dead souls(死魂灵)-第61部分
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no such conclusions were to be drawn。 The rooms were simple; and even bare。 Not a fresco nor a picture nor a bronze nor a flower nor a china what…not nor a book was there to be seen。 In short; everything appeared to show that the proprietor of this abode spent the greater part of his time; not between four walls; but in the field; and that he thought out his plans; not in sybaritic fashion by the fireside; nor in an easy chair beside the stove; but on the spot where work was actually in progressthat; in a word; where those plans were conceived; there they were put into execution。 Nor in these rooms could Chichikov detect the least trace of a feminine hand; beyond the fact that certain tables and chairs bore drying…boards whereon were arranged some sprinklings of flower petals。
〃What is all this rubbish for?〃 asked Platon。
〃It is not rubbish;〃 replied the lady of the house。 〃On the contrary; it is the best possible remedy for fever。 Last year we cured every one of our sick peasants with it。 Some of the petals I am going to make into an ointment; and some into an infusion。 You may laugh as much as you like at my potting and preserving; yet you yourself will be glad of things of the kind when you set out on your travels。〃
Platon moved to the piano; and began to pick out a note or two。
〃Good Lord; what an ancient instrument!〃 he exclaimed。 〃Are you not ashamed of it; sister?〃
〃Well; the truth is that I get no time to practice my music。 You see;〃 she added to Chichikov; 〃I have an eight…year…old daughter to educate; and to hand her over to a foreign governess in order that I may have leisure for my own piano…playingwell; that is a thing which I could never bring myself to do。〃
〃You have become a wearisome sort of person;〃 commented Platon; and walked away to the window。 〃Ah; here comes Constantine;〃 presently he added。
Chichikov also glanced out of the window; and saw approaching the verandah a brisk; swarthy…complexioned man of about forty; a man clad in a rough cloth jacket and a velveteen cap。 Evidently he was one of those who care little for the niceties of dress。 With him; bareheaded; there came a couple of men of a somewhat lower station in life; and all three were engaged in an animated discussion。 One of the barin's two companions was a plain peasant; and the other (clad in a blue Siberian smock) a travelling factor。 The fact that the party halted awhile by the entrance steps made it possible to overhear a portion of their conversation from within。
〃This is what you peasants had better do;〃 the barin was saying。 〃Purchase your release from your present master。 I will lend you the necessary money; and afterwards you can work for me。〃
〃No; Constantine Thedorovitch;〃 replied the peasant。 〃Why should we do that? Remove us just as we are。 You will know how to arrange it; for a cleverer gentleman than you is nowhere to be found。 The misfortune of us muzhiks is that we cannot protect ourselves properly。 The tavern…keepers sell us such liquor that; before a man knows where he is; a glassful of it has eaten a hole through his stomach; and made him feel as though he could drink a pail of water。 Yes; it knocks a man over before he can look around。 Everywhere temptation lies in wait for the peasant; and he needs to be cunning if he is to get through the world at all。 In fact; things seem to be contrived for nothing but to make us peasants lose our wits; even to the tobacco which they sell us。 What are folk like ourselves to do; Constantine Thedorovitch? I tell you it is terribly difficult for a muzhik to look after himself。〃
〃Listen to me。 This is how things are done here。 When I take on a serf; I fit him out with a cow and a horse。 On the other hand; I demand of him thereafter more than is demanded of a peasant anywhere else。 That is to say; first and foremost I make him work。 Whether a peasant be working for himself or for me; never do I let him waste time。 I myself toil like a bullock; and I force my peasants to do the same; for experience has taught me that that is the only way to get through life。 All the mischief in the world comes through lack of employment。 Now; do you go and consider the matter; and talk it over with your mir'8'。〃
'8' Village commune。
〃We have done that already; Constantine Thedorovitch; and our elders' opinion is: 'There is no need for further talk。 Every peasant belonging to Constantine Thedorovitch is well off; and hasn't to work for nothing。 The priests of his village; too; are men of good heart; whereas ours have been taken away; and there is no one to bury us。'〃
〃Nevertheless; do you go and talk the matter over again。〃
〃We will; barin。〃
Here the factor who had been walking on the barin's other side put in a word。
〃Constantine Thedorovitch;〃 he said; 〃I beg of you to do as I have requested。〃
〃I have told you before;〃 replied the barin; 〃that I do not care to play the huckster。 I am not one of those landowners whom fellows of your sort visit on the very day that the interest on a mortgage is due。 Ah; I know your fraternity thoroughly; and know that you keep lists of all who have mortgages to repay。 But what is there so clever about that? Any man; if you pinch him sufficiently; will surrender you a mortgage at half…price;any man; that is to say; except myself; who care nothing for your money。 Were a loan of mine to remain out three years; I should never demand a kopeck of interest on it。〃
〃Quite so; Constantine Thedorovitch;〃 replied the factor。 〃But I am asking this of you more for the purpose of establishing us on a business footing than because I desire to win your favour。 Prey; therefore; accept this earnest money of three thousand roubles。〃 And the man drew from his breast pocket a dirty roll of bank…notes; which; carelessly receiving; Kostanzhoglo thrust; uncounted; into the back pocket of his overcoat。
〃Hm!〃 thought Chichikov。 〃For all he cares; the notes might have been a handkerchief。〃
When Kostanzhoglo appeared at closer quartersthat is to say; in the doorway of the drawing…roomhe struck Chichikov more than ever with the swarthiness of his complexion; the dishevelment of his black; slightly grizzled locks; the alertness of his eye; and the impression of fiery southern origin which his whole personality diffused。 For he was not wholly a Russian; nor could he himself say precisely who his forefathers had been。 Yet; inasmuch as he accounted genealogical research no part of the science of estate…management; but a mere superfluity; he looked upon himself as; to all intents and purposes; a native of Russia; and the more so since the Russian language was the only tongue he knew。
Platon presented Chichikov; and the pair exchanged greetings。
〃To get rid of my depression; Constantine;〃 continued Platon; 〃I am thinking of accompanying our guest on a tour through a few of the provinces。〃
〃An excellent idea;〃 said Kostanzhoglo。 〃But precisely whither?〃 he added; turning hospitably to Chichikov。
〃To tell you the truth;〃 replied that personage with an affable inclination of the head as he smoothed the arm of his chair with his hand; 〃I am travelling less on my own affairs than on the affairs of others。 That is to say; General Betristchev; an intimate friend; and; I might add; a generous benefactor; of mine; has charged me with commissions to some of his relatives。 Nevertheless; though relatives are relatives; I may say that I am travelling on my own account as well; in that; in addition to possible benefit to my health; I desire to see the world and the whirligig of humanity; which constitute; so to speak; a living book; a second course of education。〃
〃Yes; there is no harm in looking at other corners of the world besides one's own。〃
〃You speak truly。 There IS no harm in such a proceeding。 Thereby one may see things which one has not before encountered; one may meet men with whom one has not before come in contact。 And with some men of that kind a conversation is as precious a benefit as has been conferred upon me by the present occasion。 I come to you; most worthy Constantine Thedorovitch; for instruction; and again for instruction; and beg of you to assuage my thirst with an exposition of the truth as it is。 I hunger for the favour of your words as for manna。〃
〃But how so? What can _I_ teach you?〃 exclaimed Kostanzhoglo in confusion。 〃I myself was given but the plainest of educations。〃
〃Nay; most worthy sir; you possess wisdom; and again wisdom。 Wisdom only can direct the management of a great estate; that can derive a sound income from the same; that can acquire wealth of a real; not a fictitious; order while also fulfilling the duties of a citizen and thereby earning the respect of the Russian public。 All this I pray you to teach me。〃
〃I tell you what;〃 said Kostanzhoglo; looking meditatively at his guest。 〃You had better stay with me for a few days; and during that time I can show you how things are managed here; and explain to you everything。 Then you will see for yourself that no great wisdom is required for the purpose。〃
〃Yes; certainly you must stay here;〃 put in the lady of the house。 Then; turning to her brother; she added: 〃And you too must stay。 Why should you be in such a hurry?〃
〃Very well;〃 he replied。 〃But what say YOU; Paul Ivanovitch?〃
〃I say the same as you; and with much pleasure;〃 replied Chichikov。 〃But also I ought to tell you this: that there is a relative of General Betristchev's; a certain Colonel Koshkarev〃
〃Yes; we know him; but he is quite mad。〃
〃As you say; he is mad; and I should not have been intending to visit him; were it not that General Betristchev is an intimate friend of mine; as well as; I might add; my most generous benefactor。〃
〃Then;〃 said Kostanzhoglo; 〃do you go and see Colonel Koshkarev NOW。 He lives less than ten versts from here; and I have a gig already harnessed。 Go to him at once; and return here for tea。〃
〃An excellent idea!〃 cried Chichikov; and with that he seized his cap。
Half an hour's drive sufficed to bring him to the Colonel's establishment。 The village attached to the manor was in a state of utter confusion; since in every direction building and repairing operations were in progress; and the alleys were choked with heaps of lime; bricks; and beams of wood。 Als