the man who was afraid-第72节

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〃As　a　hawk。　Ha；　ha；　ha！〃

The　merchants　encircled　their　orator　in　a　close　ring；　they　looked　at　him　with　their　oily　eyes；　and　were　so　agitated　that　they　could　no　longer　listen　to　his　words　calmly。　Around　him　a　tumult　of　voices　smote　the　air；　and　mingling　with　the　noise　of　the　engine；　and　the　beating　of　the　wheels　upon　the　water；　it　formed　a　whirlwind　of　sounds　which　drowned　the　jarring　voice　of　the　old　man。　The　excitement　of　the　merchants　was　growing　more　and　more　intense；　all　faces　were　radiant　with　triumph；　hands　holding　out　goblets　were　outstretched　toward　Mayakin；　the　merchants　clapped　him　on　the　shoulder；　jostled　him；　kissed　him；　gazed　with　emotion　into　his　face。　And　some　screamed　ecstatically：

〃The　kamarinsky。　The　national　dance！〃

〃We　have　accomplished　all　that！〃　cried　Yakov　Tarasovich；　pointing　at　the　river。　〃It　is　all　ours！　We　have　built　up　life！〃

Suddenly　rang　out　a　loud　exclamation　which　drowned　all　sounds：

〃Ah！　So　you　have　done　it？　Ah；　you。〃

And　immediately　after　this；　a　vulgar　oath　resounded　through　the　air；　pronounced　distinctly　with　great　rancour；　in　a　dull　but　powerful　voice。　Everyone　heard　it　and　became　silent　for　a　moment；　searching　with　their　eyes　the　man　who　had　abused　them。　At　this　moment　nothing　was　heard　save　the　deep　sighs　of　the　engines　and　the　clanking　of　the　rudder　chains。

〃Who's　snarling　there？〃　asked　Kononov　with　a　frown。

〃We　can't　get　along　without　scandals！〃　said　Reznikov；　with　a　contrite　sigh。

〃Who　was　swearing　here　at　random？〃

The　faces　of　the　merchants　mirrored　alarm；　curiosity；　astonishment；　reproach；　and　all　the　people　began　to　bustle　about　stupidly。　Only　Yakov　Tarasovich　alone　was　calm　and　seemed　even　satisfied　with　what　had　occurred。　Rising　on　tiptoe；　with　his　neck　outstretched；　he　stared　somewhere　toward　the　end　of　the　table；　and　his　eyes　flashed　strangely；　as　though　he　saw　there　something　which　was　pleasing　to　him。

〃Gordyeeff〃　said　Yona　Yushkov；　softly。

And　all　heads　were　turned　toward　the　direction　in　which　Yakov　Tarasovich　was　staring。

There；　with　his　hands　resting　on　the　table；　stood　Foma。　His　face　distorted　with　wrath；　his　teeth　firmly　set　together；　he　silently　surveyed　the　merchants　with　his　burning；　wide…open　eyes。　His　lower　jaw　was　trembling；　his　shoulders　were　quivering；　and　the　fingers　of　his　hands；　firmly　clutching　the　edge　of　the　table；　were　nervously　scratching　the　tablecloth。　At　the　sight　of　his　wolf…　like；　angry　face　and　his　wrathful　pose；　the　merchants　again　became　silent　for　a　moment。

〃What　are　you　gaping　at？〃　asked　Foma；　and　again　accompanied　his　question　with　a　violent　oath。

〃He's　drunk！〃　said　Bobrov；　with　a　shake　of　the　head。

〃And　why　was　he　invited？〃　whispered　Reznikov；　softly。

〃Foma　Ignatyevich！〃　said　Kononov；　sedately；　〃you　mustn't　create　any　scandals。　If　your　head　is　reelinggo；　my　dear　boy；　quietly　and　peacefully　into　the　cabin　and　lie　down！　Lie　down；　and〃

〃Silence；　you！〃　roared　Foma；　and　turned　his　eye　at　him。　〃Do　not　dare　to　speak　to　me！　I　am　not　drunk。　I　am　soberer　than　any　one　of　you　here！　Do　you　understand？〃

〃But　wait　awhile；　my　boy。　Who　invited　you　here？〃　asked　Kononov；　reddening　with　offence。

〃I　brought　him！〃　rang　out　Mayakin's　voice。

〃Ah！　Well；　then；　of　course。　Excuse　me；　Foma　Ignatyevich。　But　as　you　brought　him；　Yakov；　you　ought　to　subdue　him。　Otherwise　it's　no　good。〃

Foma　maintained　silence　and　smiled。　And　the　merchants；　too；　were　silent；　as　they　looked　at　him。

〃Eh；　Fomka！〃　began　Mayakin。　〃Again　you　disgrace　my　old　age。〃

〃Godfather！〃　said　Foma；　showing　his　teeth；　〃I　have　not　done　anything　as　yet；　so　it　is　rather　early　to　read　me　a　lecture。　I　am　not　drunk；　I　have　drunk　nothing；　but　I　have　heard　everything。　Gentlemen　merchants！　Permit　me　to　make　a　speech！　My　godfather；　whom　you　respect　so　much；　has　spoken。　Now　listen　to　his　godson。〃

〃Whatspeeches？〃　said　Reznikov。　〃Why　have　any　discourses？　We　have　come　together　to　enjoy　ourselves。〃

〃Come；　you　had　better　drop　that；　Foma　Ignatyevich。〃

〃Better　drink　something。〃

〃Let's　have　a　drink！　Ah；　Foma；　you're　the　son　of　a　fine　father！〃

Foma　recoiled　from　the　table；　straightened　himself　and　continuously　smiling；　listened　to　the　kind；　admonitory　words。　Among　all　those　sedate　people　he　was　the　youngest　and　the　handsomest。　His　well…shaped　figure；　in　a　tight…fitting　frock　coat；　stood　out；　to　his　advantage；　among　the　mass　of　stout　bodies　with　prominent　paunches。　His　swarthy　face　with　large　eyes　was　more　regularly　featured；　more　full　of　life　than　the　shrivelled　or　red　faces　of　those　who　stood　before　him　with　astonishment　and　expectancy。　He　threw　his　chest　forward；　set　his　teeth　together；　and　flinging　the　skirts　of　his　frock　coat　apart；　thrust　his　hands　into　his　pockets。

〃You　can't　stop　up　my　mouth　now　with　flattery　and　caresses！〃　said　he；　firmly　and　threateningly；　〃Whether　you　will　listen　or　not；　I　am　going　to　speak　all　the　same。　You　cannot　drive　me　away　from　here。〃

He　shook　his　head；　and；　raising　his　shoulders；　announced　calmly：

〃But　if　any　one　of　you　dare　to　touch　me；　even　with　a　finger；　I'll　kill　him！　I　swear　it　by　the　Lord。　I'll　kill　as　many　as　I　can！〃

The　crowd　of　people　that　stood　opposite　him　swayed　back；　even　as　bushes　rocked　by　the　wind。　They　began　to　talk　in　agitated　whispers。　Foma's　face　grew　darker；　his　eyes　became　round。

〃Well；　it　has　been　said　here　that　you　have　built　up　life；　and　that　you　have　done　the　most　genuine　and　proper　things。〃

Foma　heaved　a　deep　sigh；　and　with　inexpressible　aversion　scrutinized　his　listeners'　faces；　which　suddenly　became　strangely　puffed　up；　as　though　they　were　swollen。　The　merchants　were　silent；　pressing　closer　and　closer　to　one　another。　Some　one　in　the　back　rows　muttered：

〃What　is　he　talking　about？　Ah！　From　a　paper；　or　by　heart？〃

〃Oh；　you　rascals！〃　exclaimed　Gordyeeff；　shaking　his　head。　〃What　have　you　made？　It　is　not　life　that　you　have　made；　but　a　prison。　It　is　not　order　that　you　have　established；　you　have　forged　fetters　on　man。　It　is　suffocating；　it　is　narrow；　there　is　no　room　for　a　living　soul　to　turn。　Man　is　perishing！　You　are　murderers！　Do　you　understand　that　you　exist　today　only　through　the　patience　of　mankind？〃

〃What　does　this　mean？〃　exclaimed　Reznikov；　clasping　his　hands　in　rage　and　indignation。　〃Ilya　Yefimov；　what's　this？　I　can't　bear　to　hear　such　words。〃

〃Gordyeeff！〃　cried　Bobrov。　〃Look　out；　you　speak　improper　words。〃

〃For　such　words　you'll　getoi；　oi；　oi！　〃　said　Zubov；　insinuatingly。

〃Silence！〃　roared　Foma；　with　blood…shot　eyes。　〃Now　they're　grunting。〃

〃Gentlemen！〃　rang　out　Mayakin's　calm；　malicious　voice；　like　the　screech　of　a　smooth…file　on　iron。　〃Don't　touch　him！　I　entreat　you　earnestly；　do　not　hinder　him。　Let　him　snarl。　Let　him　amuse　himself。　His　words　cannot　harm　you。〃

〃Well；　no；　I　humbly　thank　you！　〃cried　Yushkov。　And　close　at　Foma's　side　stood　Smolin　and　whispered　in　his　ear：

〃Stop；　my　dear　boy！　What's　the　matter　with　you？　Are　you　out　of　your　wits？　They'll　do　you！〃

〃Get　away！〃　said　Foma；　firmly；　flashing　his　angry　eyes　at　him。　〃You　go　to　Mayakin　and　flatter　him；　perhaps　something　will　come　your　way！〃

Smolin　whistled　through　his　teeth　and　stepped　aside。　And　the　merchants　began　to　disperse　on　the　steamer；　one　by　one。　This　irritated　Foma　still　more　he　wished　he　could　chain　them　to　the　spot　by　his　words；　but　he　could　not　find　such　powerful　words。

〃You　have　built　up　life！〃　he　shouted。　〃Who　are　you？　Swindlers；　robbers。〃

A　few　men　turned　toward　Foma；　as　if　he　had　called　them。

〃Kononov！　are　they　soon　going　to　try　you　for　that　little　girl？　They'll　convict　you　to　the　galleys。　Goodbye；　Ilya！　You　are　building　your　steamers　in　vain。　They'll　transport　you　to　Siberia　on　a　government　vessel。〃

Kononov　sank　into　a　chair；　his　blood　leaped　to　his　face；　and　he　shook　his　fist　in　silence。　Foma　said　hoarsely：

〃Very　well。　Good。　I　shall　not　forget　it。〃

Foma　saw　his　distorted　face　with　its　trembling　lips；　and　understood　with　what　weapons　he　could　deal　these　men　the　most　forcible　blows。

〃Ha；　ha；　ha！　Builders　of　life！　Gushchin；　do　you　give　alms　to　your　little　nephews　and　nieces？　Give　them　at　least　a　copeck　a　day。　You　have　stolen　sixty…seven　thousand　roubles　from　them。　Bobrov！　why　did　you　lie　about　that　mistress　of　yours；　saying　that　she　had　robbed　you；　and　then　send　her　to　prison？　If　you　had　grown　tired　of　her；　you　might　have　given　her　over　to　your　son。　Anyway　he　has　started　an　intrigue　with　that　other　mistress　of　yours。　Didn't　you　know　it？　Eh；　you　fat　pig；　ha；　ha！　And　you；　Lup；　open　again　a　brothel；　and　fleece　your　guests　there　as　before。　And　then　the　devil　will　fleece　you；　ha；　ha！　It　is　good　to　be　a　rascal　with　a　pious　face　like　yours！　Whom　did　you　kill　then；　Lup？〃

Foma　spoke；　interrupting　his　speech　with　loud；　malevolent　laughter；　and　saw　that　his　words　were　producing　an　impression　on　these　people。　Before；　when　he　had　spoken　to　all　of　them　they　turned　away　from　him；　stepping　aside；　forming　groups；　and　looking　at　their　accuser　from　afar　with　anger　and　contempt。　He　saw　smiles　on　their　faces；　he　felt　in　their　every　movement　something　scornful；　and　understood　that　while　his　words　angered　them　they　did　not　sting　as　deep　as　he　wished　them　to。　All　this　had　chilled　his　wrath；　and　within　him　there　was　already　arising　the　bitter　consciousness　of　the　failure　of