dead souls(死魂灵)-第31部分

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〃What？　You　have　sold　him　Michiev？〃　exclaimed　the　President。　〃I　know　the　man　well。　He　is　a　splendid　craftsman；　and；　on　one　occasion；　made　me　a　drozhki＇4＇。　Only；　onlywell；　lately　didn't　you　tell　me　that　he　is　dead？〃

＇4＇　A　sort　of　low；　four…wheeled　carriage。

〃That　Michiev　is　dead？〃　re…echoed　Sobakevitch；　coming　perilously　near　to　laughing。　〃Oh　dear　no！　That　was　his　brother。　Michiev　himself　is　very　much　alive；　and　in　even　better　health　than　he　used　to　be。　Any　day　he　could　knock　you　up　a　britchka　such　as　you　could　not　procure　even　in　Moscow。　However；　he　is　now　bound　to　work　for　only　one　master。〃

〃Indeed　a　splendid　craftsman！〃　repeated　the　President。　〃My　only　wonder　is　that　you　can　have　brought　yourself　to　part　with　him。〃

〃Then　think　you　that　Michiev　is　the　ONLY　serf　with　whom　I　have　parted？　Nay；　for　I　have　parted　also　with　Probka　Stepan；　my　carpenter；　with　Milushkin；　my　bricklayer；　and　with　Teliatnikov；　my　bootmaker。　Yes；　the　whole　lot　I　have　sold。〃

And　to　the　President's　inquiry　why　he　had　so　acted；　seeing　that　the　serfs　named　were　all　skilled　workers　and　indispensable　to　a　household；　Sobakevitch　replied　that　a　mere　whim　had　led　him　to　do　so；　and　thus　the　sale　had　owed　its　origin　to　a　piece　of　folly。　Then　he　hung　his　head　as　though　already　repenting　of　his　rash　act；　and　added：

〃Although　a　man　of　grey　hairs；　I　have　not　yet　learned　wisdom。〃

〃But；〃　inquired　the　President　further；　〃how　comes　it　about；　Paul　Ivanovitch；　that　you　have　purchased　peasants　apart　from　land？　Is　it　for　transferment　elsewhere　that　you　need　them？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Very　well；　then。　That　is　quite　another　matter。　To　what　province　of　the　country？〃

〃To　the　province　of　Kherson。〃

〃Indeed？　That　region　contains　some　splendid　land；〃　said　the　President；　whereupon　he　proceeded　to　expatiate　on　the　fertility　of　the　Kherson　pastures。

〃And　have　you　MUCH　land　there？〃　he　continued。

〃Yes；　quite　sufficient　to　accommodate　the　serfs　whom　I　have　purchased。〃

〃And　is　there　a　river　on　the　estate　or　a　lake？〃

〃Both。〃

After　this　reply　Chichikov　involuntarily　threw　a　glance　at　Sobakevitch；　and　though　that　landowner's　face　was　as　motionless　as　every；　the　other　seemed　to　detect　in　it：　〃You　liar！　Don't　tell　ME　that　you　own　both　a　river　and　a　lake；　as　well　as　the　land　which　you　say　you　do。〃

Whilst　the　foregoing　conversation　had　been　in　progress；　various　witnesses　had　been　arriving　on　the　scene。　They　consisted　of　the　constantly　blinking　Public　Prosecutor；　the　Inspector　of　the　Medical　Department；　and　othersall；　to　quote　Sobakevitch；　〃men　who　cumbered　the　ground　for　nothing。〃　With　some　of　them；　however；　Chichikov　was　altogether　unacquainted；　since　certain　substitutes　and　supernumeraries　had　to　be　pressed　into　the　service　from　among　the　ranks　of　the　subordinate　staff。　There　also　arrived；　in　answer　to　the　summons；　not　only　the　son　of　Father　Cyril　before　mentioned；　but　also　Father　Cyril　himself。　Each　such　witness　appended　to　his　signature　a　full　list　of　his　dignities　and　qualifications：　one　man　in　printed　characters；　another　in　a　flowing　hand；　a　third　in　topsy…turvy　characters　of　a　kind　never　before　seen　in　the　Russian　alphabet；　and　so　forth。　Meanwhile　our　friend　Ivan　Antonovitch　comported　himself　with　not　a　little　address；　and　after　the　indentures　had　been　signed；　docketed；　and　registered；　Chichikov　found　himself　called　upon　to　pay　only　the　merest　trifle　in　the　way　of　Government　percentage　and　fees　for　publishing　the　transaction　in　the　Official　Gazette。　The　reason　of　this　was　that　the　President　had　given　orders　that　only　half　the　usual　charges　were　to　be　exacted　from　the　present　purchaserthe　remaining　half　being　somehow　debited　to　the　account　of　another　applicant　for　serf　registration。

〃And　now；〃　said　Ivan　Grigorievitch　when　all　was　completed；　〃we　need　only　to　wet　the　bargain。〃

〃For　that　too　I　am　ready；〃　said　Chichikov。　〃Do　you　but　name　the　hour。　If；　in　return　for　your　most　agreeable　company；　I　were　not　to　set　a　few　champagne　corks　flying；　I　should　be　indeed　in　default。〃

〃But　we　are　not　going　to　let　you　charge　yourself　with　anything　whatsoever。　WE　must　provide　the　champagne；　for　you　are　our　guest；　and　it　is　for　usit　is　our　duty；　it　is　our　bounden　obligationto　entertain　you。　Look　here；　gentlemen。　Let　us　adjourn　to　the　house　of　the　Chief　of　Police。　He　is　the　magician　who　needs　but　to　wink　when　passing　a　fishmonger's　or　a　wine　merchant's。　Not　only　shall　we　fare　well　at　his　place；　but　also　we　shall　get　a　game　of　whist。〃

To　this　proposal　no　one　had　any　objection　to　offer；　for　the　mere　mention　of　the　fish　shop　aroused　the　witnesses'　appetite。　Consequently；　the　ceremony　being　over；　there　was　a　general　reaching　for　hats　and　caps。　As　the　party　were　passing　through　the　general　office；　Ivan　Antonovitch　whispered　in　Chichikov's　ear；　with　a　courteous　inclination　of　his　jug…shaped　physiognomy：

〃You　have　given　a　hundred　thousand　roubles　for　the　serfs；　but　have　paid　ME　only　a　trifle　for　my　trouble。〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Chichikov　with　a　similar　whisper；　〃but　what　sort　of　serfs　do　you　suppose　them　to　be？　They　are　a　poor；　useless　lot；　and　not　worth　even　half　the　purchase　money。〃

This　gave　Ivan　Antonovitch　to　understand　that　the　visitor　was　a　man　of　strong　charactera　man　from　whom　nothing　more　was　to　be　expected。

〃Why　have　you　gone　and　purchased　souls　from　Plushkin？〃　whispered　Sobakevitch　in　Chichikov's　other　ear。

〃Why　did　YOU　go　and　add　the　woman　Vorobei　to　your　list？〃　retorted　Chichikov。

〃Vorobei？　Who　is　Vorobei？〃

〃The　woman　'Elizabet'　Vorobei'Elizabet；'　not　'Elizabeta？'〃

〃I　added　no　such　name；〃　replied　Sobakevitch；　and　straightway　joined　the　other　guests。

At　length　the　party　arrived　at　the　residence　of　the　Chief　of　Police。　The　latter　proved　indeed　a　man　of　spells；　for　no　sooner　had　he　learnt　what　was　afoot　than　he　summoned　a　brisk　young　constable；　whispered　in　his　ear；　adding　laconically；　〃You　understand；　do　you　not？〃　and　brought　it　about　that；　during　the　time　that　the　guests　were　cutting　for　partners　at　whist　in　an　adjoining　room；　the　dining…table　became　laden　with　sturgeon；　caviare；　salmon；　herrings；　cheese；　smoked　tongue；　fresh　roe；　and　a　potted　variety　of　the　sameall　procured　from　the　local　fish　market；　and　reinforced　with　additions　from　the　host's　own　kitchen。　The　fact　was　that　the　worthy　Chief　of　Police　filled　the　office　of　a　sort　of　father　and　general　benefactor　to　the　town；　and　that　he　moved　among　the　citizens　as　though　they　constituted　part　and　parcel　of　his　own　family；　and　watched　over　their　shops　and　markets　as　though　those　establishments　were　merely　his　own　private　larder。　Indeed；　it　would　be　difficult　to　sayso　thoroughly　did　he　perform　his　duties　in　this　respectwhether　the　post　most　fitted　him；　or　he　the　post。　Matters　were　also　so　arranged　that　though　his　income　more　than　doubled　that　of　his　predecessors；　he　had　never　lost　the　affection　of　his　fellow　townsmen。　In　particular　did　the　tradesmen　love　him；　since　he　was　never　above　standing　godfather　to　their　children　or　dining　at　their　tables。　True；　he　had　differences　of　opinion　with　them；　and　serious　differences　at　that；　but　always　these　were　skilfully　adjusted　by　his　slapping　the　offended　ones　jovially　on　the　shoulder；　drinking　a　glass　of　tea　with　them；　promising　to　call　at　their　houses　and　play　a　game　of　chess；　asking　after　their　belongings；　and；　should　he　learn　that　a　child　of　theirs　was　ill；　prescribing　the　proper　medicine。　In　short；　he　bore　the　reputation　of　being　a　very　good　fellow。

On　perceiving　the　feast　to　be　ready；　the　host　proposed　that　his　guests　should　finish　their　whist　after　luncheon；　whereupon　all　proceeded　to　the　room　whence　for　some　time　past　an　agreeable　odour　had　been　tickling　the　nostrils　of　those　present；　and　towards　the　door　of　which　Sobakevitch　in　particular　had　been　glancing　since　the　moment　when　he　had　caught　sight　of　a　huge　sturgeon　reposing　on　the　sideboard。　After　a　glassful　of　warm；　olive…coloured　vodka　apiecevodka　of　the　tint　to　be　seen　only　in　the　species　of　Siberian　stone　whereof　seals　are　cutthe　company　applied　themselves　to　knife…and…fork　work；　and；　in　so　doing；　evinced　their　several　characteristics　and　tastes。　For　instance；　Sobakevitch；　disdaining　lesser　trifles；　tackled　the　large　sturgeon；　and；　during　the　time　that　his　fellow　guests　were　eating　minor　comestibles；　and　drinking　and　talking；　contrived　to　consume　more　than　a　quarter　of　the　whole　fish；　so　that；　on　the　host　remembering　the　creature；　and；　with　fork　in　hand；　leading　the　way　in　its　direction　and　saying；　〃What；　gentlemen；　think　you　of　this　striking　product　of　nature？〃　there　ensued　the　discovery　that　of　the　said　product　of　nature　there　remained　little　beyond　the　tail；　while　Sobakevitch；　with　an　air　as　though　at　least　HE　had　not　eaten　it；　was　engaged　in　plunging　his　fork　into　a　much　more　diminutive　piece　of　fish　which　happened　to　be　resting　on　an　adjacent　platter。　After　his　divorce　from　the　sturgeon；　Sobakevitch　ate　and　drank　no　more；　but　sat　frowning　and　blinking　in　an　armchair。

Apparently　the　host　was　not　a　man　who　believed　in　sparing　the　wine；　for　the　toasts　drunk　were　innumerable。　The　first　toast　（as　the　reader　may　guess）　was　quaffed　to　the　health　of　the　new　landowner　of　Kherson；　the　second　to　the　prosperity　of　his　peasants　and　their　safe　transferment；　and　the　third　to　the　beauty　of　his　future　wifea　compliment　which　brought　to　our　hero's　lips　a　flickering　smile。　Lastly；　he　received　from　the　company　a　pressing；　as　well　as　an　unanimous；　invitation　to　extend　his　stay　in　town　for　at　least　another　fortnight；　and；　in　the　meanwhile；　to　allow　a　wife　to　be　found　for　him。

〃Quite　so；〃　agreed　the　President。　〃Fight　us　tooth　and　nail　though　you　may；　we　intend　to　have　you　married。　You　have　happened　upon　us　by　chance；　and　you　shall　have　no　reason　to　repent　of　it。　We　are　in　earnest　on　this　subject。〃

〃But　why　should　I　fight　you　tooth　and　nail？〃　said　Chichikov；　smiling。　〃Marriage　would　not　come　amiss　to　me；　were　I　but　provided　with　a　betrothed。〃

〃Then　a　betrothed　you　shall　have。　Why　not？　We　will　do　as　you　wish。〃

〃Very　well；〃　assented　Chichikov。

〃Bravo；　bravo！〃　the　company　shouted。　〃Long　live　Paul　Ivanovitch！　Hurrah！　Hurrah！〃　And　with　that　every　one　approached　to　clink　glasses　with　him；　and　he　readily　accepted　the　compliment；　and　accepted　it　many　times　in　succession。　Indeed；　as　the　hours　passed　on；　the