dead souls(死魂灵)-第72部分

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〃Have　no　fear；〃　said　Murazov；　〃I　myself　will　take　them　under　my　care；　as　well　as　procure　for　the　children　a　tutor。　Far　better　and　nobler　were　it　for　you　to　be　travelling　with　a　wallet；　and　asking　alms　on　behalf　of　God；　then　to　be　remaining　here　and　asking　alms　for　yourself　alone。　Likewise；　I　will　furnish　you　with　a　tilt…waggon；　so　that　you　may　be　saved　some　of　the　hardships　of　the　journey；　and　thus　be　preserved　in　good　health。　Also；　I　will　give　you　some　money　for　the　journey；　in　order　that；　as　you　pass　on　your　way；　you　may　give　to　those　who　stand　in　greater　need　than　their　fellows。　Thus；　if；　before　giving；　you　assure　yourself　that　the　recipient　of　the　alms　is　worthy　of　the　same；　you　will　do　much　good；　and　as　you　travel　you　will　become　acquainted　with　all　men　and　sundry；　and　they　will　treat　you；　not　as　a　tchinovnik　to　be　feared；　but　as　one　to　whom；　as　a　petitioner　on　behalf　of　the　Church；　they　may　unloose　their　tongues　without　peril。〃

〃I　feel　that　the　scheme　is　a　splendid　one；　and　would　gladly　bear　my　part　in　it　were　it　not　likely　to　exceed　my　strength。〃

〃What　is　there　that　does　NOT　exceed　your　strength？〃　said　Murazov。　〃Nothing　is　wholly　proportionate　to　iteverything　surpasses　it。　Help　from　above　is　necessary：　otherwise　we　are　all　powerless。　Strength　comes　of　prayer；　and　of　prayer　alone。　When　a　man　crosses　himself；　and　cries；　'Lord；　have　mercy　upon　me！'　he　soon　stems　the　current　and　wins　to　the　shore。　Nor　need　you　take　any　prolonged　thought　concerning　this　matter。　All　that　you　need　do　is　to　accept　it　as　a　commission　sent　of　God。　The　tilt…waggon　can　be　prepared　for　you　immediately；　and　then；　as　soon　as　you　have　been　to　the　Archimandrite　for　your　book　of　accounts　and　his　blessing；　you　will　be　free　to　start　on　your　journey。〃

〃I　submit　myself　to　you；　and　accept　the　commission　as　a　divine　trust。〃

And　even　as　Khlobuev　spoke　he　felt　renewed　vigour　and　confidence　arise　in　his　soul；　and　his　mind　begin　to　awake　to　a　sense　of　hopefulness　of　eventually　being　able　to　put　to　flight　his　troubles。　And　even　as　it　was；　the　world　seemed　to　be　growing　dim　to　his　eyes。　。　。　。

Meanwhile；　plea　after　plea　had　been　presented　to　the　legal　authorities；　and　daily　were　relatives　whom　no　one　had　before　heard　of　putting　in　an　appearance。　Yes；　like　vultures　to　a　corpse　did　these　good　folk　come　flocking　to　the　immense　property　which　Madam　Khanasarov　had　left　behind　her。　Everywhere　were　heard　rumours　against　Chichikov；　rumours　with　regard　to　the　validity　of　the　second　will；　rumours　with　regard　to　will　number　one；　and　rumours　of　larceny　and　concealment　of　funds。　Also；　there　came　to　hand　information　with　regard　both　to　Chichikov's　purchase　of　dead　souls　and　to　his　conniving　at　contraband　goods　during　his　service　in　the　Customs　Department。　In　short；　every　possible　item　of　evidence　was　exhumed；　and　the　whole　of　his　previous　history　investigated。　How　the　authorities　had　come　to　suspect　and　to　ascertain　all　this　God　only　knows；　but　the　fact　remains　that　there　had　fallen　into　the　hands　of　those　authorities　information　concerning　matters　of　which　Chichikov　had　believed　only　himself　and　the　four　walls　to　be　aware。　True；　for　a　time　these　matters　remained　within　the　cognisance　of　none　but　the　functionaries　concerned；　and　failed　to　reach　Chichikov's　ears；　but　at　length　a　letter　from　a　confidential　friend　gave　him　reason　to　think　that　the　fat　was　about　to　fall　into　the　fire。　Said　the　letter　briefly：　〃Dear　sir；　I　beg　to　advise　you　that　possibly　legal　trouble　is　pending；　but　that　you　have　no　cause　for　uneasiness；　seeing　that　everything　will　be　attended　to　by　yours　very　truly。〃　Yet；　in　spite　of　its　tenor；　the　epistle　reassured　its　recipient。　〃What　a　genius　the　fellow　is！〃　thought　Chichikov　to　himself。　Next；　to　complete　his　satisfaction；　his　tailor　arrived　with　the　new　suit　which　he　had　ordered。　Not　without　a　certain　sense　of　pride　did　our　hero　inspect　the　frockcoat　of　smoked　grey　shot　with　flame　colour　and　look　at　it　from　every　point　of　view；　and　then　try　on　the　breechesthe　latter　fitting　him　like　a　picture；　and　quite　concealing　any　deficiencies　in　the　matter　of　his　thighs　and　calves　（though；　when　buckled　behind；　they　left　his　stomach　projecting　like　a　drum）。　True；　the　customer　remarked　that　there　appeared　to　be　a　slight　tightness　under　the　right　armpit；　but　the　smiling　tailor　only　rejoined　that　that　would　cause　the　waist　to　fit　all　the　better。　〃Sir；〃　he　said　triumphantly；　〃you　may　rest　assured　that　the　work　has　been　executed　exactly　as　it　ought　to　have　been　executed。　No　one；　except　in　St。　Petersburg；　could　have　done　it　better。〃　As　a　matter　of　fact；　the　tailor　himself　hailed　from　St。　Petersburg；　but　called　himself　on　his　signboard　〃Foreign　Costumier　from　London　and　Paris〃the　truth　being　that　by　the　use　of　a　double…barrelled　flourish　of　cities　superior　to　mere　〃Karlsruhe〃　and　〃Copenhagen〃　he　designed　to　acquire　business　and　cut　out　his　local　rivals。

Chichikov　graciously　settled　the　man's　account；　and；　as　soon　as　he　had　gone；　paraded　at　leisure；　and　con　amore；　and　after　the　manner　of　an　artist　of　aesthetic　taste；　before　the　mirror。　Somehow　he　seemed　to　look　better　than　ever　in　the　suit；　for　his　cheeks　had　now　taken　on　a　still　more　interesting　air；　and　his　chin　an　added　seductiveness；　while　his　white　collar　lent　tone　to　his　neck；　the　blue　satin　tie　heightened　the　effect　of　the　collar；　the　fashionable　dickey　set　off　the　tie；　the　rich　satin　waistcoat　emphasised　the　dickey；　and　the　smoked…grey…shot…with…flame…colour　frockcoat；　shining　like　silk；　splendidly　rounded　off　the　whole。　When　he　turned　to　the　right　he　looked　well：　when　he　turned　to　the　left　he　looked　even　better。　In　short；　it　was　a　costume　worthy　of　a　Lord　Chamberlain　or　the　species　of　dandy　who　shrinks　from　swearing　in　the　Russian　language；　but　amply　relieves　his　feelings　in　the　language　of　France。　Next；　inclining　his　head　slightly　to　one　side；　our　hero　endeavoured　to　pose　as　though　he　were　addressing　a　middle…aged　lady　of　exquisite　refinement；　and　the　result　of　these　efforts　was　a　picture　which　any　artist　might　have　yearned　to　portray。　Next；　his　delight　led　him　gracefully　to　execute　a　hop　in　ballet　fashion；　so　that　the　wardrobe　trembled　and　a　bottle　of　eau…de…Cologne　came　crashing　to　the　floor。　Yet　even　this　contretemps　did　not　upset　him；　he　merely　called　the　offending　bottle　a　fool；　and　then　debated　whom　first　he　should　visit　in　his　attractive　guise。

Suddenly　there　resounded　through　the　hall　a　clatter　of　spurred　heels；　and　then　the　voice　of　a　gendarme　saying：　〃You　are　commanded　to　present　yourself　before　the　Governor…General！〃　Turning　round；　Chichikov　stared　in　horror　at　the　spectacle　presented；　for　in　the　doorway　there　was　standing　an　apparition　wearing　a　huge　moustache；　a　helmet　surmounted　with　a　horsehair　plume；　a　pair　of　crossed　shoulder…belts；　and　a　gigantic　sword！　A　whole　army　might　have　been　combined　into　a　single　individual！　And　when　Chichikov　opened　his　mouth　to　speak　the　apparition　repeated；　〃You　are　commanded　to　present　yourself　before　the　Governor…General；〃　and　at　the　same　moment　our　hero　caught　sight　both　of　a　second　apparition　outside　the　door　and　of　a　coach　waiting　beneath　the　window。　What　was　to　be　done？　Nothing　whatever　was　possible。　Just　as　he　stoodin　his　smoked…grey…shot…with…flame…colour　suithe　had　then　and　there　to　enter　the　vehicle；　and；　shaking　in　every　limb；　and　with　a　gendarme　seated　by　his　side；　to　start　for　the　residence　of　the　Governor…General。

And　even　in　the　hall　of　that　establishment　no　time　was　given　him　to　pull　himself　together；　for　at　once　an　aide…de…camp　said：　〃Go　inside　immediately；　for　the　Prince　is　awaiting　you。〃　And　as　in　a　dream　did　our　hero　see　a　vestibule　where　couriers　were　being　handed　dispatches；　and　then　a　salon　which　he　crossed　with　the　thought；　〃I　suppose　I　am　not　to　be　allowed　a　trial；　but　shall　be　sent　straight　to　Siberia！〃　And　at　the　thought　his　heart　started　beating　in　a　manner　which　the　most　jealous　of　lovers　could　not　have　rivalled。　At　length　there　opened　a　door；　and　before　him　he　saw　a　study　full　of　portfolios；　ledgers；　and　dispatch…boxes；　with；　standing　behind　them；　the　gravely　menacing　figure　of　the　Prince。

〃There　stands　my　executioner；〃　thought　Chichikov　to　himself。　〃He　is　about　to　tear　me　to　pieces　as　a　wolf　tears　a　lamb。〃

Indeed；　the　Prince's　lips　were　simply　quivering　with　rage。

〃Once　before　did　I　spare　you；〃　he　said；　〃and　allow　you　to　remain　in　the　town　when　you　ought　to　have　been　in　prison：　yet　your　only　return　for　my　clemency　has　been　to　revert　to　a　career　of　fraudand　of　fraud　as　dishonourable　as　ever　a　man　engaged　in。〃

〃To　what　dishonourable　fraud　do　you　refer；　your　Highness？〃　asked　Chichikov；　trembling　from　head　to　foot。

The　Prince　approached；　and　looked　him　straight　in　the　eyes。

〃Let　me　tell　you；〃　he　said；　〃that　the　woman　whom　you　induced　to　witness　a　certain　will　has　been　arrested；　and　that　you　will　be　confronted　with　her。〃

The　world　seemed　suddenly　to　grow　dim　before　Chichikov's　sight。

〃Your　Highness；〃　he　gasped；　〃I　will　tell　you　the　whole　truth；　and　nothing　but　the　truth。　I　am　guiltyyes；　I　am　guilty；　but　I　am　not　so　guilty　as　you　think；　for　I　was　led　away　by　rascals。〃

〃That　any　one　can　have　led　you　away　is　impossible；〃　retorted　the　Prince。　〃Recorded　against　your　name　there　stand　more　felonies　than　even　the　most　hardened　liar　could　have　invented。　I　believe　that　never　in　your　life　have　you　done　a　deed　not　innately　dishonourablethat　not　a　kopeck　have　you　ever　obtained　by　aught　but　shameful　methods　of　trickery　and　theft；　the　penalty　for　which　is　Siberia　and　the　knut。　But　enough　of　this！　From　this　room　you　will　be　conveyed　to　prison；　where；　with　other　rogues　and　thieves；　you　will　be　confined　until　your　trial　may　come　on。　And　this　is　lenient　treatment　on　my　part；　for　you　are　worse；　far　worse；　than　the　felons　who　will　be　your　companions。　THEY　are　but　poor　men　in　smocks　and　sheepskins；　whereas　YOU〃　Without　concluding　his　words；　the　Prince　shot　a　glance　at　Chichikov's　smoked…grey…shot…with…flame…colour　apparel。

Then　he　touched　a　bell。

〃Your　Highness；〃　cried　Chichikov；　〃have　mercy　upon　me！　You　are　the　father　of　a　family！　Spare　me　for　the　sake　of　my　aged　mother！〃

〃Rubbish！〃　exclaimed　the　Prince。　〃Even　as　before　you　besought　me　for　the　sake　of　a　wife　and　children　whom　you　did　not　even　possess；　so　now　you　would　speak　to　m