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第12章

creatures that once were men-第12章

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reading and bellowing at the same time。  At last he got up 

resolutely; and went to the door; leaving all the papers on 

the bar; and saying to Vaviloff:



〃Wait! Don't lift them!〃



Vaviloff gathered them lip; put them into the cashbox; and 

locked it; then felt the lock with his hand; to see if it were 

secure。  After that; he scratched his bald head; thoughtfully; 

and went up on the roof of the eating…house。  There he saw the 

Captain measuring the front of the house; and watched him 

anxiously; as he snapped his fingers; and began measuring the 

same line over again。  Vaviloff's face lit up suddenly; and he 

smiled happily。



〃Aristid; Fomich; is it possible?〃  he shouted; when the Captain 

came opposite to him。



〃Of course it is possible。  There is more than one short in the 

front alone; and as to the depth I shall see immediately。〃



〃The depth 。 。 。 seventy…three feet。〃





60  CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN





〃What?  Have you guessed; you shaved; ugly face?〃



〃Of course; Aristid Fomich!  If you have eyes you can see a 

thing or two;〃 shouted Vaviloff joyfully。



A few minutes afterward they sat side by side in Vaviloff's 

parlor; and the Captain was engaged in drinking large 

quantities of beer。



〃And so all the walls of the factory stand on your ground;〃 

said he to the eating…house keeper。  〃Now; mind you show no 

mercy!  The teacher will be here presently; and we will get 

him to draw up a petition to the court。  As to the amount of 

the damages you will name a very moderate sum in order not to 

waste money in deed stamps; but we will ask to have the factory

knocked down。  This; you see; donkey; is the result of 

trespassing on other people's property。  It is a splendid

piece of luck for you。  We will force him to have the place 

smashed; and I can tell you it will be an expensive job for 

him。  Off with you to the court。  Bring pressure to bear on 

Judas。  We will calculate how much it will take to break the 

factory down to its very foundations。  We will make an estimate 

of it all; counting the time it will take too; and we will make 

honest Judas pay two thousand roubles besides。〃

     

〃He will never give it!〃 cried Vaviloff; but his eyes shone 

with a greedy light。



〃You lie!  He will give it 。 。 。 Use your brains 。 。 。 What else 

can he do?  But look here; Egorka; mind you; don't go in for 

doing it on the cheap。  They are sure to fry to buy you off。 

Don't sell yourself cheap。  They will probably use threats; but 

rely upon us。 。 。 。〃





61  CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN





The Captain's eyes were alight with happiness; and his face 

with excitement。  He worked upon Vaviloff's greed; and urging 

upon him the importance of immediate action in the matter; 

went away in a very joyful and happy frame of mind。



*       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *



In the evening everyone was told of the Captain's discovery; 

and they all began to discuss Petunikoff's future predicament; 

painting in vivid colors his excitement and astonishment on the 

day the court messenger handed him the copy of the summons。  

The Captain felt himself quite a hero。  He was happy and all 

his friends highly pleased。  The heap of dark and tattered

figures that lay in the courtyard made noisy demonstrations of 

pleasure。  They all knew the merchant; Petunikoff; who passed 

them very often; contemptuously turning up his eyes and giving 

them no more attention than he bestowed on the other heaps of 

rubbish lying on the ground。  He was well fed; and that 

exasperated them still more; and now how splendid it was that 

one of themselves had struck a hard blow at the selfish 

merchant's purse!  It gave them all the greatest pleasure。 The 

Captain's discovery was a powerful instrument in their hands。 

Every one of them felt keen animosity toward all those who were 

well fed and well dressed; but in some of them this feeling was 

only beginning to develop。  Burning interest was felt by those 

〃creatures that once were men〃 in the prospective fight between

Kuvalda and Petunikoff; which they already saw in imagination。





62  CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN





For a fortnight the inhabitants of the dosshouse awaited the 

further development of events; but Petunikoff never once visited 

the building。  It was known that he was not in town; and that 

the copy of the petition had not yet been handed to him。  

Kuvalda raged at the delays of the civil court。  It is improbable 

that anyone had ever awaited the merchant with such impatience as 

did this bare…footed brigade。



〃He isn't even thinking of coming; the wretch! 。 。 。〃



〃That means that he does not love me!〃 sang Deacon Taras; leaning 

his chin on his hand and casting a humorous glance toward the 

mountain。



At last Petunikoff appeared。  He came in a respectable cart with 

his son playing the role of groom。  The latter was a red…cheeked; 

nice…looking youngster; in a long square…cut overcoat。  He wore 

smoked eyeglasses。  They tied the horse to an adjoining tree; the 

son took the measuring instrument out of his pocket and gave it 

to his father; and they began to measure the ground。  Both were 

silent and worried。



〃Aha!〃 shouted the Captain gleefully。



All those who were in the dosshouse at the moment came out to 

look at them and expressed themselves loudly and freely in 

reference to the matter。



〃What does the habit of thieving mean?  A man may sometimes make 

a big mistake when he steals; standing to lose more than he 

gets;〃 said the Captain; causing much laughter among his staff 

and eliciting various murmurs of assent。



〃Take care; you devil!〃 shouted Petunikoff; 〃lest I have you in 

the police court for your words!〃





63  CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN





〃You can do nothing to me without witnesses 。 。 。 Your son cannot 

give evidence on your side〃 。 。 。 the Captain warned him。



〃Look out all the same; you old wretch; you may be found guilty 

too!〃  And Petunikoff shook his fist at him。  His son; deeply 

engrossed in his calculations; took no notice of the dark group 

of men; who were taking such a wicked delight in adding to his 

father's discomfiture。  He did not even once look in their 

direction。



〃The young spider has himself well in hand;〃 remarked Abyedok; 

watching young Petunikoff's every movement and action。  Having 

taken all the measurements he desired; Ivan Andreyevitch knit 

his brows; got into the cart; and drove away。  His son went with 

a firm step into Vaviloff's eating…house; and disappeared behind 

the door。



〃Ho; ho! That's a determined young thief! 。 。 。 What will happen 

next; I wonder 。 。 。?〃 asked Kuvalda。



〃Next? Young Petunikoff will buy out Egor Vaviloff;〃 said 

Abyedok with conviction; and smacked his lips as if the idea 

gave him great pleasure。



〃And you are glad of that?〃 Kuvalda asked him gravely。



〃I am always pleased to see human calculations miscarry;〃 

explained Abyedok; rolling his eyes and rubbing his hands with 

delight。  The Captain spat angrily on the ground and was silent。 

They all stood in front of the tumble…down building; and silently 

watched the doors of the eating…house。  More than an hour passed

thus。 





64  CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN





Then the doors opened and Petunikoff came out as silently as he 

had entered。  He stopped for a moment; coughed; turned up the 

collar of his coat; glanced at the men; who were following all 

his movements with their eyes; and then went up the street 

toward the town。



The Captain watched him for a moment; and turning to Abyedok 

said smilingly:



〃Probably you were right after all; you son of a scorpion and 

a wood…louse!  You nose out every evil thing。  Yes; the face 

of that young swindler shows that be has got what he wanted。 。 。 

I wonder how muc

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