登陆注册
5215100000121

第121章

About two o'clock when everything was quiet, and even Fyodor Pavlovitch had gone to bed, Ivan had got into bed, firmly resolved to fall asleep at once, as he felt fearfully exhausted.And he did fall asleep at once, and slept soundly without dreams, but waked early, at seven o'clock, when it was broad daylight.Opening his eyes, he was surprised to feel himself extraordinarily vigorous.He jumped up at once and dressed quickly; then dragged out his trunk and began packing immediately.His linen had come back from the laundress the previous morning.Ivan positively smiled at the thought that everything was helping his sudden departure.And his departure certainly was sudden.Though Ivan had said the day before (to Katerina Ivanovna, Alyosha, and Smerdyakov) that he was leaving next day, yet he remembered that he had no thought of departure when he went to bed, or, at least, had not dreamed that his first act in the morning would be to pack his trunk.At last his trunk and bag were ready.It was about nine o'clock when Marfa Ignatyevna came in with her usual inquiry, "Where will your honour take your tea, in your own room or downstairs?" He looked almost cheerful, but there was about him, about his words and gestures, something hurried and scattered.Greeting his father affably, and even inquiring specially after his health, though he did not wait to hear his answer to the end, he announced that he was starting off in an hour to return to Moscow for good, and begged him to send for the horses.His father heard this announcement with no sign of surprise, and forgot in an unmannerly way to show regret at losing him.Instead of doing so, he flew into a great flutter at the recollection of some important business of his own.

"What a fellow you are! Not to tell me yesterday! Never mind;we'll manage it all the same.Do me a great service, my dear boy.Go to Tchermashnya on the way.It's only to turn to the left from the station at Volovya, only another twelve versts and you come to Tchermashnya.""I'm sorry, I can't.It's eighty versts to the railway and the train starts for Moscow at seven o'clock to-night.I can only just catch it.""You'll catch it to-morrow or the day after, but to-day turn off to Tchermashnya.It won't put you out much to humour your father! If Ihadn't had something to keep me here, I would have run over myself long ago, for I've some business there in a hurry.But here I...

it's not the time for me to go now....You see, I've two pieces of copse land there.The Maslovs, an old merchant and his son, will give eight thousand for the timber.But last year I just missed a purchaser who would have given twelve.There's no getting anyone about here to buy it.The Maslovs have it all their own way.One has to take what they'll give, for no one here dare bid against them.The priest at Ilyinskoe wrote to me last Thursday that a merchant called Gorstkin, a man I know, had turned up.What makes him valuable is that he is not from these parts, so he is not afraid of the Maslovs.He says he will give me eleven thousand for the copse.Do you hear? But he'll only be here, the priest writes, for a week altogether, so you must go at once and make a bargain with him.""Well, you write to the priest; he'll make the bargain.""He can't do it.He has no eye for business.He is a perfect treasure, I'd give him twenty thousand to take care of for me without a receipt; but he has no eye for business, he is a perfect child, a crow could deceive him.And yet he is a learned man, would you believe it? This Gorstkin looks like a peasant, he wears a blue kaftan, but he is a regular rogue.That's the common complaint.He is a liar.Sometimes he tells such lies that you wonder why he is doing it.He told me the year before last that his wife was dead and that he had married another, and would you believe it, there was not a word of truth in it? His wife has never died at all, she is alive to this day and gives him a beating twice a week.So what you have to find out is whether he is lying or speaking the truth when he says he wants to buy it and would give eleven thousand.""I shall be no use in such a business.I have no eye either.""Stay, wait a bit! You will be of use, for I will tell you the signs by which you can judge about Gorstkin.I've done business with him a long time.You see, you must watch his beard; he has a nasty, thin, red beard.If his beard shakes when he talks and he gets cross, it's all right, he is saying what he means, he wants to do business.But if he strokes his beard with his left hand and grins- he is trying to cheat you.Don't watch his eyes, you won't find out anything from his eyes, he is a deep one, a rogue but watch his beard!

I'll give you a note and you show it to him.He's called Gorstkin, though his real name is Lyagavy;* but don't call him so, he will be offended.If you come to an understanding with him, and see it's all right, write here at once.You need only write: 'He's not lying.'

Stand out for eleven thousand; one thousand you can knock off, but not more.just think! there's a difference between eight thousand and eleven thousand.It's as good as picking up three thousand; it's not so easy to find a purchaser, and I'm in desperate need of money.

Only let me know it's serious, and I'll run over and fix it up.I'll snatch the time somehow.But what's the good of my galloping over, if it's all a notion of the priest's? Come, will you go?"* i.e.setter dog.

同类推荐
  • 胎息抱一歌

    胎息抱一歌

    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。
  • 宦游日记

    宦游日记

    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。
  • 法华宗要

    法华宗要

    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。
  • 王维诗集

    王维诗集

    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。
  • 得遇龙华修证忏仪

    得遇龙华修证忏仪

    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
  • 如果爱情不曾离开

    如果爱情不曾离开

    【内容梗概】为爱远渡重洋的李陌10年后事业有成,为爱回国。工作中偶遇昔日男友万里,此时的万里已是持重沉稳的成熟男子,尽管已有妻室,依旧年轻追求者众多。心如死灰的李陌心知万里对自己的好,但她并不愿成为破坏他人家庭的第三者,在一个人再也撑不下去的时候,他选择了儒商岳秋山,一个像爸爸一样保护她的男人。可是感情终究没有办法将就,在万里遭遇事业的低谷时,李陌毫不犹豫出手相助,一番周折,终于看清了自己的内心。而不再意气风发的万里是否愿意接受转角的爱情。。。【推荐语】褪去青葱少年的模样,内心依旧炽热。我在原地等你,与爱归来。
  • 甜在心咖啡店

    甜在心咖啡店

    一个爱做梦的妹妹,和一个脚踏实地的姐姐,两人共同经营一家咖啡店,在两人周边发生不同的遭遇以及际遇,她们该如何一起面对生活上给予的难题?每个人心中都有愿望,邀请你进来甜在心咖啡店,一起完成梦想。
  • 捡宝

    捡宝

    一块通灵玉牌,无数奥秘开来。王鼎在获得一块神奇的通灵玉牌后,开始了彪悍的捡宝之路。捡宝,不仅是收藏圈,珠宝界,还囊括矿产、赌石、盗墓、实力雄厚了就去外国“抢”宝。从此,用华夏五千年的文化装点自己这个大收藏家,然后捎带着经经商,顺带培养投资几个女明星。何为捡宝?凡是我王鼎认为是宝贝的统统都是宝,都可以捡。不一样的捡宝,不一样的好看。且看一个古玩店的小伙子如何玩转古玩珠宝界,成为名符其实的大收藏家!(建个捡宝群,书友有兴趣可进群91071298)
  • 生而复死

    生而复死

    位面主宰?不死君王?不不不,这些我都不要。我愿付出一切,回到人生被打乱之前,继续自己平淡的生活。任何试图阻挡我实现夙愿的,都要为他们的不自量力付出代价。PS.小白一枚,没有书友群,如果大家有需要再建
  • 中国民族与民间文学扫描

    中国民族与民间文学扫描

    民间文学包括神话故事、民间传说、民间故事、民间笑话,韵文的歌谣、长篇叙事诗以及小戏、说唱文学、谚语、谜语等体裁的民间作品。在中国文学史上民间文学是非常重要的部分,同时,少数民族也创作出了许多优秀的广为流传的作品。
  • 腹黑王爷在线追妻

    腹黑王爷在线追妻

    (全本甜)不就是出了个车祸吗,怎么就穿越了,这什么破理论,穿越也就算了,你给我穿越到一个刚出生的破小孩身上是怎么回事,瞧不起我,还是要整死我? 家斗?宫斗? 人不犯我,我不犯人, 人若犯我,嘻嘻… 穿越的第n年,要嫁给一个从小体弱多病,命不久矣的王爷?真的假的?那命不久矣的王爷早死晚死都是死,反正她不在乎,她在乎的是什么?是自由啊!只要她自由,什么都好说!只是嫁过去的她,第n天哭诉!谁跟她说这王爷病态严重的,粗来,我和你谈谈!
  • Queer Little Folks

    Queer Little Folks

    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。
  • 独宠丑后

    独宠丑后

    苏易宁进宫了!苏父咧嘴大笑:我苏家出了个后宫娘娘呀!她莞尔一笑,一点不错,品阶最低的玉人也是担得起一声娘娘的。她本来就无意于这人间炼狱,可是,那个谁,你是不是爬错了床?本来地方就小,实在放不下皇帝这尊大佛哟……易宁,苏家长女,貌丑无盐,心思缜密,贤良并举云封,陈国帝王,俊美无双,孤傲冷绝,治国奇才且看这小小女子,在深宫大院的传奇一生。
  • 芳邻

    芳邻

    1945年,美国的农业部推广部主任威尔逊在给杨懋春先生的著作《一个中国村庄:山东台头》的导言中说:杨博士这本书,通过把乡土中国放在它的文化和社会背景——一个村庄中,提供了乡土中国的生动描述。这里,就是对一个世界的陌生,让威尔逊读出了乡土中国的生动。或许对于任何一个个体,他者的世界多多少少都是一个陌生的世界。这样一个陌生的世界,本是让人产生接近和了解的欲望的。这样陌生的世界,大约是令人心存了无限想像和向往的。
  • 快穿之宠炮灰

    快穿之宠炮灰

    没喜欢就追,不喜欢就x她被坑来去做任务,而它被蒙的选了一个随时随地想掐死它的宿主,,力量比它还大的大佬“宿主放手……有话好说……”豆十六面无表情的掐着白团“在坑我,我可以当场吃掉你”白团落泪