known？　Of　what　grief　have　I　not　tasted？　And　why？　Simply　because　I　have　ever　kept　the　truth　in　view；　because　ever　I　have　preserved　inviolate　an　unsullied　conscience；　because　ever　I　have　stretched　out　a　helping　hand　to　the　defenceless　widow　and　the　hapless　orphan！〃　After　which　outpouring　Chichikov　pulled　out　his　handkerchief；　and　wiped　away　a　brimming　tear。

Manilov's　heart　was　moved　to　the　core。　Again　and　again　did　the　two　friends　press　one　another's　hands　in　silence　as　they　gazed　into　one　another's　tear…filled　eyes。　Indeed；　Manilov　COULD　not　let　go　our　hero's　hand；　but　clasped　it　with　such　warmth　that　the　hero　in　question　began　to　feel　himself　at　a　loss　how　best　to　wrench　it　free：　until；　quietly　withdrawing　it；　he　observed　that　to　have　the　purchase　completed　as　speedily　as　possible　would　not　be　a　bad　thing；　wherefore　he　himself　would　at　once　return　to　the　town　to　arrange　matters。　Taking　up　his　hat；　therefore；　he　rose　to　make　his　adieus。

〃What？　Are　you　departing　already？〃　said　Manilov；　suddenly　recovering　himself；　and　experiencing　a　sense　of　misgiving。　At　that　moment　his　wife　sailed　into　the　room。

〃Is　Paul　Ivanovitch　leaving　us　so　soon；　dearest　Lizanka？〃　she　said　with　an　air　of　regret。

〃Yes。　Surely　it　must　be