登陆注册
4707700000084

第84章

Nevertheless events did not turn out as Chichikov had intended they should. In the first place, he overslept himself. That was check number one. In the second place, on his rising and inquiring whether the britchka had been harnessed and everything got ready, he was informed that neither of those two things had been done. That was check number two. Beside himself with rage, he prepared to give Selifan the wigging of his life, and, meanwhile, waited impatiently to hear what the delinquent had got to say in his defence. It goes without saying that when Selifan made his appearance in the doorway he had only the usual excuses to offer--the sort of excuses usually offered by servants when a hasty departure has become imperatively necessary.

"Paul Ivanovitch," he said, "the horses require shoeing.""Blockhead!" exclaimed Chichikov. "Why did you not tell me of that before, you damned fool? Was there not time enough for them to be shod?""Yes, I suppose there was," agreed Selifan. "Also one of the wheels is in want of a new tyre, for the roads are so rough that the old tyre is worn through. Also, the body of the britchka is so rickety that probably it will not last more than a couple of stages.""Rascal!" shouted Chichikov, clenching his fists and approaching Selifan in such a manner that, fearing to receive a blow, the man backed and dodged aside. "Do you mean to ruin me, and to break all our bones on the road, you cursed idiot? For these three weeks past you have been doing nothing at all; yet now, at the last moment, you come here stammering and playing the fool! Do you think I keep you just to eat and to drive yourself about? You must have known of this before?

Did you, or did you not, know it? Answer me at once.""Yes, I did know it," replied Selifan, hanging his head.

"Then why didn't you tell me about it?"

Selifan had no reply immediately ready, so continued to hang his head while quietly saying to himself: "See how well I have managed things!

I knew what was the matter, yet I did not say.""And now," continued Chichikov, "go you at once and fetch a blacksmith. Tell him that everything must be put right within two hours at the most. Do you hear? If that should not be done, I, I--Iwill give you the best flogging that ever you had in your life." Truly Chichikov was almost beside himself with fury.

Turning towards the door, as though for the purpose of going and carrying out his orders, Selifan halted and added:

"That skewbald, barin--you might think it well to sell him, seeing that he is nothing but a rascal? A horse like that is more of a hindrance than a help.""What? Do you expect me to go NOW to the market-place and sell him?""Well, Paul Ivanovitch, he is good for nothing but show, since by nature he is a most cunning beast. Never in my life have I seen such a horse.""Fool! Whenever I may wish to sell him I SHALL sell him. Meanwhile, don't you trouble your head about what doesn't concern you, but go and fetch a blacksmith, and see that everything is put right within two hours. Otherwise I will take the very hair off your head, and beat you till you haven't a face left. Be off! Hurry!"Selifan departed, and Chichikov, his ill-humour vented, threw down upon the floor the poignard which he always took with him as a means of instilling respect into whomsoever it might concern, and spent the next quarter of an hour in disputing with a couple of blacksmiths--men who, as usual, were rascals of the type which, on perceiving that something is wanted in a hurry, at once multiplies its terms for providing the same. Indeed, for all Chichikov's storming and raging as he dubbed the fellows robbers and extortioners and thieves, he could make no impression upon the pair, since, true to their character, they declined to abate their prices, and, even when they had begun their work, spent upon it, not two hours, but five and a half. Meanwhile he had the satisfaction of experiencing that delightful time with which all travellers are familiar--namely, the time during which one sits in a room where, except for a litter of string, waste paper, and so forth, everything else has been packed. But to all things there comes an end, and there arrived also the long-awaited moment when the britchka had received the luggage, the faulty wheel had been fitted with a new tyre, the horses had been re-shod, and the predatory blacksmiths had departed with their gains. "Thank God!" thought Chichikov as the britchka rolled out of the gates of the inn, and the vehicle began to jolt over the cobblestones. Yet a feeling which he could not altogether have defined filled his breast as he gazed upon the houses and the streets and the garden walls which he might never see again. Presently, on turning a corner, the britchka was brought to a halt through the fact that along the street there was filing a seemingly endless funeral procession. Leaning forward in his britchka, Chichikov asked Petrushka whose obsequies the procession represented, and was told that they represented those of the Public Prosecutor.

同类推荐
  • The Story of My Heart

    The Story of My Heart

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 少牢馈食礼

    少牢馈食礼

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 松亭行纪

    松亭行纪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 旧晋书九家辑本

    旧晋书九家辑本

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 袁中郎全集

    袁中郎全集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 听说你爱我

    听说你爱我

    高律长这么大,从来没被这种女人追过。花心、无耻、死不要脸、无下限……偏偏这女人长得不错,追男人的手段一流,经常弄得他一颗少男心跳的不要不要的。沈诗彬长这么大,也从来没这样使劲追过一个男人,偏偏还辣么的纯情,辣么的傲娇!她喜欢!我于你最好的深情,便是为你放弃整片森林,只甘死在一棵树上。
  • 高中生作文全功能手册

    高中生作文全功能手册

    本书装帧精美、制作新颖、内容丰富、功能齐全、是一本经济而实用的优秀作文书,学生“一册在手,作文不愁”。本书既有具体而实用的写用指导,也有优秀的范文点评,还有典型的病文的分析,在书后,独具创意地设有“作文速成宝典”,为临者的同提供写作模板。
  • 朱子家训

    朱子家训

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 相公,不简单!

    相公,不简单!

    夏云鸢重生在了五年前,她想自己能够改变五年后夏府的命运。只是自己为什么会突然成亲了?莫名其妙的多了一个相公,不仅如此,这位犹如捡来、身份来历却十分神秘的相公,看起来不简单!#小剧场#夏云鸢:“相公,你到底是什么身份呀?”某男:“乖,好好待着,为夫一定会帮你把一切事情办得妥妥帖帖的。”夏云鸢:“相公,你告诉我,我自己能够自保的!”某男:“看来娘子的精气神还很足,不如我们上榻吧?”夏云鸢:“……”【P.S:本文背景属于架空,图个乐子随便看看就行。女主重生,男主穿越】
  • 送友人赴举

    送友人赴举

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 探寻捷径(影响你一生的成功励志书)

    探寻捷径(影响你一生的成功励志书)

    心态决定一切!智慧创造一切!这是一个人人追求成功的时代,心智的力量具有创造成功态势的无穷魔力!即具有成功暗示的随着灵感牵引的成功力。
  • 老公如狼虎:野猫小娇妻

    老公如狼虎:野猫小娇妻

    闷骚和腹黑只有一线之隔,慎言和不善言词也可以一样表现。所以,她总是看不透他!而她,活了两世,只想做那天边的浮云,却不想被这家伙一再算计……叔忍婶不忍,她要让他知道,她不是可以随意驯养的小绵羊,而是有爪子的野猫!某男:“野猫斗得过虎狼么?”何况还有狐的智慧!精癖!!
  • 前方高能

    前方高能

    这里有最危险的任务,有最丰厚的报酬。下一秒可能是生命的终结、可能是不能回头的深渊,也有可能最后成为神,站在众生的顶端!
  • 凡尘仙缘

    凡尘仙缘

    堪笑荣华枕中客,对莲余做世外仙。入了侧殿,方坐定,那嬷嬷便问:“皇后娘娘差我来瞧瞧,十三公主的膝上可好了?”
  • 江湖危险快点逃

    江湖危险快点逃

    江湖危险快点逃~算命先生说我命中带桃花,我偏偏不信这个邪!没有为什么,做小白脸是不可能的!这辈子不可能,下辈子更不可能!“你长的真好看!就你了!”“世人会怎么看待我跟你共处一晚的事?你必须对我负责!”“文采斐然,谦谦君子,小女子非你不嫁!”………有人强抢民男啊!这个江湖很危险,慎入!最后还有………嗯,真香!ps:挣点快递费不容易,读者老爷们,不要再投资了orz