dead souls(死魂灵)-第8章

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

〃Yes。　Surely　it　must　be　that　we　have　wearied　him？〃　her　spouse　replied。

〃By　no　means；〃　asserted　Chichikov；　pressing　his　hand　to　his　heart。　〃In　this　breast；　madam；　will　abide　for　ever　the　pleasant　memory　of　the　time　which　I　have　spent　with　you。　Believe　me；　I　could　conceive　of　no　greater　blessing　than　to　reside；　if　not　under　the　same　roof　as　yourselves；　at　all　events　in　your　immediate　neighbourhood。〃

〃Indeed？〃　exclaimed　Manilov；　greatly　pleased　with　the　idea。　〃How　splendid　it　would　be　if　you　DID　come　to　reside　under　our　roof；　so　that　we　could　recline　under　an　elm　tree　together；　and　talk　philosophy；　and　delve　to　the　very　root　of　things！〃

〃Yes；　it　WOULD　be　a　paradisaical　existence！〃　agreed　Chichikov　with　a　sigh。　Nevertheless　he　shook　hands　with　Madame。　〃Farewell；　sudarina；〃　he　said。　〃And　farewell　to　YOU；　my　esteemed　host。　Do　not　forget　what　I　have　requested　you　to　do。〃

〃Rest　assured　that　I　will　not；〃　responded　Manilov。　〃Only　for　a　couple　of　days　will　you　and　I　be　parted　from　one　another。〃

With　that　the　party　moved　into　the　drawing…room。

〃Farewell；　dearest　children；〃　Chichikov　went　on　as　he　caught　sight　of　Alkid　and　Themistocleus；　who　were　playing　with　a　wooden　hussar　which　lacked　both　a　nose　and　one　arm。　〃Farewell；　dearest　pets。　Pardon　me　for　having　brought　you　no　presents；　but；　to　tell　you　the　truth；　I　was　not；　until　my　visit；　aware　of　your　existence。　However；　now　that　I　shall　be　coming　again；　I　will　not　fail　to　bring　you　gifts。　Themistocleus；　to　you　I　will　bring　a　sword。　You　would　like　that；　would　you　not？〃

〃I　should；〃　replied　Themistocleus。

〃And　to　you；　Alkid；　I　will　bring　a　drum。　That　would　suit　you；　would　it　not？〃　And　he　bowed　in　Alkid's　direction。

〃Zetha　drum；〃　lisped　the　boy；　hanging　his　head。

〃Good！　Then　a　drum　it　shall　beSUCH　a　beautiful　drum！　What　a　tur…r…r…ru…ing　and　a　tra…ta…ta…ta…ing　you　will　be　able　to　kick　up！　Farewell；　my　darling。〃　And；　kissing　the　boy's　head；　he　turned　to　Manilov　and　Madame　with　the　slight　smile　which　one　assumes　before　assuring　parents　of　the　guileless　merits　of　their　offspring。

〃But　you　had　better　stay；　Paul　Ivanovitch；〃　said　the　father　as　the　trio　stepped　out　on　to　the　verandah。　〃See　how　the　clouds　are　gathering！〃

〃They　are　only　small　ones；〃　replied　Chichikov。

〃And　you　know　your　way　to　Sobakevitch's？〃

〃No；　I　do　not；　and　should　be　glad　if　you　would　direct　me。〃

〃If　you　like　I　will　tell　your　coachman。〃　And　in　very　civil　fashion　Manilov　did　so；　even　going　so　far　as　to　address　the　man　in　the　second　person　plural。　On　hearing　that　he　was　to　pass　two　turnings；　and　then　to　take　a　third；　Selifan　remarked；　〃We　shall　get　there　all　right；　sir；〃　and　Chichikov　departed　amid　a　profound　salvo　of　salutations　and　wavings　of　handkerchiefs　on　the　part　of　his　host　and　hostess；　who　raised　themselves　on　tiptoe　in　their　enthusiasm。

For　a　long　while　Manilov　stood　following　the　departing　britchka　with　his　eyes。　In　fact；　he　continued　to　smoke　his　pipe　and　gaze　after　the　vehicle　even　when　it　had　become　lost　to　view。　Then　he　re…entered　the　drawing…room；　seated　himself　upon　a　chair；　and　surrendered　his　mind　to　the　thought　that　he　had　shown　his　guest　most　excellent　entertainment。　Next；　his　mind　passed　imperceptibly　to　other　matters；　until　at　last　it　lost　itself　God　only　knows　where。　He　thought　of　the　amenities　of　a　life；　of　friendship；　and　of　how　nice　it　would　be　to　live　with　a　comrade　on；　say；　the　bank　of　some　river；　and　to　span　the　river　with　a　bridge　of　his　own；　and　to　build　an　enormous　mansion　with　a　facade　lofty　enough　even　to　afford　a　view　to　Moscow。　On　that　facade　he　and　his　wife　and　friend　would　drink　afternoon　tea　in　the　open　air；　and　discuss　interesting　subjects；　after　which；　in　a　fine　carriage；　they　would　drive　to　some　reunion　or　other；　where　with　their　pleasant　manners　they　would　so　charm　the　company　that　the　Imperial　Government；　on　learning　of　their　merits；　would　raise　the　pair　to　the　grade　of　General　or　God　knows　whatthat　is　to　say；　to　heights　whereof　even　Manilov　himself　could　form　no　idea。　Then　suddenly　Chichikov's　extraordinary　request　interrupted　the　dreamer's　reflections；　and　he　found　his　brain　powerless　to　digest　it；　seeing　that；　turn　and　turn　the　matter　about　as　he　might；　he　could　not　properly　explain　its　bearing。　Smoking　his　pipe；　he　sat　where　he　was　until　supper　time。



CHAPTER　III

Meanwhile；　Chichikov；　seated　in　his　britchka　and　bowling　along　the　turnpike；　was　feeling　greatly　pleased　with　himself。　From　the　preceding　chapter　the　reader　will　have　gathered　the　principal　subject　of　his　bent　and　inclinations：　wherefore　it　is　no　matter　for　wonder　that　his　body　and　his　soul　had　ended　by　becoming　wholly　immersed　therein。　To　all　appearances　the　thoughts；　the　calculations；　and　the　projects　which　were　now　reflected　in　his　face　partook　of　a　pleasant　nature；　since　momentarily　they　kept　leaving　behind　them　a　satisfied　smile。　Indeed；　so　engrossed　was　he　that　he　never　noticed　that　his　coachman；　elated　with　the　hospitality　of　Manilov's　domestics；　was　making　remarks　of　a　didactic　nature　to　the　off　horse　of　the　troika＇1＇；　a　skewbald。　This　skewbald　was　a　knowing　animal；　and　made　only　a　show　of　pulling；　whereas　its　comrades；　the　middle　horse　（a　bay；　and　known　as　the　Assessor；　owing　to　his　having　been　acquired　from　a　gentleman　of　that　rank）　and　the　near　horse　（a　roan）；　would　do　their　work　gallantly；　and　even　evince　in　their　eyes　the　pleasure　which　they　derived　from　their　exertions。

＇1＇　Three　horses　harnessed　abreast。

〃Ah；　you　rascal；　you　rascal！　I'll　get　the　better　of　you！〃　ejaculated　Selifan　as　he　sat　up　and　gave　the　lazy　one　a　cut　with　his　whip。　〃YOU　know　your　business　all　right；　you　German　pantaloon！　The　bay　is　a　good　fellow；　and　does　his　duty；　and　I　will　give　him　a　bit　over　his　feed；　for　he　is　a　horse　to　be　respected；　and　the　Assessor　too　is　a　good　horse。　But　what　are　YOU　shaking　your　ears　for？　You　are　a　fool；　so　just　mind　when　you're　spoken　to。　'Tis　good　advice　I'm　giving　you；　you　blockhead。　Ah！　You　CAN　travel　when　you　like。〃　And　he　gave　the　animal　another　cut；　and　then　shouted　to　the　trio；　〃Gee　up；　my　beauties！〃　and　drew　his　whip　gently　across　the　backs　of　the　skewbald's　comradesnot　as　a　punishment；　but　as　a　sign　of　his　approval。　That　done；　he　addressed　himself　to　the　skewbald　again。

〃Do　you　think；〃　he　cried；　〃that　I　don't　see　what　you　are　doing？　You　can　behave　quite　decently　when　you　like；　and　make　a　man　respect　you。〃

With　that　he　fell　to　recalling　certain　reminiscences。

〃They　were　NICE　folk；　those　folk　at　the　gentleman's　yonder；〃　he　mused。　〃I　DO　love　a　chat　with　a　man　when　he　is　a　good　sort。　With　a　man　of　that　kind　I　am　always　hail…fellow…well…met；　and　glad　to　drink　a　glass　of　tea　with　him；　or　to　eat　a　biscuit。　One　CAN'T　help　respecting　a　decent　fellow。　For　instance；　this　gentleman　of　minewhy；　every　one　looks　up　to　him；　for　he　has　been　in　the　Government's　service；　and　is　a　Collegiate　Councillor。〃

Thus　soliloquising；　he　passed　to　more　remote　abstractions；　until；　had　Chichikov　been　listening；　he　would　have　learnt　a　number　of　interesting　details　concerning　himself。　However；　his　thoughts　were　wholly　occupied　with　his　own　subject；　so　much　so　that　not　until　a　loud　clap　of　thunder　awoke　him　from　his　reverie　did　he　glance　around　him。　The　sky　was　completely　covered　with　clouds；　and　the　dusty　turnpike　beginning　to　be　sprinkled　with　drops　of　rain。　At　length　a　second　and　a　nearer　and　a　louder　peal　resounded；　and　the　rain　descended　as　from　a　bucket。　Falling　slantwise；　it　beat　upon　one　side　of　the　basketwork　of　the　tilt　until　the　splashings　began　to　spurt　into　his　face；　and　he　found　himself　forced　to　draw　the　curtains　（fitted　with　circular　openings　through　which　to　obtain　a　glimpse　of　the　wayside　view）；　and　to　shout　to　Selifan　to　quicken　his　pace。　Upon　that　the　coachman；　interrupted　in　the　middle　of　his　harangue；　bethought　him　that　no　time　was　to　be　lost；　wherefore；　extracting　from　under　the　box…seat　a　piece　of　old　blanket；　he　covered　over　his　sleeves；　resumed　the　reins；　and　cheered　on　his　threefold　team　（which；　it　may　be　said；　had　so　completely　succumbed　to　the　influence　of　the　pleasant　lassitude　induced　by　Selifan's　discourse　that　it　had　taken　to　scarcely　placing　one　leg　before　the　other）。　Unfortunately；　Selifan　could　not　clearly　remember　whether　two　turnings　had　been　passed　or　three。　Indeed；　on　collecting　his　faculties；　and　dimly　recalling　the　lie　of　the　road；　he　became　filled　with　a　shrewd　suspicion　that　A　VERY　LARGE　NUMBER　of　turnings　had　been　passed。　But　since；　at　moments　which　call　for　a　hasty　decision；　a　Russian　is　quick　to　discover　what　may　conceivably　be　the　best　course　to　take；　our　coachman　put　away　from　him　all　ulterior　reasoning；　and；　turning　to　the　right　at　the　next　cross…road；　shouted；　〃Hi；　my　beauties！〃　and　set　off

at　a　gallop。　Never　for　a　moment　did　he　stop　to　think　whither　the　road　might　lead　him！

It　was　long　before　the　clouds　had　discharged　their　burden；　and；　meanwhile；　the　dust　on　the　road　became　kneaded　into　mire；　and　the　horses'　task　of　pulling　the　britchka　heavier　and　heavier。　Also；　Chichikov　had　taken　alarm　at　his　continued　failure　to　catch　sight　of　Sobakevitch's　country　house。　According　to　his　calculations；　it　ought　to　have　been　reached　long　ago。　He　gazed　about　him　on　every　side；　but　the　darkness　was　too　dense　for　the　eye　to　pierce。

〃Selifan！〃　he　exclaimed；　leaning　forward　in　the　britchka。

〃What　is　it；　barin？〃　replied　the　coachman。

〃Can　you　see　the　country　house　anywhere？〃

〃No；　barin。〃　After　which；　with　a　flourish　of　the　whip；　the　man　broke　into　a　sort　of　endless；　drawling　song。　In　that　song　everything　had　a　place。　By　〃everything〃　I　mean　both　the　various　encouraging　and　stimulating　cries　with　which　Russian　folk　urge　on　their　horses；　and　a　random；　unpremeditated　selection　of　adjectives。

Meanwhile　Chichikov　began　to　notice　that　the　britchka　was　swaying　violently；　and　dealing　him　occasional　bumps。　Consequently　he　suspected　that　it　had　left　the　road　and　was　being　dragged　over　a　ploughed　field。　Upon　Selifan's　mind　there　appeared　to　have　dawned　a　similar　inkling；　for　he　had　ceased　to　hold　forth。

〃You　rascal；　what　road　are　you　following？〃　inquired　Chichikov。

〃I　don't　know；〃　retorted　the　coachman。　〃What　can　a　man　do　at　a　time　of　night　when　the　darkness　won't　let　him　even　see　his　whip？〃　And　as　Selifan　spoke　the　vehicle　tilted　to　an　angle　which　left　Chichikov　no　choice　but　to　hang　on　with　hands　and　teeth。　At　length　he　realised　the　fact　that　Selifan　was　drunk。

〃Stop；　stop；　or　you　will　upset　us！〃　he　shouted　to　the　fellow。

〃No；　no；　barin；〃　replied　Selifan。　〃HOW　could　I　upset　you？　To　upset　people　is　wrong。　I　know　that　very　well；　and　should　never　dream　of　such　conduct。〃

Here　he　started　to　turn　the　vehicle　round　a　littleand　kept　on　doing　so　until　the　britchka　capsized　on　to　its　side；　and　Chichikov　landed　in　the　mud　on　his　hands　and　knees。　Fortunately　Selifan　succeeded　in　stopping　the　horses；　although　they　would　have　stopped　of　themselves；　seeing　that　they　were　utterly　worn　out。　This　unforeseen　catastrophe　evidently　astonished　their　driver。　Slipping　from　the　box；　he　stood　resting　his　hands　against　the　side　of　the　britchka；　while　Chichikov　tumbled　and　floundered　about　in　the　mud；　in　a　vain　endeavour　to　wriggle　clear　of　the　stuff。

〃Ah；　you！