dead souls, imperial envoy

Chapter 47 Dead Souls (47)
He couldn't finish speaking, and the pain in his heart made him cry again, fell down on the chair, tore off the torn skirt of the tuxedo hanging in front of him, threw it aside, and grabbed his hair with both hands. Pulling fiercely (how he tried to protect his hair before), the more pain the better, trying to use this kind of pain to forget the uncontrollable pain in his heart. "Well, Pavel Ivanovich, Pavel Ivanovitch!" said Murazov, looking at him sadly, shaking his head, "I always wonder if you would use the same force Do a kind labor with patience and follow a beautiful goal, what a great person you will be! If those who love to do good can work as hard as you for money...for good deeds can earn as much as you It would be great if money paid for my self-esteem and vanity so much, and didn't pity myself so much!"

"Afanasy Vasilyevich!" said poor Chichikov, clasping both of his hands, "if only I could be released and all my property returned to me! I swear to you, I must be a good person again! Save me, benefactor, save me!"

"What can I do? I shall be compelled to fight the law. Even if I would do it, the duke has a heart of steel, and he will never soften his heart."

"Benefactor! You can do anything. I am not afraid of the law,--I can find my way before the law; I am afraid of being thrown into prison innocently, where I will die like a dog, and my Possessions, documents, little mahogany boxes... help me!"

He leaned over and hugged the old man's feet, tears streaming down his feet. "Oh, Pavel Ivanovich, Pavel Ivanovitch!" said old Murazov, shaking his head, "you are so fascinated by these possessions! The voice of the soul is no longer heard."

"Soul, I also want to think; but you have to save me first!"

"Pavel Ivanovitch! . . . " said the old man Murazov, after a pause, "I can't help you, you can see that for yourself. But I'll do my best, Try to improve your situation and get you released. I don't know if it will be possible, but I will try to do it. If I get away with it, Pavel Ivanovich, I ask you to give me a promise like this: Throw away the idea of ​​being rich. I tell you the truth, if I had thrown away all my fortune--my fortune is greater than yours, I would not have cried. Indeed, fortune is not the most important thing. , that property can be confiscated; that which cannot be stolen or taken away is the most important thing! You have weathered the storm. You say yourself that your life is a boat in a raging sea. Your evening is secured. You should find a quiet corner next to the church and the simple and good people; if you really want to leave an posterity, marry a good girl from a poor family, such a girl I am used to living a frugal life. Forget this noisy world and the life of false prosperity! Let this noisy world forget you too. There can be no silence in this noisy world. You have seen it: everywhere in this world Intrigue, intrigue."

Chichikov was lost in thought.A feeling that was unfamiliar to him and that he didn't understand welled up in his heart.There was an emotion that seemed to want to wake up in his heart.This kind of emotion comes from being severely reprimanded since childhood, the indifferent and lonely childhood, the bleak scene at home, the sadness of being dependent on others, the ignorance in growing up, and the god of destiny who peeped at him boringly through the dim window covered with snow. Yan Zheng narrowed his gaze. "Please save me, Afanasy Vasilyevich!" he cried. "I assure you! I will take your advice and change my mind!"

"Remember, Pavel Ivanovich, don't break your word," said Murazov, shaking his hand. "If I hadn't gone through such a terrible experience, I might have broken my promise," sighed poor Chichikov, and then added, "but the lesson is too heavy; too hard, too hard, this time, oh Fanasy Vasilyevich!"

"Heavier. Thank God and pray. I will intercede for you," said the old man, and went out.

Chichikov had stopped weeping and pulling at his tailcoat and hair: he had calmed down.He said at last: "No, that's enough! Gotta live another life. Time to be a decent man. Well, if I can just get out, even if it's not much money, I'll go away... But those deeds What?..." He thought to himself: "What? How can I let the lonely business be abandoned halfway? I just don't buy it anymore, but these should be mortgaged. It's hard to come by! I mortgaged it and exchanged it. I want to be a landowner, because I can do many good things at that time.” The feeling he had when he was a guest at Costanjoglo’s house came back to his heart, the host’s kindness under the warm candlelight And wise talk about how to manage the estate rang in his ears.He suddenly felt that the countryside was beautiful, as if he really could appreciate all kinds of beauties in the countryside. "How foolish we are wasting time!" he said at last. "Really, no more wandering about! Everything is in sight, everything is in hand, and we seek the sky. Even toil in the remote country Life? Because the fun is indeed in labor. There is nothing sweeter than the fruit of one's own hard work... No, I want to work, live in the country, and work hard so that I can have some good influence on others. What? , I really can't do anything? I have the ability to manage. I am thrifty, shrewd, intelligent, and even confident. As long as I put my mind to it, I think I can do it. Now I really feel an obligation to be a A man who lives in the world should not leave his place and corner what must be done."

He began to yearn to leave this noisy city, to leave the gadgets invented by people who forgot about work and boredom, and live a life of work. When he thought of this, he almost forgot the unpleasantness of his environment. He let him go, and returned even a small portion of his fortune, and he would probably thank God for having taught him this painful lesson.But... the door of his dank hut opened, and in came an official.He is Samos Vestov.A hedonist, brave, loyal, loves to drink, in the words of his colleagues, and has a lot of eyes.In time of war, this man is capable of performing miracles: send him through some impassable danger to get right under the enemy's nose to steal a cannon--that's a man at his best.He might be an honest man if there was a place for it; but because there is no place for it, he begins to behave.Simply incomprehensible!He is good to his colleagues, never betrays anyone, and keeps his promises; but he regards his boss as an enemy's fortress, and he has to go through various weak links, gaps, and neglected areas...

"Your situation, we all know and hear about it!" he said, seeing the door shut tightly. "Never mind, never mind! Don't worry: anything can be remedied. We will all help you, and we are all your servants." .[-] rubles for everyone—you don't need any more."

"Really?" cried Chichikov, "I shall be acquitted and set free."

"Exactly! You can also get compensation for the damage."

"Is there any reward?..."

"Thirty thousand. It's all in there—just right for our men, the governor's men, and the secretary."

"But what should I do? All my stuff...the little mahogany box...everything has been seized now..."

"You'll have it all in an hour. High fives?"

Chichikov held out his palm.His heart was beating again, and he couldn't believe it was real...

"See you later! Our mutual friends let me tell you: the key is composure and coolness."

Chichikov thought: "Well! I know, the legal counsel!"

Samos Vestov is gone.Chichikov himself still could not believe this: within an hour of this conversation, the little mahogany box arrived: documents, money—all intact.It turned out that Samosvistov, pretending to be in charge, went to scold the guards for not being vigilant enough, and asked for more guards. The papers were all packed together, wrapped in a package, sealed, and Chichikov's quilt for the night, and a sentinel was sent to Chichikov quickly.Chichikov received not only the papers, but also the quilt necessary to cover his frail body.The things were delivered so fast, which made him indescribably happy.He was inspired.The evening show, the dancer he loved, some tantalizing scenes appeared before his eyes again.The ordinary life in the country suddenly faded away, and the bustling scene in the city became brilliant again... Ah, this is life!
At this time, the courts at all levels began a large-scale work.The pen of the scribe kept moving, and the far-sighted mind worked hard while sniffing snuff, admiring the flying letters like some painters.The Counsel was secretly running the machine like an invisible magician; bewildering everyone before they figured it out.Samos Vestov's performance was unprecedentedly brave and daring.After he found out that the captured woman was being held in that place, he went straight to it. After he staggered in, the guard immediately stood up straight and saluted him.

"Have you been standing here for a long time?"

"Standing here since the wee hours, sir."

"Would you have to wait a long time before being laid off?"

"There are still three hours, sir."

"I have something for you to do. I asked the captain to get someone to replace you."

"Yes, sir!"

So Samosvistov went home, and in order not to involve more people and show his feet, he immediately disguised himself as a gendarme and glued on his whiskers-even the gods would not recognize him.He went to Chichikov's house and grabbed a woman and handed it to two "capable officials". Then he walked towards the guards with a beard and a gun: "Go, the captain sent me to finish the shift for you." Post." After letting the guard down, he took his gun and stood up on guard.This is exactly what is needed.At this time, the original woman was replaced by another woman who didn't know anything and didn't understand anything.The original woman was hidden, so secretly that no one knew where she was hiding afterwards.While Samos Vistov disguised himself as a soldier and showed his skills, the legal counsel also performed miracles with tricks.From the side, he let the governor know that the prosecutor general is writing a report against the governor; he let the gendarmerie captain know that a secret official is writing his report; Inform.Let all people have to come to him for advice.The result quickly became a mess: whistleblower after whistleblower.Some things have been exposed that have never been revealed before, and of course many things have appeared out of nothing.Who is the illegitimate child of whom, who's family origin and title, who has a mistress, and whose wife is flirting with whom, all play their part.Scandals and secret histories were mixed together, and they were all connected with the Chichikov incident and the dead serfs, so that it was impossible to know which of the two incidents was the main one: after these documents were in the hands of the prince , the poor duke couldn't see anything.A very clever and talented official was ordered to write a summary, but he was almost made mentally ill: he couldn't figure it out.Meanwhile the duke was obsessed with many other matters, each of which became more unpleasant.There was famine in parts of the province.Officials sent to relieve the disaster somehow acted incorrectly.Separatist riots broke out in another part of the province.Some people rumored among them that an anti-Christian appeared. This anti-Christian would not spare the dead, and bought dead serfs everywhere.After they regretted it, they became evil and killed all those who were not anti-Christians under the guise of arresting anti-Christians.In another place, farmers rioted against landowners and county sheriffs.Some refugees spread rumors among the farmers, saying that one day the farmers put on tuxedos and became landlords, and the landlords put on peasant clothes and became farmers.In this way, there are too many landlords and county police officers, and there is no need to pay any taxes.So it is necessary to take some coercive means.The poor duke was distraught.At this time, the servant reported that the taxpayer asked to see him. "Let him in," said the Duke.

The old man came in. "Look at your Chichikov! You promised him. Now he's out, and he's doing what the worst thieves can't do."

"Your Excellency, I have no knowledge of the case."

"Forging a will, and it's despicable! This kind of activity should be punished by public flogging!"

"My lord, what I want to say is not to intercede for Chichikov. But the case still lacks evidence. There is no investigation yet."

"Evidence, we have caught the woman who pretended to be the dead. I purposely want to interrogate her in front of you." The Duke rang the bell and ordered the woman to be brought.

Murazov said nothing. "A most despicable business! And it's a shame that some of the city's high-ranking officials and even the prefect have been involved. He shouldn't have anything to do with thieves and idlers!" said the prince angrily. "Isn't the governor the heir, he has the right to make demands; as for others to gather from all directions, my lord, this is also human nature. A rich old lady died, and she died without making wise and fair arrangements. It is understandable that some people who want to make a fortune are surrounded from all directions..."

"But why do such mean things? A bunch of scoundrels!" said the Duke angrily. "I don't have a single good officer under me. They're all bastards!"

"My lord, who is perfect? ​​The officials in this city are also human beings. They have their strengths. Many of them are good at business. How can a human being be without a little fault?"

"Afanasy Vasilyevich, please tell me—I think you are the only one who is honest, but I don't understand why you want to defend the villain?"

"My lord," said Murazov, "whoever you call a villain is a human being. When you know that half of a man's evil deeds are due to rudeness and ignorance, how can you not help him?" What about his defense? Because I also do some unfair things, but this is the cause of other people's misfortune all the time. So the adults also did a very unfair thing."

"What!" cried the Duke, startled.He was astonished at the sudden accusation.Murazov paused, remained silent for a while, as if thinking about something, and finally said: "This is the case of the Derbinikov case."

"Afanasy Vasilyevich! Opposition to the Constitution is treason! . . . "

"I will not defend such a crime. But if a young man is convicted of being the same as the first offender because he was young and fooled, is it fair to say that the sentence was justified? The punishment for Delbinikov is the same as that of the ruffian Vorone. It's the same. But their crimes are different after all."

"For God's sake . . . " said the prince very passionately, "do you know anything about the case? Please tell me. I just petitioned Petersburg directly to commute his sentence."

"No, my lord, I don't mean to say that I know something that you don't. Although there is evidence in his favor, he is willing to provide it himself, because it will make another person suffer. I am only thinking of you. Was it a bit too hasty then? Excuse me, my lord, I am judging by my shallow knowledge. How many times have you told me to speak frankly? Yes, there are bad people, and there are good people... Therefore, we must also pay attention to everyone's experience, because if you don't calmly analyze all the situations, if you open your mouth and shout, you will only scare people, and you will never get a true confession; but if you are like a relative If he cares about the questioning like that, he will tell everything, he will not even ask for a reduction in sentence, and he will not complain to me, because he knows clearly that it is not me who punishes him, but the law."

The duke pondered.At this moment a young official entered, standing aside respectfully with a briefcase in his hand.His young and immature face showed a thoughtful and worried expression.It can be seen that it makes sense to send him on a special mission.He's one of those few people who is passionate about getting things done.He doesn't aspire to be promoted and get rich, nor is he assigned to imitate others, he works hard only because he believes that he is needed here and not elsewhere, and this is his purpose in life.To observe and analyze the situation in every part, to grasp all the clues of the most complicated problems, and to make the case clear to the world-this is his job.If the case finally becomes clear to him, and the hidden cause and effect are revealed, and when he feels that he can tell it clearly in a few words, so that everyone can understand at a glance, then the reward he will get for working day and night will be fruitful.It can be said that a student who has figured out the most difficult sentence and discovered the true meaning of a great writer's thought is not as excited as he was when he figured out the most complicated case.But... (missing from here to the beginning of the next paragraph)

(End of this chapter)