dead souls(死魂灵)-第19部分

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！


　and　the　barrel…organ　at　cards。〃

〃No；　to　leave　an　issue　to　cards　means　to　submit　oneself　to　the　unknown；〃　said　Chichikov；　covertly　glancing　at　the　pack　which　Nozdrev　had　got　in　his　hands。　Somehow　the　way　in　which　his　companion　had　cut　that　pack　seemed　to　him　suspicious。

〃Why　'to　the　unknown'？〃　asked　Nozdrev。　〃There　is　no　such　thing　as　'the　unknown。'　Should　luck　be　on　your　side；　you　may　win　the　devil　knows　what　a　haul。　Oh；　luck；　luck！〃　he　went　on；　beginning　to　deal；　in　the　hope　of　raising　a　quarrel。　〃Here　is　the　cursed　nine　upon　which；　the　other　night；　I　lost　everything。　All　along　I　knew　that　I　should　lose　my　money。　Said　I　to　myself：　'The　devil　take　you；　you　false；　accursed　card！'〃

Just　as　Nozdrev　uttered　the　words　Porphyri　entered　with　a　fresh　bottle　of　liquor；　but　Chichikov　declined　either　to　play　or　to　drink。

〃Why　do　you　refuse　to　play？〃　asked　Nozdrev。

〃Because　I　feel　indisposed　to　do　so。　Moreover；　I　must　confess　that　I　am　no　great　hand　at　cards。〃

〃WHY　are　you　no　great　hand　at　them？〃

Chichikov　shrugged　his　shoulders。　〃Because　I　am　not；〃　he　replied。

〃You　are　no　great　hand　at　ANYTHING；　I　think。〃

〃What　does　that　matter？　God　has　made　me　so。〃

〃The　truth　is　that　you　are　a　Thetuk；　and　nothing　else。　Once　upon　a　time　I　believed　you　to　be　a　good　fellow；　but　now　I　see　that　you　don't　understand　civility。　One　cannot　speak　to　you　as　one　would　to　an　intimate；　for　there　is　no　frankness　or　sincerity　about　you。　You　are　a　regular　Sobakevitchjust　such　another　as　he。〃

〃For　what　reason　are　you　abusing　me？　Am　I　in　any　way　at　fault　for　declining　to　play　cards？　Sell　me　those　souls　if　you　are　the　man　to　hesitate　over　such　rubbish。〃

〃The　foul　fiend　take　you！　I　was　about　to　have　given　them　to　you　for　nothing；　but　now　you　shan't　have　them　at　allnot　if　you　offer　me　three　kingdoms　in　exchange。　Henceforth　I　will　have　nothing　to　do　with　you；　you　cobbler；　you　dirty　blacksmith！　Porphyri；　go　and　tell　the　ostler　to　give　the　gentleman's　horses　no　oats；　but　only　hay。〃

This　development　Chichikov　had　hardly　expected。

〃And　do　you；〃　added　Nozdrev　to　his　guest；　〃get　out　of　my　sight。〃

Yet　in　spite　of　this；　host　and　guest　took　supper　togethereven　though　on　this　occasion　the　table　was　adorned　with　no　wines　of　fictitious　nomenclature；　but　only　with　a　bottle　which　reared　its　solitary　head　beside　a　jug　of　what　is　usually　known　as　vin　ordinaire。　When　supper　was　over　Nozdrev　said　to　Chichikov　as　he　conducted　him　to　a　side　room　where　a　bed　had　been　made　up：

〃This　is　where　you　are　to　sleep。　I　cannot　very　well　wish　you　good…night。〃

Left　to　himself　on　Nozdrev's　departure；　Chichikov　felt　in　a　most　unenviable　frame　of　mind。　Full　of　inward　vexation；　he　blamed　himself　bitterly　for　having　come　to　see　this　man　and　so　wasted　valuable　time；　but　even　more　did　he　blame　himself　for　having　told　him　of　his　schemefor　having　acted　as　carelessly　as　a　child　or　a　madman。　Of　a　surety　the　scheme　was　not　one　which　ought　to　have　been　confided　to　a　man　like　Nozdrev；　for　he　was　a　worthless　fellow　who　might　lie　about　it；　and　append　additions　to　it；　and　spread　such　stories　as　would　give　rise　to　God　knows　what　scandals。　〃This　is　indeed　bad！〃　Chichikov　said　to　himself。　〃I　have　been　an　absolute　fool。〃　Consequently　he　spent　an　uneasy　nightthis　uneasiness　being　increased　by　the　fact　that　a　number　of　small；　but　vigorous；　insects　so　feasted　upon　him　that　he　could　do　nothing　but　scratch　the　spots　and　exclaim；　〃The　devil　take　you　and　Nozdrev　alike！〃　Only　when　morning　was　approaching　did　he　fall　asleep。　On　rising；　he　made　it　his　first　business　（after　donning　dressing…gown　and　slippers）　to　cross　the　courtyard　to　the　stable；　for　the　purpose　of　ordering　Selifan　to　harness　the　britchka。　Just　as　he　was　returning　from　his　errand　he　encountered　Nozdrev；　clad　in　a　dressing…gown；　and　holding　a　pipe　between　his　teeth。

Host　and　guest　greeted　one　another　in　friendly　fashion；　and　Nozdrev　inquired　how　Chichikov　had　slept。

〃Fairly　well；〃　replied　Chichikov；　but　with　a　touch　of　dryness　in　his　tone。

〃The　same　with　myself；〃　said　Nozdrev。　〃The　truth　is　that　such　a　lot　of　nasty　brutes　kept　crawling　over　me　that　even　to　speak　of　it　gives　me　the　shudders。　Likewise；　as　the　effect　of　last　night's　doings；　a　whole　squadron　of　soldiers　seemed　to　be　camping　on　my　chest；　and　giving　me　a　flogging。　Ugh！　And　whom　also　do　you　think　I　saw　in　a　dream？　You　would　never　guess。　Why；　it　was　Staff…Captain　Potsieluev　and　Lieutenant　Kuvshinnikov！〃

〃Yes；〃　though　Chichikov　to　himself；　〃and　I　wish　that　they　too　would　give　you　a　public　thrashing！〃

〃I　felt　so　ill！〃　went　on　Nozdrev。　〃And　just　after　I　had　fallen　asleep　something　DID　come　and　sting　me。　Probably　it　was　a　party　of　hag　fleas。　Now；　dress　yourself；　and　I　will　be　with　you　presently。　First　of　all　I　must　give　that　scoundrel　of　a　bailiff　a　wigging。〃

Chichikov　departed　to　his　own　room　to　wash　and　dress；　which　process　completed；　he　entered　the　dining…room　to　find　the　table　laid　with　tea…things　and　a　bottle　of　rum。　Clearly　no　broom　had　yet　touched　the　place；　for　there　remained　traces　of　the　previous　night's　dinner　and　supper　in　the　shape　of　crumbs　thrown　over　the　floor　and　tobacco　ash　on　the　tablecloth。　The　host　himself；　when　he　entered；　was　still　clad　in　a　dressing…gown　exposing　a　hairy　chest；　and　as　he　sat　holding　his　pipe　in　his　hand；　and　drinking　tea　from　a　cup；　he　would　have　made　a　model　for　the　sort　of　painter　who　prefers　to　portray　gentlemen　of　the　less　curled　and　scented　order。

〃What　think　you？〃　he　asked　of　Chichikov　after　a　short　silence。　〃Are　you　willing　NOW　to　play　me　for　those　souls？〃

〃I　have　told　you　that　I　never　play　cards。　If　the　souls　are　for　sale；　I　will　buy　them。〃

〃I　decline　to　sell　them。　Such　would　not　be　the　course　proper　between　friends。　But　a　game　of　banker　would　be　quite　another　matter。　Let　us　deal　the　cards。〃

〃I　have　told　you　that　I　decline　to　play。〃

〃And　you　will　not　agree　to　an　exchange？〃

〃No。〃

〃Then　look　here。　Suppose　we　play　a　game　of　chess。　If　you　win；　the　souls　shall　be　yours。　There　are　lot　which　I　should　like　to　see　crossed　off　the　revision　list。　Hi；　Porphyri！　Bring　me　the　chessboard。〃

〃You　are　wasting　your　time。　I　will　play　neither　chess　nor　cards。〃

〃But　chess　is　different　from　playing　with　a　bank。　In　chess　there　can　be　neither　luck　nor　cheating；　for　everything　depends　upon　skill。　In　fact；　I　warn　you　that　I　cannot　possibly　play　with　you　unless　you　allow　me　a　move　or　two　in　advance。〃

〃The　same　with　me；〃　thought　Chichikov。　〃Shall　I；　or　shall　I　not；　play　this　fellow？　I　used　not　to　be　a　bad　chess…player；　and　it　is　a　sport　in　which　he　would　find　it　more　difficult　to　be　up　to　his　tricks。〃

〃Very　well；〃　he　added　aloud。　〃I　WILL　play　you　at　chess。〃

〃And　stake　the　souls　for　a　hundred　roubles？〃　asked　Nozdrev。

〃No。　Why　for　a　hundred？　Would　it　not　be　sufficient　to　stake　them　for　fifty？〃

〃No。　What　would　be　the　use　of　fifty？　Nevertheless；　for　the　hundred　roubles　I　will　throw　in　a　moderately　old　puppy；　or　else　a　gold　seal　and　watch…chain。〃

〃Very　well；〃　assented　Chichikov。

〃Then　how　many　moves　are　you　going　to　allow　me？〃

〃Is　THAT　to　be　part　of　the　bargain？　Why；　none；　of　course。〃

〃At　least　allow　me　two。〃

〃No；　none。　I　myself　am　only　a　poor　player。〃

〃_I_　know　you　and　your　poor　play；〃　said　Nozdrev；　moving　a　chessman。

〃In　fact；　it　is　a　long　time　since　last　I　had　a　chessman　in　my　hand；〃　replied　Chichikov；　also　moving　a　piece。

〃Ah！　_I_　know　you　and　your　poor　play；〃　repeated　Nozdrev；　moving　a　second　chessman。

〃I　say　again　that　it　is　a　long　time　since　last　I　had　a　chessman　in　my　hand。〃　And　Chichikov；　in　his　turn；　moved。

〃Ah！　_I_　know　you　and　your　poor　play；〃　repeated　Nozdrev；　for　the　third　time　as　he　made　a　third　move。　At　the　same　moment　the　cuff　of　one　of　his　sleeves　happened　to　dislodge　another　chessman　from　its　position。

〃Again；　I　say；〃　said　Chichikov；　〃that　'tis　a　long　time　since　lastBut　hi！　look　here！　Put　that　piece　back　in　its　place！〃

〃What　piece？〃

〃This　one。〃　And　almost　as　Chichikov　spoke　he　saw　a　third　chessman　coming　into　view　between　the　queens。　God　only　knows　whence　that　chessman　had　materialised。

〃No；　no！〃　shouted　Chichikov　as　he　rose　from　the　table。　〃It　is　impossible　to　play　with　a　man　like　you。　People　don't　move　three　pieces　at　once。〃

〃How　'three　pieces'？　All　that　I　have　done　is　to　make　a　mistaketo　move　one　of　my　pieces　by　accident。　If　you　like；　I　will　forfeit　it　to　you。〃

〃And　whence　has　the　third　piece　come？〃

〃What　third　piece？〃

〃The　one　now　standing　between　the　queens？〃

〃'Tis　one　of　your　own　pieces。　Surely　you　are　forgetting？〃

〃No；　no；　my　friend。　I　have　counted　every　move；　and　can　remember　each　one。　That　piece　has　only　just　become　added　to　the　board。　Put　it　back　in　its　place；　I　say。〃

〃Its　place？　Which　IS　its　place？〃　But　Nozdrev　had　reddened　a　good　deal。　〃I　perceive　you　to　be　a　strategist　at　the　game。〃

〃No；　no；　good　friend。　YOU　are　the　strategistthough　an　unsuccessful　one；　as　it　happens。〃

〃Then　of　what　are　you　supposing　me　capable？　Of　cheating　you？〃

〃I　am　not　supposing　you　capable　of　anything。　All　that　I　say　is　that　I　will　not　play　with　you　any　more。〃

〃But　you　can't　refuse　to；〃　said　Nozdrev；　growing　heated。　〃You　see；　the　game　has　begun。〃

〃Nevertheless；　I　have　a　right　not　to　continue　it；　seeing　that　you　are　not　playing　as　an　honest　man　should　do。〃

〃You　are　lyingyou　cannot　truthfully　say　that。〃

〃'Tis　you　who　are　lying。〃

〃But　I　have　NOT　cheated。　Consequently　you　cannot　refuse　to　play；　but　must　continue　the　game　to　a　finish。〃

〃You　cannot　force　me　to　play；〃　retorted　Chichikov　coldly　as；　turning　to　the　chessboard；　he　swept　the　pieces　into　confusion。

Nozdrev　approached　Chichikov　with　a　manner　so　threatening　that　the　other　fell　back　a　couple　of　paces。

〃I　WILL　force　you　to　play；〃　said　Nozdrev。　〃It　is　no　use　you　making　a　mess　of　the　chessboard；　for　I　can　remember　every　move。　We　will　replace　the　chessmen　exactly　as　they　were。〃

〃No；　no；　my　friend。　The　game　is　over；　and　I　play　you　no　more。〃

〃You　say　that　you　will　not？〃

〃Yes。　Surely　you　can　see　for　yourself　that　such　a　thing　is　impossible？〃

〃That　cock　won't　fight。　Say　at　once　that　you　refuse　to　play　with　me。〃　And　Nozdrev　approached　a　step　nearer。

〃Very　well；　I　DO　say　that；〃　replied　Chichikov；　and　at　the　same　moment　raised　his　hands　towards　his　face；　for