dead souls(死魂灵)-第55章

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！


fell　asleep。

Next　morning　the　guest's　state　of　repletion　had　reached　the　point　of　Platon　being　unable　to　mount　his　horse；　wherefore　the　latter　was　dispatched　homeward　with　one　of　Pietukh's　grooms；　and　the　two　guests　entered　Chichikov's　koliaska。　Even　the　dog　trotted　lazily　in　the　rear；　for　he；　too；　had　over…eaten　himself。

〃It　has　been　rather　too　much　of　a　good　thing；〃　remarked　Chichikov　as　the　vehicle　issued　from　the　courtyard。

〃Yes；　and　it　vexes　me　to　see　the　fellow　never　tire　of　it；〃　replied　Platon。

〃Ah；〃　thought　Chichikov　to　himself；　〃if　_I_　had　an　income　of　seventy　thousand　roubles；　as　you　have；　I'd　very　soon　give　tiredness　one　in　the　eye！　Take　Murazov；　the　tax…farmerhe；　again；　must　be　worth　ten　millions。　What　a　fortune！〃

〃Do　you　mind　where　we　drive？〃　asked　Platon。　〃I　should　like　first　to　go　and　take　leave　of　my　sister　and　my　brother…in…law。〃

〃With　pleasure；〃　said　Chichikov。

〃My　brother…in…law　is　the　leading　landowner　hereabouts。　At　the　present　moment　he　is　drawing　an　income　of　two　hundred　thousand　roubles　from　a　property　which；　eight　years　ago；　was　producing　a　bare　twenty　thousand。〃

〃Truly　a　man　worthy　of　the　utmost　respect！　I　shall　be　most　interested　to　make　his　acquaintance。　To　think　of　it！　And　what　may　his　family　name　be？〃

〃Kostanzhoglo。〃

〃And　his　Christian　name　and　patronymic？〃

〃Constantine　Thedorovitch。〃

〃Constantine　Thedorovitch　Kostanzhoglo。　Yes；　it　will　be　a　most　interesting　event　to　make　his　acquaintance。　To　know　such　a　man　must　be　a　whole　education。〃

Here　Platon　set　himself　to　give　Selifan　some　directions　as　to　the　way；　a　necessary　proceeding　in　view　of　the　fact　that　Selifan　could　hardly　maintain　his　seat　on　the　box。　Twice　Petrushka；　too；　had　fallen　headlong；　and　this　necessitated　being　tied　to　his　perch　with　a　piece　of　rope。　〃What　a　clown！〃　had　been　Chichikov's　only　comment。

〃This　is　where　my　brother…in…law's　land　begins；〃　said　Platon。

〃They　give　one　a　change　of　view。〃

And；　indeed；　from　this　point　the　countryside　became　planted　with　timber；　the　rows　of　trees　running　as　straight　as　pistol…shots；　and　having　beyond　them；　and　on　higher　ground；　a　second　expanse　of　forest；　newly　planted　like　the　first；　while　beyond　it；　again；　loomed　a　third　plantation　of　older　trees。　Next　there　succeeded　a　flat　piece　of　the　same　nature。

〃All　this　timber；〃　said　Platon；　〃has　grown　up　within　eight　or　ten　years　at　the　most；　whereas　on　another　man's　land　it　would　have　taken　twenty　to　attain　the　same　growth。〃

〃And　how　has　your　brother…in…law　effected　this？〃

〃You　must　ask　him　yourself。　He　is　so　excellent　a　husbandman　that　nothing　ever　fails　with　him。　You　see；　he　knows　the　soil；　and　also　knows　what　ought　to　be　planted　beside　what；　and　what　kinds　of　timber　are　the　best　neighbourhood　for　grain。　Again；　everything　on　his　estate　is　made　to　perform　at　least　three　or　four　different　functions。　For　instance；　he　makes　his　timber　not　only　serve　as　timber；　but　also　serve　as　a　provider　of　moisture　and　shade　to　a　given　stretch　of　land；　and　then　as　a　fertiliser　with　its　fallen　leaves。　Consequently；　when　everywhere　else　there　is　drought；　he　still　has　water；　and　when　everywhere　else　there　has　been　a　failure　of　the　harvest；　on　his　lands　it　will　have　proved　a　success。　But　it　is　a　pity　that　I　know　so　little　about　it　all　as　to　be　unable　to　explain　to　you　his　many　expedients。　Folk　call　him　a　wizard；　for　he　produces　so　much。　Nevertheless；　personally　I　find　what　he　does　uninteresting。〃

〃Truly　an　astonishing　fellow！〃　reflected　Chichikov　with　a　glance　at　his　companion。　〃It　is　sad　indeed　to　see　a　man　so　superficial　as　to　be　unable　to　explain　matters　of　this　kind。〃

At　length　the　manor　appeared　in　sightan　establishment　looking　almost　like　a　town；　so　numerous　were　the　huts　where　they　stood　arranged　in　three　tiers；　crowned　with　three　churches；　and　surrounded　with　huge　ricks　and　barns。　〃Yes；〃　thought　Chichikov　to　himself；　〃one　can　see　what　a　jewel　of　a　landowner　lives　here。〃　The　huts　in　question　were　stoutly　built　and　the　intervening　alleys　well　laid…out；　while；　wherever　a　waggon　was　visible；　it　looked　serviceable　and　more　or　less　new。　Also；　the　local　peasants　bore　an　intelligent　look　on　their　faces；　the　cattle　were　of　the　best　possible　breed；　and　even　the　peasants'　pigs　belonged　to　the　porcine　aristocracy。　Clearly　there　dwelt　here　peasants　who；　to　quote　the　song；　were　accustomed　to　〃pick　up　silver　by　the　shovelful。〃　Nor　were　Englishified　gardens　and　parterres　and　other　conceits　in　evidence；　but；　on　the　contrary；　there　ran　an　open　view　from　the　manor　house　to　the　farm　buildings　and　the　workmen's　cots；　so　that；　after　the　old　Russian　fashion；　the　barin　should　be　able　to　keep　an　eye　upon　all　that　was　going　on　around　him。　For　the　same　purpose；　the　mansion　was　topped　with　a　tall　lantern　and　a　superstructurea　device　designed；　not　for　ornament；　nor　for　a　vantage…spot　for　the　contemplation　of　the　view；　but　for　supervision　of　the　labourers　engaged　in　distant　fields。　Lastly；　the　brisk；　active　servants　who　received　the　visitors　on　the　verandah　were　very　different　menials　from　the　drunken　Petrushka；　even　though　they　did　not　wear　swallow…tailed　coats；　but　only　Cossack　tchekmenu＇7＇　of　blue　homespun　cloth。

＇7＇　Long；　belted　Tartar　blouses。

The　lady　of　the　house　also　issued　on　to　the　verandah。　With　her　face　of　the　freshness　of　〃blood　and　milk〃　and　the　brightness　of　God's　daylight；　she　as　nearly　resembled　Platon　as　one　pea　resembles　another；　save　that；　whereas　he　was　languid；　she　was　cheerful　and　full　of　talk。

〃Good　day；　brother！〃　she　cried。　〃How　glad　I　am　to　see　you！　Constantine　is　not　at　home；　but　will　be　back　presently。〃

〃Where　is　he？〃

〃Doing　business　in　the　village　with　a　party　of　factors；〃　replied　the　lady　as　she　conducted　her　guests　to　the　drawing…room。

With　no　little　curiosity　did　Chichikov　gaze　at　the　interior　of　the　mansion　inhabited　by　the　man　who　received　an　annual　income　of　two　hundred　thousand　roubles；　for　he　thought　to　discern　therefrom　the　nature　of　its　proprietor；　even　as　from　a　shell　one　may　deduce　the　species　of　oyster　or　snail　which　has　been　its　tenant；　and　has　left　therein　its　impression。　But　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　yo