the man who was afraid-第35节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃And　what　took　place　between　you？〃　asked　Lubov。

Foma　moved　his　chair　closer　to　her；　and　stooping；　he　lowered　his　voice　for　some　reason　or　other；　and　began　to　relate　to　her　all　that　had　taken　place　between　him　and　Medinskaya。　He　spoke；　and　as　he　recalled　the　words　he　said　to　Medinskaya；　the　sentiments　that　called　forth　the　words　were　also　awakened　in　him。

〃I　told　her；　'Oh；　you！　why　did　you　make　sport　of　me？'〃　he　said　angrily　and　with　reproach。

And　Luba；　her　cheeks　aflame　with　animation；　spurred　him　on；　nodding　her　head　approvingly：

〃That's　it！　That's　good！　Well；　and　she？〃

〃She　was　silent！〃　said　Foma；　sadly；　with　a　shrug　of　the　shoulders。　〃That　is；　she　said　different　things；　but　what's　the　use？〃

He　waved　his　hand　and　became　silent。　Luba；　playing　with　her　braid；　was　also　silent。　The　samovar　had　already　become　cold。　And　the　dimness　in　the　room　was　growing　thicker　and　thicker；　outside　the　window　it　was　heavy　with　darkness；　and　the　black　branches　of　the　linden…trees　were　shaking　pensively。

〃You　might　light　the　lamp；〃　Foma　went　on。

〃How　unhappy　we　both　are；〃　said　Luba；　with　a　sigh。

Foma　did　not　like　this。

〃I　am　not　unhappy；〃　he　objected　in　a　firm　voice。　〃I　am　simplynot　yet　accustomed　to　life。〃

〃He　who　knows　not　what　he　is　going　to　do　tomorrow；　is　unhappy；〃　said　Luba；　sadly。　〃I　do　not　know　it；　neither　do　you。　Whither　go？　Yet　go　we　must；　Why　is　it　that　my　heart　is　never　at　ease？　Some　kind　of　a　longing　is　always　quivering　within　it。〃

〃It　is　the　same　with　me；〃　said　Foma。　〃　I　start　to　reflect；　but　on　what？　I　cannot　make　it　clear　to　myself。　There　is　also　a　painful　gnawing　in　my　heart。　Eh！　But　I　must　go　up　to　the　club。〃

〃Don't　go　away；〃　Luba　entreated。

〃I　must。　Somebody　is　waiting　there　for　me。　I　am　going。　Goodbye！〃

〃Till　we　meet　again！〃　She　held　out　her　hand　to　him　and　sadly　looked　into　his　eyes。

〃Will　you　go　to　sleep　now？〃　asked　Foma；　firmly　shaking　her　hand。

〃I'll　read　a　little。〃

〃You're　to　your　books　as　the　drunkard　to　his　whisky；〃　said　the　youth；　with　pity。

〃What　is　there　that　is　better？〃

Walking　along　the　street　he　looked　at　the　windows　of　the　house　and　in　one　of　them　he　noticed　Luba's　face。　It　was　just　as　vague　as　everything　that　the　girl　told　him；　even　as　vague　as　her　longings。　Foma　nodded　his　head　toward　her　and　with　a　consciousness　of　his　superiority　over　her；　thought：

〃She　has　also　lost　her　way；　like　the　other　one。〃

At　this　recollection　he　shook　his　head；　as　though　he　wanted　to　frighten　away　the　thought　of　Medinskaya；　and　quickened　his　steps。

Night　was　coming　on；　and　the　air　was　fresh。　A　cold；　invigorating　wind　was　violently　raging　in　the　street；　driving　the　dust　along　the　sidewalks　and　throwing　it　into　the　faces　of　the　passers…by。　It　was　dark；　and　people　were　hastily　striding　along　in　the　darkness。　Foma　wrinkled　his　face；　for　the　dust　filled　his　eyes；　and　thought：

〃If　it　is　a　woman　I　meet　nowthen　it　will　mean　that　Sophya　Pavlovna　will　receive　me　in　a　friendly　way；　as　before。　I　am　going　to　see　her　tomorrow。　And　if　it　is　a　manI　won't　go　tomorrow；　I'll　wait。〃

But　it　was　a　dog　that　came　to　meet　him；　and　this　irritated　Foma　to　such　an　extent　that　he　felt　like　striking　him　with　his　cane。

In　the　refreshment…room　of　the　club；　Foma　was　met　by　the　jovial　Ookhtishchev。　He　stood　at　the　door；　and　chatted　with　a　certain　stout；　whiskered　man；　but；　noticing　Gordyeeff；　he　came　forward　to　meet　him；　saying；　with　a　smile：

〃How　do　you　do；　modest　millionaire！〃　Foma　rather　liked　him　for　his　jolly　mood；　and　was　always　pleased　to　meet　him。

Firmly　and　kind…heartedly　shaking　Ookhtishchev's　hand；　Foma　asked　him：

〃And　what　makes　you　think　that　I　am　modest？〃

〃What　a　question！　A　man；　who　lives　like　a　hermit；　who　neither　drinks；　nor　plays；　nor　likes　any　women。　By　the　way；　do　you　know；　Foma　Ignatyevich；　that　peerless　patroness　of　ours　is　going　abroad　tomorrow　for　the　whole　summer？〃

〃Sophya　Pavlovna？〃　asked　Foma；　slowly。　〃Of　course！　The　sun　of　my　life　is　setting。　And；　perhaps；　of　yours　as　well？〃

Ookhtishchev　made　a　comical；　sly　grimace　and　looked　into　Foma's　face。

And　Foma　stood　before　him；　feeling　that　his　head　was　lowering　on　his　breast；　and　that　he　was　unable　to　hinder　it。

〃Yes；　the　radiant　Aurora。〃

〃Is　Medinskaya　going　away？〃　a　deep　bass　voice　asked。　〃That's　fine！　I　am　glad。〃

〃May　I　know　why？〃　exclaimed　Ookhtishchev。　Foma　smiled　sheepishly　and　stared　in　confusion　at　the　whiskered　man；　Ookhtishchev's　interlocutor。

That　man　was　stroking　his　moustache　with　an　air　of　importance；　and　deep；　heavy；　repulsive　words　fell　from　his　lips　on　Foma's　ears。

〃Because；　you　see；　there　will　be　one　co…cot…te　less　in　town。〃

〃Shame；　Martin　Nikitich！〃　said　Ookhtishchev；　reproachfully；　knitting　his　brow。

〃How　do　you　know　that　she　is　a　coquette？〃　asked　Foma；　sternly；　coming　closer　to　the　whiskered　man。　The　man　measured　him　with　a　scornful　look；　turned　aside　and　moving　his　thigh；　drawled　out：

〃I　didn't　saycoquette。〃

〃Martin　Nikitich；　you　mustn't　speak　that　way　about　a　woman　who〃　began　Ookhtishchev　in　a　convincing　tone；　but　Foma　interrupted　him：

〃Excuse　me；　just　a　moment！　I　wish　to　ask　the　gentleman；　what　is　the　meaning　of　the　word　he　said？〃

And　as　he　articulated　this　firmly　and　calmly；　Foma　thrust　his　hands　deep　into　his　trousers…pockets；　threw　his　chest　forward；　which　at　once　gave　his　figure　an　attitude　of　defiance。　The　whiskered　gentleman　again　eyed　Foma　with　a　sarcastic　smile。

〃Gentlemen！〃　exclaimed　Ookhtishchev；　softly。

〃I　said；　co…cot…te；〃　pronounced　the　whiskered　man；　moving　his　lips　as　if　he　tasted　the　word。　〃And　if　you　don't　understand　it；　I　can　explain　it　to　you。〃

〃You　had　better　explain　it；〃　said　Foma；　with　a　deep　sigh；　not　lifting　his　eyes　off　the　man。

Ookhtishchev　clasped　his　hands　and　rushed　aside。

〃A　cocotte；　if　you　want　to　know　it；　is　a　prostitute；〃　said　the　whiskered　man　in　a　low　voice；　moving　his　big；　fat　face　closer　to　Foma。

Foma　gave　a　soft　growl　and；　before　the　whiskered　man　had　time　to　move　away；　he　clutched　with　his　right　hand　his　curly；　grayish　hair。　With　a　convulsive　movement　of　the　hand；　Foma　began　to　shake　the　man's　head　and　his　big；　solid　body；　lifting　up　his　left　hand；　he　spoke　in　a　dull　voice；　keeping　time　to　the　punishment：

〃Don't　abuse　a　personin　his　absence。　Abuse　himright　in　his　facestraight　in　his　eyes。〃

He　experienced　a　burning　delight；　seeing　how　comically　the　stout　arms　were　swinging　in　the　air；　and　how　the　legs　of　the　man；　whom　he　was　shaking；　were　bending　under　him；　scraping　against　the　floor。　His　gold　watch　fell　out　of　the　pocket　and　dangled　on　the　chain；　over　his　round　paunch。　Intoxicated　with　his　own　strength　and　with　the　degradation　of　the　sedate　man；　filled　with　the　burning　feeling　of　malignancy；　trembling　with　the　happiness　of　revenge；　Foma　dragged　him　along　the　floor　and　in　a　dull　voice；　growled　wickedly；　in　wild　joy。　In　these　moments　he　experienced　a　great　feelingthe　feeling　of　emancipation　from　the　wearisome　burden　which　had　long　oppressed　his　heart　with　grief　and　morbidness。　He　felt　that　he　was　seized　by　the　waist　and　shoulders　from　behind；　that　someone　seized　his　hand　and　bent　it；　trying　to　break　it；　that　someone　was　crushing　his　toes；　but　he　saw　nothing；　following　with　his　bloodshot　eyes　the　dark；　heavy　mass　moaning　and　wriggling　in　his　hand。　Finally；　they　tore　him　away　and　downed　him；　and；　as　through　a　reddish　mist；　he　noticed　before　him　on　the　floor；　at　his　feet；　the　man　he　had　thrashed。　Dishevelled；　he　was　moving　his　legs　over　the　floor；　attempting　to　rise；　two　dark　men　were　holding　him　by　the　arms；　his　hands　were　dangling　in　the　air　like　broken　wings；　and；　in　a　voice　that　was　choking　with　sobs；　he　cried　to　Foma：

〃You　mustn't　beat　me！　You　mustn't！　I　have　an。。。

Order。　You　rascal！　Oh；　rascal！　I　have　children。

Everybody　knows　me！　Scoundrel！　Savage；　000！　You　may　expect　a　duel！〃

And　Ookhtishchev　spoke　loudly　in　Foma's　ear：

〃Come；　my　dear　boy；　for　God's　sake！〃

〃Wait；　I'll　give　him　a　kick　in　the　face；〃　begged　Foma。　But　he　was　dragged　off。　There　was　a　buzzing　in　his　ears；　his　heart　beat　fast；　but　he　felt　relieved　and　well。　At　the　entrance　of　the　club　he　heaved　a　deep　sigh　of　relief　and　said　to　Ookhtishchev；　with　a　good…　natured　smile：

〃I　gave　him　a　sound　drubbing；　didn't　I？〃

〃Listen！　〃exclaimed　the　gay　secretary；　indignantly。　〃You　must　pardon　me　but　that　was　the　act　of　a　savage！　The　devil　take　it。　I　never　witnessed　such　a　thing　before！〃

〃My　dear　man！〃　said　Foma；　friendly；　〃did　he　not　deserve　the　drubbing？　Is　he　not　a　scoundrel？　How　can　he　speak　like　that　behind　a　person's　back？　No！　Let　him　go　to　her　and　tell　it　plainly　to　her　alone。〃

〃Excuse　me。　The　devil　take　you！　But　it　wasn't　for　her　alone　that　you　gave　him　the　drubbing？〃

〃That　is；　what　do　you　mea；not　for　her　alone？　For　whom　then？〃　asked　Foma；　amazed。

〃For　whom？　I　don't　know。　Evidently　you　had　old　accounts　to　settle！　0h　Lord！　That　was　a　scene！　I　shall　not　forget　it　in　all　my　life！〃

〃Hethat　manwho　is　he？〃　asked　Foma；　and　suddenly　burst　out　laughing。　〃How　he　roared；　the　fool！〃

Ookhtishchev　looked　fixedly　into　his　face　and　asked：

〃Tell　me；　is　it　true；　that　you　don't　know　whom　you've　thrashed？　And　is　it　really　only　for　Sophya　Pavlovna？〃

〃It　is；　by　God！〃　avowed　Foma。

〃So；　the　devil　knows　what　the　r