dead souls(死魂灵)-第70部分

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g　to　effect　a　mortgage；　I　desire　to　put　no　one　to　the　risk　of　having　to　pay　the　two　roubles　on　each　living　soul；　wherefore　I　have　conceived　the　idea　of　relieving　landowners　of　that　distasteful　obligation　by　acquiring　dead　and　absconded　souls　who　have　failed　to　disappear　from　the　revision　list。　This　enables　me　at　once　to　perform　an　act　of　Christian　charity　and　to　remove　from　the　shoulders　of　our　more　impoverished　proprietors　the　burden　of　tax…payment　upon　souls　of　the　kind　specified。　Should　you　yourself　care　to　do　business　with　me；　we　will　draw　up　a　formal　purchase　agreement　as　though　the　souls　in　question　were　still　alive。〃

〃But　it　would　be　such　a　curious　arrangement；〃　muttered　Lienitsin；　moving　his　chair　and　himself　a　little　further　away。　〃It　would　be　an　arrangement　which；　erer〃

〃Would　involve　you　in　no　scandal　whatever；　seeing　that　the　affair　would　be　carried　through　in　secret。　Moreover；　between　friends　who　are　well…disposed　towards　one　another〃

〃Nevertheless〃

Chichikov　adopted　a　firmer　and　more　decided　tone。　〃I　repeat　that　there　would　be　no　scandal；〃　he　said。　〃The　transaction　would　take　place　as　between　good　friends；　and　as　between　friends　of　mature　age；　and　as　between　friends　of　good　status；　and　as　between　friends　who　know　how　to　keep　their　own　counsel。〃　And；　so　saying；　he　looked　his　interlocutor　frankly　and　generously　in　the　eyes。

Nevertheless　Lienitsin's　resourcefulness　and　acumen　in　business　matters　failed　to　relieve　his　mind　of　a　certain　perplexityand　the　less　so　since　he　had　contrived　to　become　caught　in　his　own　net。　Yet；　in　general；　he　possessed　neither　a　love　for　nor　a　talent　for　underhand　dealings；　and；　had　not　fate　and　circumstances　favoured　Chichikov　by　causing　Lienitsin's　wife　to　enter　the　room　at　that　moment；　things　might　have　turned　out　very　differently　from　what　they　did。　Madame　was　a　pale；　thin；　insignificant…looking　young　lady；　but　none　the　less　a　lady　who　wore　her　clothes　a　la　St。　Petersburg；　and　cultivated　the　society　of　persons　who　were　unimpeachably　comme　il　faut。　Behind　her；　borne　in　a　nurse's　arms；　came　the　first　fruits　of　the　love　of　husband　and　wife。　Adopting　his　most　telling　method　of　approach　（the　method　accompanied　with　a　sidelong　inclination　of　the　head　and　a　sort　of　hop）；　Chichikov　hastened　to　greet　the　lady　from　the　metropolis；　and　then　the　baby。　At　first　the　latter　started　to　bellow　disapproval；　but　the　words　〃Agoo；　agoo；　my　pet！〃　added　to　a　little　cracking　of　the　fingers　and　a　sight　of　a　beautiful　seal　on　a　watch　chain；　enabled　Chichikov　to　weedle　the　infant　into　his　arms；　after　which　he　fell　to　swinging　it　up　and　down　until　he　had　contrived　to　raise　a　smile　on　its　facea　circumstance　which　greatly　delighted　the　parents；　and　finally　inclined　the　father　in　his　visitor's　favour。　Suddenly；　howeverwhether　from　pleasure　or　from　some　other　causethe　infant　misbehaved　itself！〃

〃My　God！〃　cried　Madame。　〃He　has　gone　and　spoilt　your　frockcoat！〃

True　enough；　on　glancing　downwards；　Chichikov　saw　that　the　sleeve　of　his　brand…new　garment　had　indeed　suffered　a　hurt。　〃If　I　could　catch　you　alone；　you　little　devil；〃　he　muttered　to　himself；　〃I'd　shoot　you！〃

Host；　hostess　and　nurse　all　ran　for　eau…de…Cologne；　and　from　three　sides　set　themselves　to　rub　the　spot　affected。

〃Never　mind；　never　mind；　it　is　nothing；〃　said　Chichikov　as　he　strove　to　communicate　to　his　features　as　cheerful　an　expression　as　possible。　〃What　does　it　matter　what　a　child　may　spoil　during　the　golden　age　of　its　infancy？〃

To　himself　he　remarked：　〃The　little　brute！　Would　it　could　be　devoured　by　wolves。　It　has　made　only　too　good　a　shot；　the　cussed　young　ragamuffin！〃

How；　after　thisafter　the　guest　had　shown　such　innocent　affection　for　the　little　one；　and　magnanimously　paid　for　his　so　doing　with　a　brand…new　suitcould　the　father　remain　obdurate？　Nevertheless；　to　avoid　setting　a　bad　example　to　the　countryside；　he　and　Chichikov　agreed　to　carry　through　the　transaction　PRIVATELY；　lest；　otherwise；　a　scandal　should　arise。

〃In　return；〃　said　Chichikov；　〃would　you　mind　doing　me　the　following　favour？　I　desire　to　mediate　in　the　matter　of　your　difference　with　the　Brothers　Platonov。　I　believe　that　you　wish　to　acquire　some　additional　land？　Is　not　that　so？〃





Everything　in　life　fulfils　its　function；　and　Chichikov's　tour　in　search　of　a　fortune　was　carried　out　so　successfully　that　not　a　little　money　passed　into　his　pockets。　The　system　employed　was　a　good　one：　he　did　not　steal；　he　merely　used。　And　every　one　of　us　at　times　does　the　same：　one　man　with　regard　to　Government　timber；　and　another　with　regard　to　a　sum　belonging　to　his　employer；　while　a　third　defrauds　his　children　for　the　sake　of　an　actress；　and　a　fourth　robs　his　peasantry　for　the　sake　of　smart　furniture　or　a　carriage。　What　can　one　do　when　one　is　surrounded　on　every　side　with　roguery；　and　everywhere　there　are　insanely　expensive　restaurants；　masked　balls；　and　dances　to　the　music　of　gipsy　bands？　To　abstain　when　every　one　else　is　indulging　in　these　things；　and　fashion　commands；　is　difficult　indeed！

Chichikov　was　for　setting　forth　again；　but　the　roads　had　now　got　into　a　bad　state；　and；　in　addition；　there　was　in　preparation　a　second　fairone　for　the　dvoriane　only。　The　former　fair　had　been　held　for　the　sale　of　horses；　cattle；　cheese；　and　other　peasant　produce；　and　the　buyers　had　been　merely　cattle…jobbers　and　kulaks；　but　this　time　the　function　was　to　be　one　for　the　sale　of　manorial　produce　which　had　been　bought　up　by　wholesale　dealers　at　Nizhni　Novgorod；　and　then　transferred　hither。　To　the　fair；　of　course；　came　those　ravishers　of　the　Russian　purse　who；　in　the　shape　of　Frenchmen　with　pomades　and　Frenchwomen　with　hats；　make　away　with　money　earned　by　blood　and　hard　work；　and；　like　the　locusts　of　Egypt　（to　use　Kostanzhoglo's　term）　not　only　devour　their　prey；　but　also　dig　holes　in　the　ground　and　leave　behind　their　eggs。

Although；　unfortunately；　the　occurrence　of　a　bad　harvest　retained　many　landowners　at　their　country　houses；　the　local　tchinovniks　（whom　the　failure　of　the　harvest　did　NOT　touch）　proceeded　to　let　themselves　goas　also；　to　their　undoing；　did　their　wives。　The　reading　of　books　of　the　type　diffused；　in　these　modern　days；　for　the　inoculation　of　humanity　with　a　craving　for　new　and　superior　amenities　of　life　had　caused　every　one　to　conceive　a　passion　for　experimenting　with　the　latest　luxury；　and　to　meet　this　want　the　French　wine　merchant　opened　a　new　establishment　in　the　shape　of　a　restaurant　as　had　never　before　been　heard　of　in　the　provincea　restaurant　where　supper　could　be　procured　on　credit　as　regarded　one…half；　and　for　an　unprecedentedly　low　sum　as　regarded　the　other。　This　exactly　suited　both　heads　of　boards　and　clerks　who　were　living　in　hope　of　being　able　some　day　to　resume　their　bribes…taking　from　suitors。　There　also　developed　a　tendency　to　compete　in　the　matter　of　horses　and　liveried　flunkeys；　with　the　result　that　despite　the　damp　and　snowy　weather　exceedingly　elegant　turnouts　took　to　parading　backwards　and　forwards。　Whence　these　equipages　had　come　God　only　knows；　but　at　least　they　would　not　have　disgraced　St。　Petersburg。　From　within　them　merchants　and　attorneys　doffed　their　caps　to　ladies；　and　inquired　after　their　health；　and　likewise　it　became　a　rare　sight　to　see　a　bearded　man　in　a　rough　fur　cap；　since　every　one　now　went　about　clean…shaven　and　with　dirty　teeth；　after　the　European　fashion。

〃Sir；　I　beg　of　you　to　inspect　my　goods；〃　said　a　tradesman　as　Chichikov　was　passing　his　establishment。　〃Within　my　doors　you　will　find　a　large　variety　of　clothing。〃

〃Have　you　a　cloth　of　bilberry…coloured　check？〃　inquired　the　person　addressed。

〃I　have　cloths　of　the　finest　kind；〃　replied　the　tradesman；　raising　his　cap　with　one　hand；　and　pointing　to　his　shop　with　the　other。　Chichikov　entered；　and　in　a　trice　the　proprietor　had　dived　beneath　the　counter；　and　appeared　on　the　other　side　of　it；　with　his　back　to　his　wares　and　his　face　towards　the　customer。　Leaning　forward　on　the　tips　of　his　fingers；　and　indicating　his　merchandise　with　just　the　suspicion　of　a　nod；　he　requested　the　gentleman　to　specify　exactly　the　species　of　cloth　which　he　required。

〃A　cloth　with　an　olive…coloured　or　a　bottle…tinted　spot　in　its　patternanything　in　the　nature　of　bilberry；〃　explained　Chichikov。

〃That　being　so；　sir；　I　may　say　that　I　am　about　to　show　you　clothes　of　a　quality　which　even　our　illustrious　capitals　could　not　surpass。　Hi；　boy！　Reach　down　that　roll　up　therenumber　34。　No；　NOT　that　one；　fool！　Such　fellows　as　you　are　always　too　good　for　your　job。　Therehand　it　to　me。　This　is　indeed　a　nice　pattern！〃

Unfolding　the　garment；　the　tradesman　thrust　it　close　to　Chichikov's　nose　in　order　that　he　might　not　only　handle；　but　also　smell　it。

〃Excellent；　but　not　what　I　want；〃　pronounced　Chichikov。　〃Formerly　I　was　in　the　Custom's　Department；　and　therefore　wear　none　but　cloth　of　the　latest　make。　What　I　want　is　of　a　ruddier　pattern　than　thisnot　exactly　a　bottle…tinted　pattern；　but　something　approaching　bilberry。〃

〃I　understand；　sir。　Of　course　you　require　only　the　very　newest　thing。　A　cloth　of　that　kind　I　DO　possess；　sir；　and　though　excessive　in　price；　it　is　of　a　quality　to　match。〃

Carrying　the　roll　of　stuff　to　the　lighteven　stepping　into　the　street　for　the　purposethe　shopman　unfolded　his　prize　with　the　words；　〃A　truly　beautiful　shade！　A　cloth　of　smoked　grey；　shot　with　flame　colour！〃

The　material　met　with　the　customer's　approval；　a　price　was　agreed　upon；　and　with　incredible　celerity　the　vendor　made　up　the　purchase　into　a　brown…paper　parcel；　and　stowed　it　away　in　Chichikov's　koliaska。

At　this　moment　a　voice　asked　to　be　shown　a　black　frockcoat。

〃The　devil　take　me　if　it　isn't　Khlobuev！〃　muttered　our　hero；　turning　his　back　upon　the　newcomer。　Unfortunately　the　other　had　seen　him。

〃Come；　come；　Paul　Ivanovitch！〃　he　expostulated。　〃Surely　you　do　not　intend　to　overlook　me？　I　have　been　searching　for　you　everywhere；　for　I　have　something　important　to　say　to　you。〃

〃My　dear　sir；　my　very　dear　sir；〃　said　Chichikov　as　he　pressed　Khlobuev's　hand；　〃I　can　assure　you　that；　had　I　the　necessary　leisure；　I　should　at　all　times　be　charmed　to　converse　with　you。〃　And　mentally　he　added：　〃Would　that　the　Evil　One　would　fly　away　with　you！〃

Almost　at　the　same　time　Murazov；　the　great　landowner；　entered　the　shop。　As　he　did　so　our