dead souls(死魂灵)-第9章

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about　in　the　mud；　in　a　vain　endeavour　to　wriggle　clear　of　the　stuff。

〃Ah；　you！〃　said　Selifan　meditatively　to　the　britchka。　〃To　think　of　upsetting　us　like　this！〃

〃You　are　as　drunk　as　a　lord！〃　exclaimed　Chichikov。

〃No；　no；　barin。　Drunk；　indeed？　Why；　I　know　my　manners　too　well。　A　word　or　two　with　a　friendthat　is　all　that　I　have　taken。　Any　one　may　talk　with　a　decent　man　when　he　meets　him。　There　is　nothing　wrong　in　that。　Also；　we　had　a　snack　together。　There　is　nothing　wrong　in　a　snackespecially　a　snack　with　a　decent　man。〃

〃What　did　I　say　to　you　when　last　you　got　drunk？〃　asked　Chichikov。　〃Have　you　forgotten　what　I　said　then？〃

〃No；　no；　barin。　HOW　could　I　forget　it？　I　know　what　is　what；　and　know　that　it　is　not　right　to　get　drunk。　All　that　I　have　been　having　is　a　word　or　two　with　a　decent　man；　for　the　reason　that〃

〃Well；　if　I　lay　the　whip　about　you；　you'll　know　then　how　to　talk　to　a　decent　fellow；　I'll　warrant！〃

〃As　you　please；　barin；〃　replied　the　complacent　Selifan。　〃Should　you　whip　me；　you　will　whip　me；　and　I　shall　have　nothing　to　complain　of。　Why　should　you　not　whip　me　if　I　deserve　it？　'Tis　for　you　to　do　as　you　like。　Whippings　are　necessary　sometimes；　for　a　peasant　often　plays　the　fool；　and　discipline　ought　to　be　maintained。　If　I　have　deserved　it；　beat　me。　Why　should　you　not？〃

This　reasoning　seemed；　at　the　moment；　irrefutable；　and　Chichikov　said　nothing　more。　Fortunately　fate　had　decided　to　take　pity　on　the　pair；　for　from　afar　their　ears　caught　the　barking　of　a　dog。　Plucking　up　courage；　Chichikov　gave　orders　for　the　britchka　to　be　righted；　and　the　horses　to　be　urged　forward；　and　since　a　Russian　driver　has　at　least　this　merit；　that；　owing　to　a　keen　sense　of　smell　being　able　to　take　the　place　of　eyesight；　he　can；　if　necessary；　drive　at　random　and　yet　reach　a　destination　of　some　sort；　Selifan　succeeded；　though　powerless　to　discern　a　single　object；　in　directing　his　steeds　to　a　country　house　near　by；　and　that　with　such　a　certainty　of　instinct　that　it　was　not　until　the　shafts　had　collided　with　a　garden　wall；　and　thereby　made　it　clear　that　to　proceed　another　pace　was　impossible；　that　he　stopped。　All　that　Chichikov　could　discern　through　the　thick　veil　of　pouring　rain　was　something　which　resembled　a　verandah。　So　he　dispatched　Selifan　to　search　for　the　entrance　gates；　and　that　process　would　have　lasted　indefinitely　had　it　not　been　shortened　by　the　circumstance　that；　in　Russia；　the　place　of　a　Swiss　footman　is　frequently　taken　by　watchdogs；　of　which　animals　a　number　now　proclaimed　the　travellers'　presence　so　loudly　that　Chichikov　found　himself　forced　to　stop　his　ears。　Next；　a　light　gleamed　in　one　of　the　windows；　and　filtered　in　a　thin　stream　to　the　garden　wallthus　revealing　the　whereabouts　of　the　entrance　gates；　whereupon　Selifan　fell　to　knocking　at　the　gates　until　the　bolts　of　the　house　door　were　withdrawn　and　there　issued　therefrom　a　figure　clad　in　a　rough　cloak。

〃Who　is　that　knocking？　What　have　you　come　for？〃　shouted　the　hoarse　voice　of　an　elderly　woman。

〃We　are　travellers；　good　mother；〃　said　Chichikov。　〃Pray　allow　us　to　spend　the　night　here。〃

〃Out　upon　you　for　a　pair　of　gadabouts！〃　retorted　the　old　woman。　〃A　fine　time　of　night　to　be　arriving！　We　don't　keep　an　hotel；　mind　you。　This　is　a　lady's　residence。〃

〃But　what　are　we　to　do；　mother？　We　have　lost　our　way；　and　cannot　spend　the　night　out　of　doors　in　such　weather。〃

〃No；　we　cannot。　The　night　is　dark　and　cold；〃　added　Selifan。

〃Hold　your　tongue；　you　fool！〃　exclaimed　Chichikov。

〃Who　ARE　you；　then？〃　inquired　the　old　woman。

〃A　dvorianin＇2＇；　good　mother。〃

＇2＇　A　member　of　the　gentry　class。

Somehow　the　word　dvorianin　seemed　to　give　the　old　woman　food　for　thought。

〃Wait　a　moment；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　will　tell　the　mistress。〃

Two　minutes　later　she　returned　with　a　lantern　in　her　hand；　the　gates　were　opened；　and　a　light　glimmered　in　a　second　window。　Entering　the　courtyard；　the　britchka　halted　before　a　moderate…sized　mansion。　The　darkness　did　not　permit　of　very　accurate　observation　being　made；　but；　apparently；　the　windows　only　of　one…half　of　the　building　were　illuminated；　while　a　quagmire　in　front　of　the　door　reflected　the　beams　from　the　same。　Meanwhile　the　rain　continued　to　beat　sonorously　down　upon　the　wooden　roof；　and　could　be　heard　trickling　into　a　water　butt；　nor　for　a　single　moment　did　the　dogs　cease　to　bark　with　all　the　strength　of　their　lungs。　One　of　them；　throwing　up　its　head；　kept　venting　a　howl　of　such　energy　and　duration　that　the　animal　seemed　to　be　howling　for　a　handsome　wager；　while　another；　cutting　in　between　the　yelpings　of　the　first　animal；　kept　restlessly　reiterating；　like　a　postman's　bell；　the　notes　of　a　very　young　puppy。　Finally；　an　old　hound　which　appeared　to　be　gifted　with　a　peculiarly　robust　temperament　kept　supplying　the　part　of　contrabasso；　so　that　his　growls　resembled　the　rumbling　of　a　bass　singer　when　a　chorus　is　in　full　cry；　and　the　tenors　are　rising　on　tiptoe　in　their　efforts　to　compass　a　particularly　high　note；　and　the　whole　body　of　choristers　are　wagging　their　heads　before　approaching　a　climax；　and　this　contrabasso　alone　is　tucking　his　bearded　chin　into　his　collar；　and　sinking　almost　to　a　squatting　posture　on　the　floor；　in　order　to　produce　a　note　which　shall　cause　the　windows　to　shiver　and　their　panes　to　crack。　Naturally；　from　a　canine　chorus　of　such　executants　it　might　reasonably　be　inferred　that　the　establishment　was　one　of　the　utmost　respectability。　To　that；　however；　our　damp；　cold　hero　gave　not　a　thought；　for　all　his　mind　was　fixed　upon　bed。　Indeed；　the　britchka　had　hardly　come　to　a　standstill　before　he　leapt　out　upon　the　doorstep；　missed　his　footing；　and　came　within　an　ace　of　falling。　To　meet　him　there　issued　a　female　younger　than　the　first；　but　very　closely　resembling　her；　and　on　his　being　conducted　to　the　parlour；　a　couple　of　glances　showed　him　that　the　room　was　hung　with　old　striped　curtains；　and　ornamented　with　pictures　of　birds　and　small；　antique　mirrorsthe　latter　set　in　dark　frames　which　were　carved　to　resemble　scrolls　of　foliage。　Behind　each　mirror　was　stuck　either　a　letter　or　an　old　pack　of　cards　or　a　stocking；　while　on　the　wall　hung　a　clock　with　a　flowered　dial。　More；　however；　Chichikov　could　not　discern；　for　his　eyelids　were　as　heavy　as　though　smeared　with　treacle。　Presently　the　lady　of　the　house　herself　enteredan　elderly　woman　in　a　sort　of　nightcap　（hastily　put　on）　and　a　flannel　neck　wrap。　She　belonged　to　that　class　of　lady　landowners　who　are　for　ever　lamenting　failures　of　the　harvest　and　their　losses　thereby；　to　the　class　who；　drooping　their　heads　despondently；　are　all　the　while　stuffing　money　into　striped　purses；　which　they　keep　hoarded　in　the　drawers　of　cupboards。　Into　one　purse　they　will　stuff　rouble　pieces；　into　another　half　roubles；　and　into　a　third　tchetvertachki＇3＇；　although　from　their　mien　you　would　suppose　that　the　cupboard　contained　only　linen　and　nightshirts　and　skeins　of　wool　and　the　piece　of　shabby　material　which　is　destinedshould　the　old　gown　become　scorched　during　the　baking　of　holiday　cakes　and　other　dainties；　or　should　it　fall　into　pieces　of　itselfto　become　converted　into　a　new　dress。　But　the　gown　never　does　get　burnt　or　wear　out；　for　the　reason　that　the　lady　is　too　careful；　wherefore　the　piece　of　shabby　material　reposes　in　its　unmade…up　condition　until　the　priest　advises　that　it　be　given　to　the　niece　of　some　widowed　sister；　together　with　a　quantity　of　other　such　rubbish。

＇3＇　Pieces　equal　in　value　to　twenty…five　kopecks　（a　quarter　of　a　　　　　rouble）。

Chichikov　apologised　for　having　disturbed　the　household　with　his　unexpected　arrival。

〃Not　at　all；　not　at　all；〃　replied　the　lady。　〃But　in　what　dreadful　weather　God　has　brought　you　hither！　What　wind　and　what　rain！　You　could　not　help　losing　your　way。　Pray　excuse　us　for　being　unable　to　make　better　preparations　for　you　at　this　time　of　night。〃

Suddenly　there　broke　in　upon　the　hostess'　words　the　sound　of　a　strange　hissing；　a　sound　so　loud　that　the　guest　started　in　alarm；　and　the　more　so　seeing　that　it　increased　until　the　room　seemed　filled　with　adders。　On　glancing　upwards；　however；　he　recovered　his　composure；　for　he　perceived　the　sound　to　be　emanating　from　the　clock；　which　appeared　to　be　in　a　mind　to　strike。　To　the　hissing　sound　there　succeeded　a　wheezing　one；　until；　putting　forth　its　best　efforts；　the　thing　struck　two　with　as　much　clatter　as　though　some　one　had　been　hitting　an　iron　pot　with　a　cudgel。　That　done；　the　pendulum　returned　to　its　right…left；　right…left　oscillation。

Chichikov　thanked　his　hostess　kindly；　and　said　that　he　needed　nothing；　and　she　must　not　put　herself　about：　only　for　rest　was　he　longingthough　also　he　should　like　to　know　whither　he　had　arrived；　and　whether　the　distance　to　the　country　house　of　land…owner　Sobakevitch　was　anything　very　great。　To　this　the　lady　replied　that　she　had　never　so　much　as　heard　the　name；　since　no　gentleman　of　the　name　resided　in　the　locality。

〃But　at　least　you　are　acquainted　with　landowner　Manilov？〃　continued　Chichikov。

〃No。　Who　is　he？〃

〃Another　landed　proprietor；　madam。〃

〃Well；　neither　have　I　heard　of　him。　No　such　landowner　lives　hereabouts。〃

〃Then　who　ARE　your　local　landowners？〃

〃Bobrov；　Svinin；　Kanapatiev；　Khapakin；　Trepakin；　and　Plieshakov。〃

〃Are　they　rich　men？〃

〃No；　none　of　them。　One　of　them　may　own　twenty　souls；　and　another　thirty；　but　of　gentry　who　own　a　hundred　there　are　none。〃

Chichikov　reflected　that　he　had　indeed　fallen　into　an　aristocratic　wilderness！

〃At　all　events；　is　the　town　far　away？〃　he　inquired。

〃About　sixty　versts。　How　sorry　I　am　that　I　have　nothing　for　you　to　eat！　Should　you　care　to　drink　some　tea？〃

〃I　thank　you；　good　mother；　but　I　require　nothing　beyond　a　bed。〃

〃Well；　after　such　a　journey　you　must　indeed　be　needing　rest；　so　you　shall　lie　upon　this　sofa。　Fetinia；　bring　a　quilt　and　some　pillows　and　sheets。　What　weather　God　has　sent　us！　And　what　dreadful　thunder！　Ever　since　sunset　I　have　had　a　candle　burning　before　the　ikon　in　my　bedroom。　My　God！　Why；　your　back　and　sides　are　as　muddy　as　a　boar's！　However　have　you　managed　to　get　into　such　a　state？〃

〃That　I　am　nothing　worse　than　muddy　is　indeed　fortunate；　since；　but　for　the　Almighty；　I　should　have　had　my　ribs　broken。〃

〃Dear；　dear！　To　think　of　all　that　you　must　have　been　through。　Had　I　not　better　wipe　your　back？〃

〃I　thank　you；　I　thank　you；　but　you　need　not　trouble。　Merely　be　so　good　as　to　tell　your　maid　to　dry　my　clothes。〃

〃Do　you　hear　that；　Fetinia？〃　said　the　hostess；　turning　to　a　woman　who　was　engaged　in　dragging　in　a　feather　bed　and　deluging　the　room　with　feathers。　〃Take　this　coat　and　this　vest；　and；　after　drying　them　before　the　firejust　as　we　used　to　do　for　your　late　mastergive　them　a　good　rub；　and　fold　them　up　neatly。〃

〃Very　well；　mistress；〃　said　Fetinia；　spreading　some　sheets　over　the　bed；　and　arranging　the　pillows。

〃Now　your　bed　is　ready　for　you；〃　said　the　hostess　to　Chichikov。　〃Good…night；　dear　sir。　I　wish　you　good…night。　Is　there　anything　else　that　you　require？　Perhaps　you　would　like　to　have　your　heels　tickled　before　retiring　to　rest？　Never　could　my　late　husband　get　to　sleep　without　that　having　been　done。〃

But　the　guest　declined　the　proffered　heel…tickling；　and；　on　his　hostess　taking　her　departure；　hastened　to　divest　himself　of　his　clothing；　both　upper　and　under；　and　to　hand　t