creatures that once were men-第4章
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at the restored client; 〃we have a coat and jacket。 When I had
respectable trousers I lived in town like a respectable man。
But when the trousers wore out; I; too; fell off in the opinion
of my fellow…men and had to come down here from the town。 Men;
my fine mannikin; judge everything by the outward appearance;
while; owing to their foolishness; the actual reality of things
is incomprehensible to them。 Make a note of this on your nose;
and pay me at least half your debt。 Go in peace; seek; and you
may find。〃
〃How much do I owe you; Aristid Fomich?〃 asks the client; in
confusion。
〃One rouble and 70 kopecks 。 。 。 Now; give me only one rouble;
or; if you like; 70 kopecks; and as for the rest; I shall wait
until you have earned more than you have now by stealing or by
hard work; it does not matter to me。〃
〃I thank you humbly for your kindness!〃 says the client; touched
to the heart。 〃Truly you are a kind man 。 。 。; Life has
persecuted you in vain 。 。 。 What an eagle you would have been
in your own place!〃
The Captain could not live without eloquent speeches。
〃What does 'in my own place' mean? No one really knows his own
place in life; and every one of us crawls into his harness。 The
place of the merchant Judas Petunikoff ought to be in penal
servitude; but he still walks through the streets in daylight;
and even intends to build a factory。 The place of our teacher
ought to be beside a wife and half…a…dozen children; but he is
loitering in the public…house of Vaviloff。
21 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
〃And then; there is yourself。 You are going to seek a situation
as a hall porter or waiter; but I can see that you ought to be a
soldier in the army; because you are no fool; are patient and
understand discipline。 Life shuffles us like cards; you see; and
it is only accidentally; and only for a time; that we fall into
our own places!〃
Such farewell speeches often served as a preface to the
continuation of their acquaintance; which again began with
drinking and went so far that the client would spend his last
farthing。 Then the Captain would stand him treat; and they
would drink all they had。
A repetition of similar doings did not affect in the least
the good relations of the parties。
The teacher mentioned by the Captain was another of those
customers who were thus reformed only in order that they
should sin again。 Thanks to his intellect; he was the nearest
in rank to the Captain; and this was probably the cause of his
falling so low as dosshouse life; and of his inability to rise
again。 It was only with him that Aristid Kuvalda could
philosophize with the certainty of being understood。 He valued
this; and when the reformed teacher prepared to leave the
dosshouse in order to get a corner in town for himself; then
Aristid Kuvalda accompanied him so sorrowfully and sadly that
it ended; as a rule; in their both getting drunk and spending
all their money。 Probably Kuvalda arranged the matter
intentionally so that the teacher could not leave the
dosshouse; though he desired to do so with all his heart。 Was
it possible for Aristid Kuvalda; a nobleman (as was evident
from his speeches); one who was accustomed to think; though
the turn of fate may have changed his position; was it possible
for him not to desire to have close to him a man like himself?
We can pity our own faults in others。
22 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
This teacher had once taught at an institution in one of the
towns on the Volga; but in consequence of some story was
dismissed。 After this he was a clerk in a tannery; but again
had to leave。 Then he became a librarian in some private
library; subsequently following other professions。 Finally;
after passing examinations in law he became a lawyer; but
drink reduced him to the Captain's dosshouse。 He was tall;
round…shouldered; with a long; sharp nose and bald head。 In
his bony and yellow face; on which grew a wedge…shaped beard;
shone large; restless eyes; deeply sunk in their sockets; and
the corners of his mouth drooped sadly down。 He earned his
bread; or rather his drink; by reporting for the local papers。
He sometimes earned as much as fifteen roubles。 These he gave
to the Captain and said:
〃It is enough。 I am going back into the bosom of culture。
Another week's hard work and I shall dress respectably; and
then Addio; mio caro!〃
〃Very exemplary! As I heartily sympathize with your decision;
Philip; I shall not give you another glass all this week;〃 the
Captain warned him sternly。
〃I shall be thankful! 。 。 。 You will not give me one drop?〃
The Captain beard in his voice a beseeching note to which he
turned a deaf ear。
〃Even though you roar; I shall not give it you!〃
〃As you like; then;〃 sighed the teacher; and went away to
continue his reporting。
23 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
But after a day or two he would return tired and thirsty; and
would look at the Captain with a beseeching glance out of the
corners of his eyes; hoping that his friend's heart would
soften。
The Captain in such cases put on a serious face and began
speaking with killing irony on the theme of weakness of
character; of the animal delight of intoxication; and on such
subjects as suited the occasion。 One must do him justice: he
was captivated by his role of mentor and moralist; but the
lodgers dogged him; and; listening sceptically to his
exhortations to repentance; would whisper aside to each other:
〃Cunning; skilful; shifty rogue! I told you so; but you would
not listen。 It's your own fault!〃
〃His honor is really a good soldier。 He goes first and examines
the road behind him!〃
The teacher then hunted here and there till he found his friend
again in some corner; and grasping his dirty coat; trembling
and licking his dry lips; looked into his face with a deep;
tragic glance; without articulate words。
〃Can't you?〃 asked the Captain sullenly。
The teacher answered by bowing his head and letting it fall on
his breast; his tall; thin body trembling the while。
〃Wait another day 。 。 。 perhaps you will be all right then;〃
proposed Kuvalda。 The teacher sighed; and shook his head
hopelessly。
The Captain saw that his friend's thin body trembled with the
thirst for the poison; and took some money from his pocket。
〃In the majority of cases it is impossible to fight against
fate;〃 said he; as if trying to justify himself before someone。
24 CREATURES THAT ONCE WERE MEN
But if the teacher controlled himself for a whole week; then
there was a touching farewell scene between the two friends;
which ended as a rule in the eating…house of Vaviloff。 The
teacher did not spend all his money; but spent at least half
on the children of the main street。 The poor are always rich
in children; and in the dirt and ditches of this street there
were groups of them from morning to night; hungry; naked and
dirty。 Children are the living flowers of the earth; but
these had the appearance of flowers that have faded
prematurely; because they grew in ground where there was no
healthy nourishment。 Often the teacher would gather them round
him; would buy them bread; eggs; apples and nuts; and take
them into the fields by the river side。 There they would sit
and greedily eat everything he offered them; after which they
would begin to play; filling the fields for a mile around with
careless noise and laughter。 The tall; thin figure of the
drunkard towered above these small people; who treated him
familiarly; as if he were one of their own age。 They called
him 〃Philip;〃 and did not trouble to prefix 〃Uncle〃 to his
name。 Playing around him; like little wild animals; they
pushed him; jumped upon his back;