dead souls(死魂灵)- 第30部分

It　appeared　as　though　Ivan　Antonovitch　had　not　heard；　so　completely　did　he　bury　himself　in　his　papers　and　return　no　reply。　Instantly　it　became　plain　that　HE　at　least　was　of　an　age　of　discretion；　and　not　one　of　your　jejune　chatterboxes　and　harum…scarums；　for；　although　his　hair　was　still　thick　and　black；　he　had　long　ago　passed　his　fortieth　year。　His　whole　face　tended　towards　the　noseit　was　what；　in　common　parlance；　is　known　as　a　〃pitcher…mug。〃

〃Would　you　mind　telling　me；〃　repeated　Chichikov；　〃whether　this　is　the　desk　for　serf　affairs？〃

〃It　is　that；〃　said　Ivan　Antonovitch；　again　lowering　his　jug…shaped　jowl；　and　resuming　his　writing。

〃Then　I　should　like　to　transact　the　following　business。　From　various　landowners　in　this　canton　I　have　purchased　a　number　of　peasants　for　transfer。　Here　is　the　purchase　list；　and　it　needs　but　to　be　registered。〃

〃Have　you　also　the　vendors　here？〃

〃Some　of　them；　and　from　the　rest　I　have　obtained　powers　of　attorney。〃

〃And　have　you　your　statement　of　application？〃

〃Yes。　I　desireindeed；　it　is　necessary　for　me　so　to　doto　hasten　matters　a　little。　Could　the　affair；　therefore；　be　carried　through　to…day？〃

〃To…day？　Oh；　dear　no！〃　said　Ivan　Antonovitch。　〃Before　that　can　be　done　you　must　furnish　me　with　further　proofs　that　no　impediments　exist。〃

〃Then；　to　expedite　matters；　let　me　say　that　Ivan　Grigorievitch；　the　President　of　the　Council；　is　a　very　intimate　friend　of　mine。〃

〃Possibly；〃　said　Ivan　Antonovitch　without　enthusiasm。　〃But　Ivan　Grigorievitch　alone　will　not　doit　is　customary　to　have　others　as　well。〃

〃Yes；　but　the　absence　of　others　will　not　altogether　invalidate　the　transaction。　I　too　have　been　in　the　service；　and　know　how　things　can　be　done。〃

〃You　had　better　go　and　see　Ivan　Grigorievitch；〃　said　Ivan　Antonovitch　more　mildly。　〃Should　he　give　you　an　order　addressed　to　whom　it　may　concern；　we　shall　soon　be　able　to　settle　the　matter。〃

Upon　that　Chichikov　pulled　from　his　pocket　a　paper；　and　laid　it　before　Ivan　Antonovitch。　At　once　the　latter　covered　it　with　a　book。　Chichikov　again　attempted　to　show　it　to　him；　but；　with　a　movement　of　his　head；　Ivan　Antonovitch　signified　that　that　was　unnecessary。

〃A　clerk；〃　he　added；　〃will　now　conduct　you　to　Ivan　Grigorievitch's　room。〃

Upon　that　one　of　the　toilers　in　the　service　of　Themisa　zealot　who　had　offered　her　such　heartfelt　sacrifice　that　his　coat　had　burst　at　the　elbows　and　lacked　a　liningescorted　our　friends　（even　as　Virgil　had　once　escorted　Dante）　to　the　apartment　of　the　Presence。　In　this　sanctum　were　some　massive　armchairs；　a　table　laden　with　two　or　three　fat　books；　and　a　large　looking…glass。　Lastly；　in　（apparently）　sunlike　isolation；　there　was　seated　at　the　table　the　President。　On　arriving　at　the　door　of　the　apartment；　our　modern　Virgil　seemed　to　have　become　so　overwhelmed　with　awe　that；　without　daring　even　to　intrude　a　foot；　he　turned　back；　and；　in　so　doing；　once　more　exhibited　a　back　as　shiny　as　a　mat；　and　having　adhering　to　it；　in　one　spot；　a　chicken's　feather。　As　soon　as　the　two　friends　had　entered　the　hall　of　the　Presence　they　perceived　that　the　President　was　NOT　alone；　but；　on　the　contrary；　had　seated　by　his　side　Sobakevitch；　whose　form　had　hitherto　been　concealed　by　the　intervening　mirror。　The　newcomers'　entry　evoked　sundry　exclamations　and　the　pushing　back　of　a　pair　of　Government　chairs　as　the　voluminous…sleeved　Sobakevitch　rose　into　view　from　behind　the　looking…glass。　Chichikov　the　President　received　with　an　embrace；　and　for　a　while　the　hall　of　the　Presence　resounded　with　osculatory　salutations　as　mutually　the　pair　inquired　after　one　another's　health。　It　seemed　that　both　had　lately　had　a　touch　of　that　pain　under　the　waistband　which　comes　of　a　sedentary　life。　Also；　it　seemed　that　the　President　had　just　been　conversing　with　Sobakevitch　on　the　subject　of　sales　of　souls；　since　he　now　proceeded　to　congratulate　Chichikov　on　the　samea　proceeding　which　rather　embarrassed　our　hero；　seeing　that　Manilov　and　Sobakevitch；　two　of　the　vendors；　and　persons　with　whom　he　had　bargained　in　the　strictest　privacy；　were　now　confronting　one　another　direct。　However；　Chichikov　duly　thanked　the　President；　and　then；　turning　to　Sobakevitch；　inquired　after　HIS　health。

〃Thank　God；　I　have　nothing　to　complain　of；〃　replied　Sobakevitch：　which　was　true　enough；　seeing　that　a　piece　of　iron　would　have　caught　cold　and　taken　to　sneezing　sooner　than　would　that　uncouthly　fashioned　landowner。

〃Ah；　yes；　you　have　always　had　good　health；　have　you　not？〃　put　in　the　President。　〃Your　late　father　was　equally　strong。〃

〃Yes；　he　even　went　out　bear　hunting　alone；〃　replied　Sobakevitch。

〃I　should　think　that　you　too　could　worst　a　bear　if　you　were　to　try　a　tussle　with　him；〃　rejoined　the　President。

〃Oh　no；〃　said　Sobakevitch。　〃My　father　was　a　stronger　man　than　I　am。〃　Then　with　a　sigh　the　speaker　added：　〃But　nowadays　there　are　no　such　men　as　he。　What　is　even　a　life　like　mine　worth？〃

〃Then　you　do　not　have　a　comfortable　time　of　it？〃　exclaimed　the　President。

〃No；　far　from　it；〃　rejoined　Sobakevitch；　shaking　his　head。　〃Judge　for　yourself；　Ivan　Grigorievitch。　I　am　fifty　years　old；　yet　never　in　my　life　had　been　ill；　except　for　an　occasional　carbuncle　or　boil。　That　is　not　a　good　sign。　Sooner　or　later　I　shall　have　to　pay　for　it。〃　And　he　relapsed　into　melancholy。

〃Just　listen　to　the　fellow！〃　was　Chichikov's　and　the　President's　joint　inward　comment。　〃What　on　earth　has　HE　to　complain　of？〃

〃I　have　a　letter　for　you；　Ivan　Grigorievitch；〃　went　on　Chichikov　aloud　as　he　produced　from　his　pocket　Plushkin's　epistle。

〃From　whom？〃　inquired　the　President。　Having　broken　the　seal；　he　exclaimed：　〃Why；　it　is　from　Plushkin！　To　think　that　HE　is　still　alive！　What　a　strange　world　it　is！　He　used　to　be　such　a　nice　fellow；　and　now〃

〃And　now　he　is　a　cur；〃　concluded　Sobakevitch；　〃as　well　as　a　miser　who　starves　his　serfs　to　death。〃

〃Allow　me　a　moment；〃　said　the　President。　Then　he　read　the　letter　through。　When　he　had　finished　he　added：　〃Yes；　I　am　quite　ready　to　act　as　Plushkin's　attorney。　When　do　you　wish　the　purchase　deeds　to　be　registered；　Monsieur　Chichikovnow　or　later？〃

〃Now；　if　you　please；〃　replied　Chichikov。　〃Indeed；　I　beg　that；　if　possible；　the　affair　may　be　concluded　to…day；　since　to…morrow　I　wish　to　leave　the　town。　I　have　brought　with　me　both　the　forms　of　indenture　and　my　statement　of　application。〃

〃Very　well。　Nevertheless　we　cannot　let　you　depart　so　soon。　The　indentures　shall　be　completed　to…day；　but　you　must　continue　your　sojourn　in　our　midst。　I　will　issue　the　necessary　orders　at　once。〃

So　saying；　he　opened　the　door　into　the　general　office；　where　the　clerks　looked　like　a　swarm　of　bees　around　a　honeycomb　（if　I　may　liken　affairs　of　Government　to　such　an　article？）。

〃Is　Ivan　Antonovitch　here？〃　asked　the　President。

〃Yes；〃　replied　a　voice　from　within。

〃Then　send　him　here。〃

Upon　that　the　pitcher…faced　Ivan　Antonovitch　made　his　appearance　in　the　doorway；　and　bowed。

〃Take　these　indentures；　Ivan　Antonovitch；〃　said　the　President；　〃and　see　that　they〃

〃But　first　I　would　ask　you　to　remember；〃　put　in　Sobakevitch；　〃that　witnesses　ought　to　be　in　attendancenot　less　than　two　on　behalf　of　either　party。　Let　us；　therefore；　send　for　the　Public　Prosecutor；　who　has　little　to　do；　and　has　even　that　little　done　for　him　by　his　chief　clerk；　Zolotucha。　The　Inspector　of　the　Medical　Department　is　also　a　man　of　leisure；　and　likely　to　be　at　homeif　he　has　not　gone　out　to　a　card　party。　Others　also　there　areall　men　who　cumber　the　ground　for　nothing。〃

〃Quite　so；　quite　so；〃　agreed　the　President；　and　at　once　dispatched　a　clerk　to　fetch　the　persons　named。

〃Also；〃　requested　Chichikov；　〃I　should　be　glad　if　you　would　send　for　the　accredited　representative　of　a　certain　lady　landowner　with　whom　I　have　done　business。　He　is　the　son　of　a　Father　Cyril；　and　a　clerk　in　your　offices。〃

〃Certainly　we　shall　call　him　here；〃　replied　the　President。　〃Everything　shall　be　done　to　meet　your　convenience；　and　I　forbid　you　to　present　any　of　our　officials　with　a　gratuity。　That　is　a　special　request　on　my　part。　No　friend　of　mine　ever　pays　a　copper。〃

With　that　he　gave　Ivan　Antonovitch　the　necessary　instructions；　and　though　they　scarcely　seemed　to　meet　with　that　functionary's　approval；　upon　the　President　the　purchase　deeds　had　evidently　produced　an　excellent　impression；　more　especially　since　the　moment　when　he　had　perceived　the　sum　total　to　amount　to　nearly　a　hundred　thousand　roubles。　For　a　moment　or　two　he　gazed　into　Chichikov's　eyes　with　an　expression　of　profound　satisfaction。　Then　he　said：

〃Well　done；　Paul　Ivanovitch！　You　have　indeed　made　a　nice　haul！〃

〃That　is　so；〃　replied　Chichikov。

〃Excellent　business！　Yes；　excellent　business！〃

〃I；　too；　conceive　that　I　could　not　well　have　done　better。　The　truth　is　that　never　until　a　man　has　driven　home　the　piles　of　his　life's　structure　upon　a　lasting　bottom；　instead　of　upon　the　wayward　chimeras　of　youth；　will　his　aims　in　life　assume　a　definite　end。〃　And；　that　said；　Chichikov　went　on　to　deliver　himself　of　a　very　telling　indictment　of　Liberalism　and　our　modern　young　men。　Yet　in　his　words　there　seemed　to　lurk　a　certain　lack　of　conviction。　Somehow　he　seemed　secretly　to　be　saying　to　himself；　〃My　good　sir；　you　are　talking　the　most　absolute　rubbish；　and　nothing　but　rubbish。〃　Nor　did　he　even　throw　a　glance　at　Sobakevitch　and　Manilov。　It　was　as　though　he　were　uncertain　what　he　might　not　encounter　in　their　expression。　Yet　he　need　not　have　been　afraid。　Never　once　did　Sobakevitch's　face　move　a　muscle；　and；　as　for　Manilov；　he　was　too　much　under　the　spell　of　Chichikov's　eloquence　to　do　aught　beyond　nod　his　approval　at　intervals；　and　strike　the　kind　of　attitude　which　is　assumed　by　lovers　of　music　when　a　lady　singer　has；　in　rivalry　of　an　accompanying　violin；　produced　a　note　whereof　the　shrillness　would　exceed　even　the　capacity　of　a　bird's　throstle。

〃But　why　not　tell　Ivan　Grigorievitch　precisely　what　you　have　bought？〃　inquired　Sobakevitch　of　Chichikov。　〃And　why；　Ivan　Grigorievitch；　do　YOU　not　ask　Monsieur　Chichikov　precisely　what　his　purchases　have　consisted　of？　What　a　splendid　lot　of　serfs；　to　be　sure！　I　myself　have　sold　him　my　wheelwright；　Michiev。〃

〃What？　You　have　sold　him　Michiev？〃　exclaimed　the　President。　〃I　know　the　man　well。　He　is　a　splendid　craftsman；　and；　on　one　occasi