白痴 英文版 The Idiot
陀思妥耶夫斯基 Fyodor Dostoyevsky
The Idiot XII.
Colia took the prince to a public-house in the Litaynaya, not faroff. In one of the side rooms there sat at a table--looking likeone of the regular guests of the establishment--ArdalionAlexandrovitch, with a bottle before him, and a newspaper on hisknee. He was waiting for the prince, and no sooner did the latterappear than he began a long harangue about something or other;but so far gone was he that the prince could hardly understand aword.
"I have not got a ten-rouble note," said the prince; "but here isa twenty-five. Change it and give me back the fifteen, or I shallbe left without a farthing myself."
"Oh, of course, of course; and you quite understand that I--"
"Yes; and I have another request to make, general. Have you everbeen at Nastasia Philipovna's?"
"I? I? Do you mean me? Often, my friend, often! I only pretendedI had not in order to avoid a painful subject. You saw today,you were a witness, that I did all that a kind, an indulgentfather could do. Now a father of altogether another type shallstep into the scene. You shall see; the old soldier shall laybare this intrigue, or a shameless woman will force her way intoa respectable and noble family."
"Yes, quite so. I wished to ask you whether you could show me theway to Nastasia Philipovna's tonight. I must go; I have businesswith her; I was not invited but I was introduced. Anyhow I amready to trespass the laws of propriety if only I can get insomehow or other."
"My dear young friend, you have hit on my very idea. It was notfor this rubbish I asked you to come over here" (he pocketed themoney, however, at this point), "it was to invite your alliancein the campaign against Nastasia Philipovna tonight. How well itsounds, 'General Ivolgin and Prince Muishkin.' That'll fetch her,I think, eh? Capital! We'll go at nine; there's time yet."
"Where does she live?"
"Oh, a long way off, near the Great Theatre, just in the squarethere--It won't be a large party."
The general sat on and on. He had ordered a fresh bottle when theprince arrived; this took him an hour to drink, and then he hadanother, and another, during the consumption of which he toldpretty nearly the whole story of his life. The prince was indespair. He felt that though he had but applied to this miserableold drunkard because he saw no other way of getting to NastasiaPhilipovna's, yet he had been very wrong to put the slightestconfidence in such a man.
this and five other houses, three overlookingNevsky, two in the Morskaya, are!
At last he rose and declared that he would wait no longer. Thegeneral rose too, drank the last drops that he could squeeze outof the bottle, and staggered into the street.
Muishkin began to despair. He could not imagine how he had beenso foolish as to trust this man. He only wanted one thing, andthat was to get to Nastasia Philipovna's, even at the cost of acertain amount of impropriety. But now the scandal threatened tobe more than he had bargained for. By this time ArdalionAlexandrovitch was quite intoxicated, and he kept his companionlistening while he discoursed eloquently and pathetically onsubjects of all kinds, interspersed with torrents ofrecrimination against the members of his family. He insisted thatall his troubles were caused by their bad conduct, and time alonewould put an end to them.
At last they reached the Litaynaya. The thaw increased steadily,a warm, unhealthy wind blew through the streets, vehiclessplashed through the mud, and the iron shoes of horses and mulesrang on the paving stones. Crowds of melancholy people ploddedwearily along the footpaths, with here and there a drunken manamong them.
"Do you see those brightly-lighted windows?" said the general."Many of my old comrades-in-arms live about here, and I, whoserved longer, and suffered more than any of them, am walking onfoot to the house of a woman of rather questionable reputation!A man, look you, who has thirteen bullets on his breast! ... Youdon't believe it? Well, I can assure you it was entirely on myaccount that Pirogoff telegraphed to Paris, and left Sebastopolat the greatest risk during the siege. Nelaton, the Tuileriessurgeon, demanded a safe conduct, in the name of science, intothe besieged city in order to attend my wounds. The governmentknows all about it. 'That's the Ivolgin with thirteen bullets inhim!' That's how they speak of me.... Do you see that house,prince? One of my old friends lives on the first floor, with hislarge family. In this and five other houses, three overlookingNevsky, two in the Morskaya, are all that remain of my personalfriends. Nina Alexandrovna gave them up long ago, but I keep intouch with them still... I may say I find refreshment in thislittle coterie, in thus meeting my old acquaintances andsubordinates, who worship me still, in spite of all. GeneralSokolovitch (by the way, I have not called on him lately, or seenAnna Fedorovna)... You know, my dear prince, when a person doesnot receive company himself, he gives up going to other people'shouses involuntarily. And yet ... well ... you look as if youdidn't believe me.... Well now, why should I not present the sonof my old friend and companion to this delightful family--GeneralIvolgin and Prince Muishkin? You will see a lovely girl--what amI saying--a lovely girl? No, indeed, two, three! Ornaments ofthis city and of society: beauty, education, culture--the womanquestion--poetry--everything! Added to which is the fact thateach one will have a dot of at least eighty thousand roubles. Nobad thing, eh? ... In a word I absolutely must introduce you tothem: it is a duty, an obligation. General Ivolgin and PrinceMuishkin. Tableau!"
"At once? Now? You must have forgotten ... " began the prince.
Gania knows nothing about it? It seems there are many thingsthat Gania does not.
"No, I have forgotten nothing. Come! This is the house--up thismagnificent staircase. I am surprised not to see the porter, but.... it is a holiday ... and the man has gone off ... Drunkenfool! Why have they not got rid of him? Sokolovitch owes all thehappiness he has had in the service and in his private life tome, and me alone, but ... here we are."
The prince followed quietly, making no further objection for fearof irritating the old man. At the same time he fervently hopedthat General Sokolovitch and his family would fade away like amirage in the desert, so that the visitors could escape, bymerely returning downstairs. But to his horror he saw thatGeneral Ivolgin was quite familiar with the house, and reallyseemed to have friends there. At every step he named sometopographical or biographical detail that left nothing to bedesired on the score of accuracy. When they arrived at last, onthe first floor, and the general turned to ring the bell to theright, the prince decided to run away, but a curious incidentstopped him momentarily.
"You have made a mistake, general," said he. " The name on thedoor is Koulakoff, and you were going to see GeneralSokolovitch."
"Koulakoff ... Koulakoff means nothing. This is Sokolovitch'sflat, and I am ringing at his door.... What do I care forKoulakoff? ... Here comes someone to open."
In fact, the door opened directly, and the footman in formed thevisitors that the family were all away.
"What a pity! What a pity! It's just my luck!" repeated ArdalionAlexandrovitch over and over again, in regretful tones. " Whenyour master and mistress return, my man, tell them that GeneralIvolgin and Prince Muishkin desired to present themselves, andthat they were extremely sorry, excessively grieved ..."
Just then another person belonging to the household was seen atthe back of the hall. It was a woman of some forty years, dressedin sombre colours, probably a housekeeper or a governess. Hearingthe names she came forward with a look of suspicion on her face.
"Marie Alexandrovna is not at home," said she, staring hard atthe general. "She has gone to her mother's, with AlexandraMichailovna."
"Alexandra Michailovna out, too! How disappointing! Would youbelieve it, I am always so unfortunate! May I most respectfullyask you to present my compliments to Alexandra Michailovna, andremind her ... tell her, that with my whole heart I wish forher what she wished for herself on Thursday evening, while shewas listening to Chopin's Ballade. She will remember. I wish itwith all sincerity. General Ivolgin and Prince Muishkin!"
The woman's face changed; she lost her suspicious expression.
"I will not fail to deliver your message," she replied, and bowedthem out.
As they went downstairs the general regretted repeatedly that hehad failed to introduce the prince to his friends.
"You know I am a bit of a poet," said he. "Have you noticed it?The poetic soul, you know." Then he added suddenly--"But afterall ... after all I believe we made a mistake this time! Iremember that the Sokolovitch's live in another house, and whatis more, they are just now in Moscow. Yes, I certainly was atfault. However, it is of no consequence."
"Just tell me," said the prince in reply, "may I count still onyour assistance? Or shall I go on alone to see NastasiaPhilipovna?"
"Count on my assistance? Go alone? How can you ask me thatquestion, when it is a matter on which the fate of my family solargely depends? You don't know Ivolgin, my friend. To trustIvolgin is to trust a rock; that's how the first squadron Icommanded spoke of me. 'Depend upon Ivolgin,' said they all, 'heis as steady as a rock.' But, excuse me, I must just call at ahouse on our way, a house where I have found consolation and helpin all my trials for years."
"You are going home?"
"No ... I wish ... to visit Madame Terentieff, the widow ofCaptain Terentieff, my old subordinate and friend. She helps meto keep up my courage, and to bear the trials of my domesticlife, and as I have an extra burden on my mind today ..."
"It seems to me," interrupted the prince, "that I was foolish totrouble you just now. However, at present you ... Good-bye!"
"Indeed, you must not go away like that, young man, you mustnot!" cried the general. "My friend here is a widow, the motherof a family; her words come straight from her heart, and find anecho in mine. A visit to her is merely an affair of a fewminutes; I am quite at home in her house. I will have a wash, anddress, and then we can drive to the Grand Theatre. Make up yourmind to spend the evening with me.... We are just there--that'sthe house... Why, Colia! you here! Well, is Marfa Borisovnaat home or have you only just come?"
"Oh no! I have been here a long while," replied Colia, who was atthe front door when the general met him. "I am keeping Hippolytecompany. He is worse, and has been in bed all day. I came down tobuy some cards. Marfa Borisovna expects you. But what a state youare in, father!" added the boy, noticing his father's unsteadygait. "Well, let us go in."
On meeting Colia the prince determined to accompany the general,though he made up his mind to stay as short a time as possible.He wanted Colia, but firmly resolved to leave the general behind.He could not forgive himself for being so simple as to imaginethat Ivolgin would be of any use. The three climbed up the longstaircase until they reached the fourth floor where MadameTerentieff lived.
"You intend to introduce the prince?" asked Colia, as they wentup.
"Yes, my boy. I wish to present him: General Ivolgin and PrinceMuishkin! But what's the matter? ... what? ... How is MarfaBorisovna?"
"You know, father, you would have done much better not to comeat all! She is ready to eat you up! You have not shown yourselfsince the day before yesterday and she is expecting the money.Why did you promise her any? You are always the same! Well, nowyou will have to get out of it as best you can."
They stopped before a somewhat low doorway on the fourth floor.Ardalion Alexandrovitch, evidently much out of countenance,pushed Muishkin in front.
"I will wait here," he stammered. "I should like to surprise her....."
Colia entered first, and as the door stood open, the mistress ofthe house peeped out. The surprise of the general's imaginationfell very flat, for she at once began to address him in terms ofreproach.
Marfa Borisovna was about forty years of age. She wore adressing-jacket, her feet were in slippers, her face painted, andher hair was in dozens of small plaits. No sooner did she catchsight of Ardalion Alexandrovitch than she screamed:
"There he is, that wicked, mean wretch! I knew it was he! Myheart misgave me!"
The old man tried to put a good face on the affair.
"Come, let us go in--it's all right," he whispered in theprince's ear.
But it was more serious than he wished to think. As soon as thevisitors had crossed the low dark hall, and entered the narrowreception-room, furnished with half a dozen cane chairs, and twosmall card-tables, Madame Terentieff, in the shrill toneshabitual to her, continued her stream of invectives.
"Are you not ashamed? Are you not ashamed? You barbarian! Youtyrant! You have robbed me of all I possessed--you have sucked mybones to the marrow. How long shall I be your victim? Shameless,dishonourable man!"
"Marfa Borisovna! Marfa Borisovna! Here is ... the PrinceMuishkin! General Ivolgin and Prince Muishkin," stammered thedisconcerted old man.
"Would you believe," said the mistress of the house, suddenlyaddressing the prince, "would you believe that that man has noteven spared my orphan children? He has stolen everything Ipossessed, sold everything, pawned everything; he has left menothing--nothing! What am I to do with your IOU's, you cunning,unscrupulous rogue? Answer, devourer I answer, heart of stone!How shall I feed my orphans? with what shall I nourish them? Andnow he has come, he is drunk! He can scarcely stand. How, oh how,have I offended the Almighty, that He should bring this curseupon me! Answer, you worthless villain, answer!"
But this was too much for the general.
"Here are twenty-five roubles, Marfa Borisovna ... it is allthat I can give ... and I owe even these to the prince'sgenerosity--my noble friend. I have been cruelly deceived. Suchis ... life ... Now ... Excuse me, I am very weak," hecontinued, standing in the centre of the room, and bowing to allsides. "I am faint; excuse me! Lenotchka ... a cushion ... mydear!"
Lenotchka, a little girl of eight, ran to fetch the cushion atonce, and placed it on the rickety old sofa. The general meant tohave said much more, but as soon as he had stretched himself out,he turned his face to the wall, and slept the sleep of the just.
With a grave and ceremonious air, Marfa Borisovna motioned theprince to a chair at one of the card-tables. She seated herselfopposite, leaned her right cheek on her hand, and sat in silence,her eyes fixed on Muishkin, now and again sighing deeply. Thethree children, two little girls and a boy, Lenotchka being theeldest, came and leant on the table and also stared steadily athim. Presently Colia appeared from the adjoining room.
"I am very glad indeed to have met you here, Colia," said theprince. "Can you do something for me? I must see NastasiaPhilipovna, and I asked Ardalion Alexandrovitch just now to takeme to her house, but he has gone to sleep, as you see. Will youshow me the way, for I do not know the street? I have theaddress, though; it is close to the Grand Theatre."
"Nastasia Philipovna? She does not live there, and to tell youthe truth my father has never been to her house! It is strangethat you should have depended on him! She lives near WladimirStreet, at the Five Corners, and it is quite close by. Will yougo directly? It is just half-past nine. I will show you the waywith pleasure."
Colia and the prince went off together. Alas! the latter had nomoney to pay for a cab, so they were obliged to walk.
"I should have liked to have taken you to see Hippolyte," saidColia. "He is the eldest son of the lady you met just now, andwas in the next room. He is ill, and has been in bed all day. Buthe is rather strange, and extremely sensitive, and I thought hemight be upset considering the circumstances in which youcame ... Somehow it touches me less, as it concerns my father,while it is HIS mother. That, of course, makes a greatdifference. What is a terrible disgrace to a woman, does notdisgrace a man, at least not in the same way. Perhaps publicopinion is wrong in condemning one sex, and excusing the other.Hippolyte is an extremely clever boy, but so prejudiced. He isreally a slave to his opinions."
"Do you say he is consumptive?"
"Yes. It really would be happier for him to die young. If I werein his place I should certainly long for death. He is unhappyabout his brother and sisters, the children you saw. If it werepossible, if we only had a little money, we should leave ourrespective families, and live together in a little apartment ofour own. It is our dream. But, do you know, when I was talkingover your affair with him, he was angry, and said that anyone whodid not call out a man who had given him a blow was a coward. Heis very irritable to-day, and I left off arguing the matter withhim. So Nastasia Philipovna has invited you to go and see her?"
"To tell the truth, she has not."
"Then how do you come to be going there?" cried Colia, so muchastonished that he stopped short in the middle of the pavement."And ... and are you going to her At Home in that costume?"
"I don't know, really, whether I shall be allowed in at all. Ifshe will receive me, so much the better. If not, the matter isended. As to my clothes--what can I do?"
behind.He could not forgive himself.
"Are you going there for some particular reason, or only as a wayof getting into her society, and that of her friends?"
"No, I have really an object in going ... That is, I am goingon business it is difficult to explain, but..."
"Well, whether you go on business or not is your affair,I do not want to know. The only important thing, in my eyes, isthat you should not be going there simply for the pleasure ofspending your evening in such company--cocottes, generals,usurers! If that were the case I should despise and laugh at you.There are terribly few honest people here, and hardly any whomone can respect, although people put on airs--Varia especially!Have you noticed, prince, how many adventurers there arenowadays? Especially here, in our dear Russia. How it hashappened I never can understand. There used to be a certainamount of solidity in all things, but now what happens?Everything is exposed to the public gaze, veils are thrown back,every wound is probed by careless fingers. We are for everpresent at an orgy of scandalous revelations. Parents blush whenthey remember their old-fashioned morality. At Moscow lately afather was heard urging his son to stop at nothing--at nothing,mind you!--to get money! The press seized upon the story, ofcourse, and now it is public property. Look at my father, thegeneral! See what he is, and yet, I assure you, he is an honestman! Only ... he drinks too much, and his morals are not all wecould desire. Yes, that's true! I pity him, to tell the truth,but I dare not say so, because everybody would laugh at me--but Ido pity him! And who are the really clever men, after all? Money-grubbers, every one of them, from the first to the last.Hippolyte finds excuses for money-lending, and says it is anecessity. He talks about the economic movement, and the ebb andflow of capital; the devil knows what he means. It makes me angryto hear him talk so, but he is soured by his troubles. Justimagine-the general keeps his mother-but she lends him money! Shelends it for a week or ten days at very high interest! Isn't itdisgusting? And then, you would hardly believe it, but my mother--Nina Alexandrovna--helps Hippolyte in all sorts of ways, sendshim money and clothes. She even goes as far as helping thechildren, through Hippolyte, because their mother cares nothingabout them, and Varia does the same."
"Well, just now you said there were no honest nor good peopleabout, that there were only money-grubbers--and here they arequite close at hand, these honest and good people, your motherand Varia! I think there is a good deal of moral strength inhelping people in suchcircum stances."
"Varia does it from pride, and likes showing off, and givingherself airs. As to my mother, I really do admire her--yes, andhonour her. Hippolyte, hardened as he is, feels it. He laughed atfirst, and thought it vulgar of her--but now, he is sometimesquite touched and overcome by her kindness. H'm! You call thatbeing strong and good? I will remember that! Gania knows nothingabout it. He would say that it was encouraging vice."
"Ah, Gania knows nothing about it? It seems there are many thingsthat Gania does not know," exclaimed the prince, as he consideredColia's last words.
"Do you know, I like you very much indeed, prince? I shall neverforget about this afternoon."
"I like you too, Colia."
"Listen to me! You are going to live here, are you not?" saidColia. "I mean to get something to do directly, and earn money.Then shall we three live together? You, and I, and Hippolyte? Wewill hire a flat, and let the general come and visit us. What doyou say?"
"It would be very pleasant," returned the prince. "But we must see.I am really rather worried just now. What! are we there already?Is that the house? What a long flight of steps! And there's aporter! Well, Colia I don't know what will come of it all."
The prince seemed quite distracted for the moment.
"You must tell me all about it tomorrow! Don't be afraid. I wishyou success; we agree so entirely I that can do so, although I donot understand why you are here. Good-bye!" cried Colia excitedly."Now I will rush back and tell Hippolyte all about our plans andproposals! But as to your getting in--don't be in the leastafraid. You will see her. She is so original about everything. It'sthe first floor. The porter will show you."