the man who was afraid-第33节

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〃No。〃

〃You　don't　say！　Eh；　eh；　eh！　the　merchant　is　passing　away。　A　certain　forester　told　meI　don't　know　whether　he　lied　or　notthat　in　former　days　the　dogs　were　wolves；　and　then　degenerated　into　dogs。　It　is　the　same　with　our　calling；　we　will　soon　also　be　dogs。　We　will　take　up　science；　put　stylish　hats　on　our　heads；　we'll　do　everything　that　is　necessary　in　order　to　lose　our　features；　and　there　will　be　nothing　by　which　to　distinguish　us　from　other　people。　It　has　become　a　custom　to　make　Gymnasium　students　of　all　children。　The　merchants；　the　nobles；　the　commonersall　are　adjusted　to　match　the　same　colour。　They　dress　them　in　gray　and　teach　them　all　the　same　subjects。　They　grow　man　even　as　they　grow　a　tree。　Why　do　they　do　it？　No　one　knows。　Even　a　log　could　be　told　from　another　by　its　knot　at　least；　while　here　they　want　to　plane　the　people　over　so　that　all　of　them　should　look　alike。　The　coffin　is　already　waiting　for　us　old　people。　Ye…es！　It　may　be　that　about　fifty　years　hence；　no　one　will　believe　that　I　lived　in　this　world。　I；　Anany；　the　son　of　Savva；　by　the　surname　of　Shchurov。　So！　And　that　I；　Anany；　feared　no　one；　save　God。　And　that　in　my　youth　I　was　a　peasant；　that　all　the　land　I　possessed　then　was　two　desyatins　and　a　quarter；　while　toward　my　old　age　I　have　hoarded　up　eleven　thousand　desyatins；　all　forests；　and　perhaps　two　millions　in　cash。〃

〃There；　they　always　speak　of　money！〃　said　Foma；　with　dissatisfaction。　〃What　joy　does　man　derive　from　money？〃〃Mm；〃　bellowed　Shchurov。　〃You　will　make　a　poor　merchant；　if　you　do　not　understand　the　power　of　money。〃

〃Who　does　understand　it？〃　asked　Foma。

〃I！〃　said　Shchurov；　with　confidence。　〃And　every　clever　man。　Yashka　understands　it。　Money？　That　is　a　great　deal；　my　lad！　Just　spread　it　out　before　you　and　think；　'What　does　it　contain？'　Then　will　you　know　that　all　this　is　human　strength；　human　mind。　Thousands　of　people　have　put　their　life　into　your　money　and　thousands　more　will　do　it。　And　you　can　throw　it　all　into　the　fire　and　see　how　the　money　is　burning；　and　at　that　moment　you　will　consider　yourself　master。〃

〃But　nobody　does　this。〃

〃Because　fools　have　no　money。　Money　is　invested　in　business。　Business　gives　bread　to　the　masses。　And　you　are　master　over　all　those　masses。　Wherefore　did　God　create　man？　That　man　should　pray　to　Him。　He　was　alone　and　He　felt　lonesome；　so　He　began　to　desire　power；　and　as　man　was　created　in　the　image　of　the　Lord；　man　also　desires　power。　And　what；　save　money；　can　give　power？　That's　the　way。　Well；　and　youhave　you　brought　me　money？〃

〃No；〃　answered　Foma。　From　the　words　of　the　old　man　Foma's　head　was　heavy　and　troubled；　and　he　was　glad　that　the　conversation　had；　at　last；　turned　to　business　matters。

〃That　isn't　right；〃　said　Shchurov；　sternly　knitting　his　brow。　〃It　is　overdueyou　must　pay。

〃You'll　get　a　half　of　it　tomorrow。〃

〃Why　a　half？　Why　not　all？〃

〃We　are　badly　in　need　of　money　now。〃

〃And　haven't　you　any？　But　I　also　need　it。〃

〃Wait　a　little。〃

〃Eh；　my　lad；　I　will　not　wait！　You　are　not　your　father。　Youngsters　like　you；　milksops；　are　an　unreliable　lot。　In　a　month　you　may　break　up　the　whole　business。　And　I　would　be　the　loser　for　it。　You　give　me　all　the　money　tomorrow；　or　I'll　protest　the　notes。　It　wouldn't　take　me　long　to　do　it！〃

Foma　looked　at　Shchurov；　with　astonishment。　It　was　not　at　all　that　same　old　man；　who　but　a　moment　ago　spoke　so　sagaciously　about　the　devil。　Then　his　face　and　his　eyes　seemed　different；　and　now　he　looked　fierce；　his　lips　smiled　pitilessly；　and　the　veins　on　his　cheeks；　near　his　nostrils；　were　eagerly　trembling。　Foma　saw　that　if　he　did　not　pay　him　at　once；　Shchurov　would　indeed　not　spare　him　and　would　dishonour　the　firm　by　protesting　the　notes。

〃Evidently　business　is　poor？〃　grinned　Shchurov。　〃Well；　tell　the　truthwhere　have　you　squandered　your　father's　money？〃

Foma　wanted　to　test　the　old　man：

〃Business　is　none　too　brisk；〃　said　he；　with　a　frown。　〃We　have　no　contracts。　We　have　received　no　earnest　money；　and　so　it　is　rather　hard。〃

〃So…o！　Shall　I　help　you　out？〃

〃Be　so　kind。　Postpone　the　day　of　payment；〃　begged　Foma；　modestly　lowering　his　eyes。

〃Mm。　Shall　I　assist　you　out　of　my　friendship　for　your　father？　Well；　be　it　so；　I'll　do　it。〃

〃And　for　how　long　will　you　postpone　it？〃　inquired　Foma。

〃For　six　months。〃

〃I　thank　you　humbly。〃

〃Don't　mention　it。　You　owe　me　eleven　thousand　six　hundred　roubles。　Now　listen：　rewrite　the　notes　for　the　amount　of　fifteen　thousand；　pay　me　the　interest　on　this　sum　in　advance。　And　as　security　I'll　take　a　mortgage　on　your　two　barges。〃

Foma　rose　from　the　chair　and　said；　with　a　smile：

〃Send　me　the　notes　tomorrow。　I'll　pay　you　in　full。〃

Shchurov　also　rose　from　his　chair　and；　without　lowering　his　eyes　at　Foma's　sarcastic　look；　said；　calmly　scratching　his　chest：

〃That's　all　right。〃

〃Thank　you　for　your　kindness。〃

〃That's　nothing！　You　don't　give　me　a　chance；　or　I　would　have　shown　you　my　kindness！〃　said　the　old　man　lazily；　showing　his　teeth。

〃Yes！　If　one　should　fall　into　your　hands〃

〃He'd　find　it　warm〃

〃I　am　sure　you'd　make　it　warm　for　him。〃

〃Well；　my　lad；　that　will　do！〃　said　Shchurov；　sternly。　〃Though　you　consider　yourself　quite　clever；　it　is　rather　too　soon。　You've　gained　nothing；　and　already　you　began　to　boast！　But　you　just　win　from　methen　you　may　shout　for　joy。　Goodbye。　Have　all　the　money　for　tomorrow。〃

〃Don't　let　that　trouble　you。　Goodbye！〃

〃God　be　with　you！〃

When　Foma　came　out　of　the　room　he　heard　that　the　old　man　gave　a　slow；　loud　yawn；　and　then　began　to　hum　in　a　rather　hoarse　bass：

〃Open　for　us　the　doors　of　mercy。　Oh　blessed　Virgin　Mary！〃

Foma　carried　away　with　him　from　the　old　man　a　double　feeling。　Shchurov　pleased　him　and　at　the　same　time　was　repulsive　to　him。

He　recalled　the　old　man's　words　about　sin；　thought　of　the　power　of　his　faith　in　the　mercy　of　the　Lord；　and　the　old　man　aroused　in　Foma　a　feeling　akin　to　respect。

〃He；　too；　speaks　of　life；　he　knows　his　sins；　but　does　not　weep　over　them；　does　not　complain　of　them。　He　has　sinnedand　he　is　willing　to　stand　the　consequences。　Yes。　And　she？〃　He　recalled　Medinskaya；　and　his　heart　contracted　with　pain。

〃And　she　is　repenting。　It　is　hard　to　tell　whether　she　does　it　purposely；　in　order　to　hide　from　justice；　or　whether　her　heart　is　really　aching。　'Who；　but　the　Lord；'　says　he；　'is　to　judge　me？'　That's　how　it　is。〃

It　seemed　to　Foma　that　he　envied　Anany；　and　the　youth　hastened　to　recall　Shchurov's　attempts　to　swindle　him。　This　called　forth　in　him　an　aversion　for　the　old　man　He　could　not　reconcile　his　feelings　and；　perplexed；　he　smiled。

〃Well；　I　have　just　been　at　Shchurov's；〃　he　said；　coming　to　Mayakin　and　seating　himself　by　the　table。

Mayakin；　in　a　greasy　morning…gown；　a　counting…board　in　his　hand；　began　to　move　about　in　his　leather…covered　arm…chair　impatiently；　and　said　with　animation：

〃Pour　out　some　tea　for　him；　Lubava！　Tell　me；　Foma；　I　must　be　in　the　City　Council　at　nine　o'clock；　tell　me　all　about　it；　make　haste！〃

Smiling；　Foma　related　to　him　how　Shchurov　suggested　to　rewrite　the　notes。

〃Eh！〃　exclaimed　Yakov　Tarasovich　regretfully；　with　a　shake　of　the　head。　〃You've　spoilt　the　whole　mass　for　me；　dear！　How　could　you　be　so　straightforward　in　your　dealings　with　the　man？　Psha！　The　devil　drove　me　to　send　you　there！　I　should　have　gone　myself。　I　would　have　turned　him　around　my　finger！〃

〃Hardly！　He　says；　'I　am　an　oak。'〃

〃An　oak？　And　I　am　a　saw。　An　oak！　An　oak　is　a　good　tree；　but　its　fruits　are　good　for　swine　only。　So　it　comes　out　that　an　oak　is　simply　a　blockhead。〃

〃But　it's　all　the　same；　we　have　to　pay；　anyway。〃

〃Clever　people　are　in　no　hurry　about　this；　while　you　are　ready　to　run　as　fast　as　you　can　to　pay　the　money。　What　a　merchant　you　are！〃

Yakov　Tarasovich　was　positively　dissatisfied　with　his　godson。　He　frowned　and　in　an　angry　manner　ordered　his　daughter；　who　was　silently　pouring　out　tea：

〃Push　the　sugar　nearer　to　me。　Don't　you　see　that　I　can't　reach　it？〃

Lubov's　face　was　pale；　her　eyes　seemed　troubled；　and　her　hands　moved　lazily　and　awkwardly。　Foma　looked　at　her　and　thought：

〃How　meek　she　is　in　the　presence　of　her　father。〃

〃What　did　he　speak　to　you　about？〃　asked　Mayakin。

〃About　sins。〃

〃Well；　of　course！　His　own　affair　is　dearest　to　each　and　every　man。　And　he　is　a　manufacturer　of　sins。　Both　in　the　galleys　and　in　hell　they　have　long　been　weeping　and　longing　for　him；　waiting　for　him　impatiently。〃

〃He　speaks　with　weight；〃　said　Foma；　thoughtfully；　stirring　his　tea。

〃Did　he　abuse　me？〃　inquired　Mayakin；　with　a　malicious　grimace。

〃Somewhat。〃

〃And　what　did　you　do？〃

〃I　listened。〃

〃Mm！　And　what　did　you　hear？〃

〃'The　strong；'　he　says；　'　will　be　forgiven；　but　there　is　no　forgiveness　for　the　weak。'〃

〃Just　think　of　it！　What　wisdom！　Even　the　fleas　know　that。〃

For　some　reason　or　another；　the　contempt　with　which　Mayakin　regarded　Shchurov；　irritated　Foma；　and；　looking　into　the　old　man's　face；　he　said　with　a　grin：

〃But　he　doesn't　like　you。〃

〃Nobody　likes　me；　my　dear；〃　said　Mayakin；　proudly。　〃There　is　no　reason　why　they　should　like　me。　I　am　no　girl。　But　they　respect　me。　And　they　respect　only　those　they　fear。〃　And　the　old　man　winked　at　his　godson　boastfully。

〃He　speaks　with　weight；〃　repeated　Foma。　〃He　is　complaining。　'The　rea