the man who was afraid-第18节

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His　godfather　drew　back　from　him；　and　comically　opening　his　eyes　wide；　said　convincedly：

〃You　are　out　of　your　mind；　too！　By　God；　you're　out　of　your　mind！　Come　to　your　senses！　A　sweetheart　at　the　age　of　sixty…three！　And　at　such　a　price　as　this。　What　are　you　talking　about？　Well；　I'll　tell　this　to　Ignat。〃

And　Mayakin　filled　the　air　with　a　jarring；　hasty　laughter；　at　which　his　goat…like　beard　began　to　tremble　in　an　uncomely　manner。　It　took　Foma　a　long　time　to　obtain　a　categorical　answer；　the　old　man；　contrary　to　his　habit；　was　restless　and　irritated；　his　speech；　usually　fluent；　was　now　interrupted；　he　was　swearing　and　expectorating　as　he　spoke；　and　it　was　with　difficulty　that　Foma　learned　what　the　matter　was。　Sophya　Pavlovna　Medinskaya；　the　wealthy　architect's　wife；　who　was　well　known　in　the　city　for　her　tireless　efforts　in　the　line　of　arranging　various　charitable　projects；　persuaded　Ignat　to　endow　seventy…five　thousand　roubles　for　the　erection　of　a　lodging…house　in　the　city　and　of　a　public　library　with　a　reading…room。　Ignat　had　given　the　money；　and　already　the　newspapers　lauded　him　for　his　generosity。　Foma　had　seen　the　woman　more　than　once　on　the　streets；　she　was　short；　he　knew　that　she　was　considered　as　one　of　the　most　beautiful　women　in　the　city；　and　that　bad　rumours　were　afoot　as　to　her　behaviour。

〃Is　that　all？〃　exclaimed　Foma；　when　his　godfather　concluded　the　story。　〃And　I　thought　God　knows　what！〃

〃You？　You　thought？〃　cried　Mayakin；　suddenly　grown　angry。　〃You　thought　nothing；　you　beardless　youngster！〃

〃Why　do　you　abuse　me？〃　Foma　said。

〃Tell　me；　in　your　opinion；　is　seventy…five　thousand　roubles　a　big　sum　or　not？〃

〃Yes；　a　big　sum；〃　said　Foma；　after　a　moment's　thought。

〃Ah；　ha！〃

〃But　my　father　has　much　money。　Why　do　you　make　such　a　fuss　about　it？〃

Yakov　Tarasovich　was　taken　aback。　He　looked　into　the　youth's　face　with　contempt　and　asked　him　in　a　faint　voice：

〃And　you　speak　like　this？〃

〃I？　Who　then？〃

〃You　lie！　It　is　your　young　foolishness　that　speaks。　Yes！　And　my　old　foolishnessbrought　to　test　a　million　times　by　lifesays　that　you　are　a　young　dog　as　yet；　and　it　is　too　early　for　you　to　bark　in　a　basso。〃

Foma　hearing　this；　had　often　been　quite　provoked　by　his　godfather's　too　picturesque　language。

Mayakin　always　spoke　to　him　more　roughly　than　his　father；　but　now　the　youth　felt　very　much　offended　by　the　old　man　and　said　to　him　reservedly；　but　firmly：

〃You　had　better　not　abuse　me　without　reflection；　for　I　am　no　longer　a　small　child。〃

〃Come；　come！〃　exclaimed　Mayakin；　mockingly　lifting　his　eyebrows　and　squinting。

This　roused　Foma's　indignation。　He　looked　full　into　the　old　man's　eyes　and　articulated　with　emphasis：

〃And　I　am　telling　you　that　I　don't　want　to　hear　any　more　of　that　undeserved　abuse　of　yours。　Enough！〃

〃Mm！　So…o！　Pardon　me。〃

Yakov　Tarasovich　closed　his　eyes；　chewed　a　little　with　his　lips；　and；　turning　aside　from　his　godson；　kept　silent　for　awhile。　The　carriage　turned　into　a　narrow　street；　and；　noticing　from　afar　the　roof　of　his　house；　Foma　involuntarily　moved　forward。　At　the　same　time　Mayakin　asked　him　with　a　roguish　and　gentle　smile：

〃Foma！　Tell　meon　whom　you　have　sharpened　your　teeth？　Eh？〃

〃Why；　are　they　sharp？〃　asked　Foma；　pleased　with　the　manner　in　which　Mayakin　now　regarded　him。

〃Pretty　good。　That's　good；　dear。　That's　very　good！　Your　father　and　I　were　afraid　lest　you　should　be　a　laggard。　Well；　have　you　learned　to　drink　vodka？〃

〃I　drank　it。〃

〃Rather　too　soon！　Did　you　drink　much　of　it？〃

〃Why　much？〃

〃Does　it　taste　good？〃

〃Not　very。〃

〃So。　Never　mind；　all　this　is　not　so　bad。　Only　you　are　too　outspoken。　You　are　ready　to　confess　all　your　sins　to　each　and　every　pope　that　comes　along。　You　must　consider　it　isn't　always　necessary　to　do　that。　Sometimes　by　keeping　silent　you　both　please　people　and　commit　no　sins。　Yes。　A　man's　tongue　is　very　seldom　sober。　Here　we　are。　See；　your　father　does　not　know　that　you　have　arrived。　Is　he　home　yet；　I　wonder？〃

He　was　at　home：　his　loud；　somewhat　hoarse　laughter　was　heard　from　the　open　windows　of　the　rooms。　The　noise　of　the　carriage；　which　stopped　at　the　house；　caused　Ignat　to　look　out　of　the　window；　and　at　the　sight　of　his　son　he　cried　out　with　joy：

〃Ah！　You've　come。〃

After　a　while　he　pressed　Foma　to　his　breast　with　one　hand；　and；　pressing　the　palm　of　his　other　hand　against　his　son's　forehead；　thus　bending　his　head　back；　he　looked　into　his　face　with　beaming　eyes　and　spoke　contentedly：

〃You　are　sunburnt。　You've　grown　strong。　You're　a　fine　fellow！　Madame！　How's　my　son？　Isn't　he　fine？〃

〃Not　bad　looking；〃　a　gentle；　silver　voice　was　heard。　Foma　glanced　from　behind　his　father's　shoulder　and　noticed　that　a　slender　woman　with　magnificent　fair　hair　was　sitting　in　the　front　corner　of　the　room；　resting　her　elbows　on　the　table；　her　dark　eyes；　her　thin　eyebrows　and　plump；　red　lips　strikingly　defined　on　her　pale　face。　Behind　her　armchair　stood　a　large　philodendron…plant　whose　big；　figured　leaves　were　hanging　down　in　the　air　over　her　little　golden　head。

〃How　do　you　do；　Sophya　Pavlovna；〃　said　Mayakin；　tenderly；　approaching　her　with　his　hand　outstretched。　〃What；　are　you　still　collecting　contributions　from　poor　people　like　us？〃

Foma　bowed　to　her　mutely；　not　hearing　her　answer　to　Mayakin；　nor　what　his　father　was　saying　to　him。　The　lady　stared　at　him　steadfastly　and　smiled　to　him　affably　and　serenely。　Her　childlike　figure；　clothed　in　some　kind　of　dark　fabric；　was　almost　blended　with　the　crimson　stuff　of　the　armchair；　while　her　wavy；　golden　hair　and　her　pale　face　shone　against　the　dark　background。　Sitting　there　in　the　corner；　beneath　the　green　leaves；　she　looked　at　once　like　a　flower；　and　like　an　ikon。

〃See；　Sophya　Pavlovna；　how　he　is　staring　at　you。　An　eagle；　eh？〃　said　Ignat。

Her　eyes　became　narrower；　a　faint　blush　leaped　to　her　cheeks；　and　she　burst　into　laughter。　It　sounded　like　the　tinkling　of　a　little　silver　bell。　And　she　immediately　arose；　saying：

〃I　wouldn't　disturb　you。　Good…bye！〃

When　she　went　past　Foma　noiselessly；　the　scent　of　perfume　came　to　him；　and　he　noticed　that　her　eyes　were　dark　blue；　and　her　eyebrows　almost　black。

〃The　sly　rogue　glided　away；〃　said　Mayakin　in　a　low　voice；　angrily　looking　after　her。

〃Well；　tell　us　how　was　the　trip？　Have　you　squandered　much　money？〃　roared　Ignat；　pushing　his　son　into　the　same　armchair　where　Medinskaya　had　been　sitting　awhile　before。　Foma　looked　at　him　askance　and　seated　himself　in　another　chair。

〃Isn't　she　a　beautiful　young　woman；　eh？〃　said　Mayakin；　smiling；　feeling　Foma　with　his　cunning　eyes。　〃If　you　keep　on　gaping　at　her　she　will　eat　away　all　your　insides。〃

Foma　shuddered　for　some　reason　or　other；　and；　saying　nothing　in　reply；　began　to　tell　his　father　about　the　journey　in　a　matter…of…fact　tone。　But　Ignat　interrupted　him：

〃Wait；　I'll　ask　for　some　cognac。〃

〃And　you　are　keeping　on　drinking　all　the　time；　they　say；〃　said　Foma；　disapprovingly。

Ignat　glanced　at　his　son　with　surprise　and　curiosity；　and　asked：

〃Is　this　the　way　to　speak　to　your　father？〃

Foma　became　confused　and　lowered　his　head。

〃That's　it！〃　said　Ignat；　kind…heartedly；　and　ordered　cognac　to　be　brought　to　him。

Mayakin；　winking　his　eyes；　looked　at　the　Gordyeeffs；　sighed；　bid　them　good…bye；　and；　after　inviting　them　to　have　tea　with　him　in　his　raspberry　garden　in　the　evening；　went　away。

〃Where　is　Aunt　Anfisa？〃　asked　Foma；　feeling　that　now；　being　alone　with　his　father；　he　was　somewhat　ill　at　ease。

〃She　went　to　the　cloister。　Well；　tell　me；　and　I　will　have　some　cognac。〃

Foma　told　his　father　all　about　his　affairs　in　a　few　minutes　and　he　concluded　his　story　with　a　frank　confession：

〃I　have　spent　much　money　on　myself。〃

〃How　much？〃

〃About　six　hundred　roubles。〃

〃In　six　weeks！　That's　a　good　deal。　I　see　as　a　clerk　you're　too　expensive　for　me。　Where　have　you　squandered　it　all？〃

〃I　gave　away　three　hundred　puds　of　grain。〃

〃To　whom？　How？〃

Foma　told　him　all　about　it。

〃Hm！　Well；　that's　all　right！〃　Ignat　approved。　〃That's　to　show　what　stuff　we　are　made　of。　That's　clear　enoughfor　the　father's　honour　for　the　honour　of　the　firm。　And　there　is　no　loss　either；　because　that　gives　a　good　reputation。　And　that；　my　dear；　is　the　very　best　signboard　for　a　business。　Well；　what　else？〃

〃And　then；　I　somehow　spent　more。〃

〃Speak　frankly。　It's　not　the　money　that　I　am　asking　you　aboutI　just　want　to　know　how　you　lived　there；〃　insisted　Ignat；　regarding　his　son　attentively　and　sternly。

〃I　was　eating；　drinking。〃　Foma　did　not　give　in；　bending　his　head　morosely　and　confusedly。

〃Drinking　vodka？〃

〃Vodka；　too。〃

〃Ah！　So。　Isn't　it　rather　too　soon？〃

〃Ask　Yefim　whether　I　ever　drank　enough　to　be　intoxicated。〃

〃Why　should　I　ask　Yefim？　You　must　tell　me　everything　yourself。　So　you　are　drinking？　I　don't　like　it。〃

〃But　I　can　get　along　without　drinking。〃

〃Come；　come！　Do　you　want　some　cognac？〃

Foma　looked　at　his　father　and　smiled　broadly。　And　his　father　answered　him　with　a　kindly　smile：

〃Eh；　you。　Devil！　Drink；　but　look　outknow　your　business。　What　can　you　do？　A　drunkard　will　sleep　himself　sober；　a　foolnever。　Let　us　understand　this　much　at　least；　for　our　own　consolation。　And　did　you　have　a　good　time　with　girls；　too？　Be　frank！　Are　you　afraid　that　I　will　beat　you；　or　wha