dead souls, imperial envoy

Chapter 45 Dead Souls (45)
"Yes, it would be great if you could find something puzzling." After Chichikov finished speaking, he also looked into the legal counsel's eyes triumphantly, like a student who has understood the mystery of the teacher's explanation.

"This case will be found, it will be found! Believe it: the brain will be quicker if you use it. Remember that there will be someone to help you. Complicating things is good for many people: the number of officials needs to be increased, Their salaries will also increase... In a word, as many people as possible should be involved. This does not make some innocent people suffer: they can easily get rid of themselves, need them to answer the questioning of official documents, and need to compensate them Losses... so there was bread to eat... Believe me, the first thing you do when things get tough is to mix up the water. Mix up the water to the point where everybody gets dizzy. Why am I holding my breath? Because I know. As soon as my situation is bad, I involve everyone-the governor, the deputy governor, the police chief, the treasurer, I involve them all. Who is angry, who has grievances with whom, who wants to punish whom, I know all the situations. Let them free themselves. When they free themselves, others will be able to make a fortune. Only in troubled waters can touch It's fish. Everyone is hoping that the water will be muddied." Having said this, the wise jurist looked into Chichikov's eyes proudly, as if a teacher was explaining the more subtle aspects of Russian grammar to his students. same place.

"This man really has great powers." Thinking Chichikov, he said goodbye to the legal adviser with a very happy mood.Relieved, Chichikov quickly jumped into the carriage, sat down on the soft cushions, and asked Selifan to raise the hood (the hood was lowered when he came to the legal adviser, and even the leather curtains were removed. put down), looks like a retired hussar colonel, or Vishne Pokromov—one leg crossed smartly over the other, the new silk round cap slightly askew to one side , the face that has returned to glory under the hat happily greets the person opposite.Xie Lifan obeyed the order and drove the car to the business district.Merchants - both local and foreign - stood at the door of the shop and respectfully took off their hats.Chichikov proudly raised his hat in return.Among the merchants, he was already familiar with many people; although some people were foreigners, they were so impressed by the gentleman's elegant and free manners that they saluted him as if they were acquaintances.The bazaar in Jifuslavli is not over yet.The trade in horses and agricultural products is over, and now comes the sale of clothing for the educated.The merchants came in cars, and it is estimated that they will have to take sleds when they go back. "Come in!" said a merchant in a German coat made in Moscow in front of a woolen shop. With a gentle expression, he politely gave way to the store.Chichikov went into the shop. "Shopkeeper, show me the fabric."

The elegant businessman immediately opened the partition on the counter, stood inside the counter, leaned against the shelf, and faced the customer.After standing up, bareheaded, he saluted again with his hat, then put on his hat, put his hands on the counter, bowed happily and said: "What kind of fabric do you want? Do you like French or domestic products?" ?”

"Native products," said Chichikov, "just take the best ones, that is, the so-called British ones."

"What color do you want?" asked the merchant, still shaking with his hands on the counter.

"Dark ones, olive or orange-colored dark green with florets," Chichikov said.

"I'm sure you'll get the best stuff. Not even Petersburg or Moscow is better than this." The merchant said as he took a horse from above and put it neatly on the counter. Shake it away and get it to the light, "Look, what a color scheme! The most fashionable and elegant thing!"

The cloth is shiny like satin.The merchant had sensed that an old man in baize was standing in front of him, so he didn't take the ten rubles as soon as he started. "Yes, yes," Chichikov said after touching it, "but, shopkeeper, please hurry up and bring out the best ones. The color should be more... more red, and there should be small flowers."

"Well, you want the color that is the most fashionable in Petersburg at the moment. The shop has the highest quality material. But first of all, the price is good, and the quality is certainly good."

"Bring it."

There was no question about the price.A bundle of woolen wool was thrown down from a height.The merchant shook it off with greater skill, seized the other end, shook it like silk, and brought it to Chichikov so that he could not only see it, but even smell it, and only said One sentence: "Look at this cloth! Navarino fireworks color."

Negotiated the price.Immediately, like a magic wand, the iron ruler measured out the material for the coat and trousers of the tuxedo for Chichikov.The businessman made a small cut with scissors, tore open the cloth with a snap, immediately folded it up, wrapped it in paper, and bowed gracefully.Chichikov was about to take out the money when he suddenly felt someone gently put an arm on his waist.A voice came over: "What are you buying here, man?"

"Ah, nice to meet you!" said Chichikov.

"Nice to meet you," said the man with his arm around his waist.This man is Vishne Pokromov. "I was going to walk over and not come in, but I suddenly saw the face of an acquaintance, how can I not enjoy the joy of meeting! Needless to say, this year's woolen cloth is incomparably better. I have never been able to find it before. . . . I'd rather spend thirty rubles, forty rubles... or even fifty rubles, if I have something nice. I think it's better if something is good, or nothing at all. Are you right?"

"Exactly!" said Chichikov. "Why bother if it is not for the sake of getting something nice?"

"Show me the middle-priced baize."

Another voice came from behind. Chichikov felt that the voice was very familiar, and looked back: it was Khlobuyev.It was obvious that he did not buy the woolen cloth for luxury, but that the frock coat he was wearing was very worn out. "Oh, Pavel Ivanovich! I can talk to you at last. I have looked for you several times, but I can't find you."

"Dude, I'm too busy to find time." He looked to the side for a chance to slip away when he saw Murazov approaching. "Afanasy Vasilyevich! Oh, my God!" said Chichikov. "It's a pleasure to meet you!"

Vishnepokromov followed suit: "Afanasy Vasilyevich!"

Khlobuyev also shouted: "Afanasy Vasilyevich!"

Finally, the well-mannered merchant took off his hat, raised his hand as high as he could, stretched his whole body forward, and shouted: "Welcome, Afanasy Vasilyevich!"

The faces of the four people all showed the look of a cheap bone trying to curry favor with a millionaire.The old man bowed back, and then said directly to Khlobuyev: "Forgive me: I saw you entering this shop from a distance, and decided to disturb you. If you are free later, stop by me If so, I want to discuss something with you."

Khlobuyev said: "Yes, Afanasy Vasilyevich."

"It's a fine day, Afanasy Vasilyevich."

"Yes, Afanasy Vasilyevich," said Vishnepokromov ingratiatingly, "it's a rare day."

"Yes, God bless, the weather isn't bad. But the crops need a little rain."

"Yes, it is necessary," said Vishnepokromov, "and it will be nice to hunt with a little rain."

"A little more rain, indeed." Although Chichikov didn't like rain, how exciting it was to agree with the multimillionaire.After saying goodbye to everyone, the old man left. "It's hard to imagine," said Chichikov, "that there are ten million of them. It's unbelievable."

"However, this is not reasonable," Vishnepokromov said. "Capital should not be concentrated in one person. There are articles all over Europe discussing this issue. If you have money, let others Also get a little bit of light, treat guests, hold a dance, and let craftsmen and craftsmen have a piece of bread to eat."

"I just can't understand," said Chichikov, "that a man who claims ten million lives like a country bumpkin! With ten million, he can do anything. He can only make friends with generals and princes."

"Yes," said the merchant, "Afanasy Vasilyevich is indeed a bit rustic, besides his noble character. If he is a merchant, he is no longer an ordinary merchant, but a great merchant. If In my case, I will book a box in the theater. I will definitely not marry my daughter to an ordinary colonel, but a general. What is a colonel? I will hire a senior chef to cook, and I will not use another cook... ..."

"Come on, what is that!" Vishnepokromov said, "With 1000 million, what can't be done? Give me 1000 million and see what I do!"

Chichikov thought: "No, you have 1000 million, what can you do! If I have 1000 million, I can really do something."

Khlobuyev thought: "No, if I can get ten million after all these terrible experiences now! Now I will never be so extravagant: I have personally tasted the value of any kopeck." For 1000 minutes, I asked myself in my heart: "Is it really possible to spend that money more intelligently now?" I waved my hand, and said in my heart: "Damn! I think I will still squander it like I used to. ’ He was anxious to know what Murazov was going to tell him, and he left the shop. "I'm waiting for you, Pyotr Petrovich!" said Murazov, seeing Khlobuyev enter the door. "Come to my cabin, please."

He led Khlobuyev into the hut already familiar to the reader, such a modest hut would not have been found even in the house of a clerk with a salary of seven hundred rubles a year. "I think you are doing better now? After your aunt died, you must have something?"

"How can I tell you, Afanasy Vasilyevich? I only got fifty serfs and thirty thousand rubles in cash, I paid some of my debts, and I still have nothing. The main thing is the method of the will." It's very unfair. Afanasy Vasilyevich, it's a hoax! I'll tell you about it. You'll be surprised to hear what's going on. This Chichikov..."

"Excuse me, Pyotr Petrovich, but before you talk about Chichikov, tell me about yourself. Please tell me: how much money do you need to completely get out of your present predicament?"

"I'm in a difficult situation," said Khlobuyev, "to get out of where I am, to pay off my debts and to lead a most modest life, at least a hundred thousand rubles, maybe a little more,— —in a word, it is beyond my power.”

"Oh, what do you plan to do with the money?"

"Well, then I'll rent a house and teach my children behind closed doors. I can't do anything anymore, I can't do anything."

"Why do you say you can't do anything?"

"Look, what else can I do! I can't be a copyist in an office anymore. You probably forgot that I have a family. I'm 40, my back hurts, and I'm lazy. And they can't give I have a good job. I will tell you frankly: I don't want a job that pays money. Although I am a good-for-nothing, a gambler with nothing, I will never take bribes. I can't be with Klaas Nonosov and Samosvestov are in the same boat."

"Forgive me, but I don't always know how to walk without roads. How to drive a car without land under your feet? How to sail in water without boats? Life is travel. Forgive me, Pyotr Petrovich, those gentlemen you were talking about just now. Well, at least they are still on the road, they are still working hard. Well, suppose they are on the wrong road, which is what happens to mortals, and there is always hope for them to get on the right road. If a person is willing to walk, There is always hope of finding the way. But how can a person walk on the road without leaving? The road will not come to him by itself."

"Believe me, Afanasy Vasilyevich, I think you are quite right, but I want to tell you that I am heartbroken; I don't know what else I can do to anyone. Useful things. I felt like a piece of trash. When I was young, I felt that the key issue was money. If I had hundreds of thousands in my hand, I could do a lot of good for many people: helping poor painters, opening libraries, setting up Welfare facilities, collecting art. I am not blind, I know that in many places, I have more money than those rich people, and their money is always spent in the wrong place. Right now, I think this is just a waste of money, and it is not beneficial. No, Afanasy Vasilyevich, I'm useless, I'll tell you the truth, I'm useless. I can't do the least thing."

"Listen, Pyotr Petrovitch! You want to pray, you go to church often, I know you don't want to miss your morning and evening prayers. You don't want to get up early, but you go to church at four o'clock in the morning. Go, nobody's up yet."

"That's another matter, Afanasy Vasilyevich. I'm trying to save souls, because I believe that it will alleviate at least some of the sins of licentious life, and I believe that prayers will always move you despite my own incompetence." A look at God. Honestly, I pray, without faith, I pray too. I just feel like there is one Lord and everything depends on Him, like the animals we plow the field and can feel who drives it.”

"So you pray to please God to save your soul and it empowers you to wake up early. Believe me, if you believe you are serving God, you will do things with energy unlimited."

"Afanasy Vasilyevich! I tell you again, it's a different matter. This is the first occasion I can find where I can see what I'm doing. I tell you , I want to go to a monastery, no matter how heavy labor and difficult work I am asked to do, I will do it with all my strength. I believe that those who make me do these things will be retribution, this should not be something I consider, in There I will obey, because I am obeying God."

"Why don't you look at worldly things like this? We should also serve God in this world, not for others. If we are also serving for others, it is only because we believe This is God's arrangement to do this, otherwise we would not do it. What are the various talents and abilities of each person? It is just a tool for our prayer: sometimes we pray with words, sometimes with Pray in action. You cannot go to a monastery: you are doomed to the world, and you have a family."

Murazov stopped at this point.Khlobuyev did not follow up. "So, do you think that if you have 20, you will be able to establish yourself and start to live a more frugal life?"

"It can also be said that I can at least do what I can do - educate my children and find good teachers for them."

"Pyotr Petrovich, you won't be in debt again in two years' time?"

Khlobuyev pondered for a while, then said forcefully, "No, after going through this experience..."

"What's the use of experience," said Murazov, "I know you. You are kind and soft-hearted, and when a friend comes to borrow money, you lend it to him; when you see poor people, you want to help them; When a guest comes, you will treat him warmly, will do what you want, forget about frugality. And, please forgive my frankness, your children, you can't educate them. Only a father who has fulfilled his mission will educate his children And what about your wife... She is also soft-hearted... Her education is not at all suitable for raising children. With all due respect, Pyotr Petrovich, I sometimes think that children with you are even Harmless!"

Khlobuyev fell into thought; he examined himself in all aspects, and finally felt that there was some truth in Murazov's words. "What do you think, Pyotr Petrovitch? Leave the children and the household to me; leave your house and your children to me. Your situation puts you in my hands." Medium. You're starving. You can't hesitate now. Do you know Ivan Potapech?"

"I have a lot of respect for him, even though he doesn't dress well."

"Ivan Potapech was once a millionaire, his daughters were married to high officials, and he lived like a king. But in the end he went bankrupt and became a housekeeper. It's not easy to go from good food to poor food. I can't seem to swallow anything. Now Ivan Potapech can eat delicious food again, but he doesn't want to spend so much. He could have reorganized the family business, but he said: 'No, Afanasy Vasilyevich, I am not doing things for myself, for myself, God made me do it. I don’t want to do things according to my wishes. I obey you because I Willing to obey the will of God, and God always speaks through the mouths of good men. You are smarter than me, so it cannot be my responsibility, it is yours.' So said Ivan Potapech. Said Really, he's several times smarter than me."

"Afanasy Vasilyevich! I admit that you have complete control over me. I am your servant. Please order as you please, and I will obey your arrangements. Just don't add more work to me than I can bear. : I am not Potapec. I repeat: I am powerless to do anything good."

"Pyotr Petrovich, it's not that I want to trouble you, because you say you want to serve God. There's a charity. There's a place to build a church. There's not enough money. Donations are needed. Put on common people's clothes . . . you Now a common man, and a bankrupt nobleman a beggar, don't put on airs?—Take a collection book, and ride into town and country in an ordinary carriage. You'll have the archbishop's blessing and a string-bound book collection book, God bless you."

(End of this chapter)