Chapter 18 fifteen

Katya, the maid, came in very flustered. "Nastasya Filippovna, I don't know what's going on outside, a dozen people forced their way in, drunk, and insisted on coming in. He said he was Rogozhin, You know him." "That's right, Katya, let them in at once, let them all in." "Should . . . let them all come in. Nastasya Filippovna? ​​You know, there are some people who are simply ugly and terrible!" "Let them all, all come in, Katya, don't be afraid, let them all come in, and none of them will fall, otherwise, if you don't let them in, they will come in too. Listen to their yelling, just like the one not long ago Same." Then she said to her guests: "Gentlemen, please don't be offended that I receive these people in public! I am very sorry for this, and I beg your pardon, but I very, very much hope that you will Stay here and witness how the play ends, but then again, it's up to you whether you stay or not..."

The guests went on fussing, whispering, and looking at each other, but it was clear at first glance that it was all planned and arranged, and that no one could now try to change Nastasya Filippovna's mind (though she was clearly mad. ).Everyone was itchy and curious.Besides, no one was terribly frightened.There were also only two ladies: one was Darya Alexeyevna, a brisk and worldly lady who could hardly be embarrassed by anything.There is also a strange wife who is beautiful but not talkative.But this strange lady who doesn't like to talk may not understand anything: she is a German who has just arrived in Petersburg, and she can't understand a word of Russian.Plus, her goofiness seems to be in sync with her beauty, which is as stupid as she is beautiful.Because she is a newcomer, someone has a party and invites her to accompany her.She wears flamboyant dresses and hairdos in the latest style, as if attending a fashion show.People asked her to sit aside, just like hanging a beautiful and moving painting, so as to add luster to the party, just as some people temporarily borrow a painting, a vase, a vase from friends in order to add some decorations to their party. Like a statue or a screen.As for the male guests, Naptitsyn was already a friend of Rogozhin; Feeling a strong need to stand up to the pillar of his own shame; the old teacher, not quite understanding why, saw the panic around him and Nastasya Filippovna , almost cried, trembling with fright, he loved Nastasya Filippovna as much as his little granddaughter, but he would rather die than die Such moments leave her alone.As for Afanasy Ivanovitch, of course he could not tarnish his reputation in this adventure, but he was too concerned with the success or failure of the affair, in spite of its wild turn. .Besides, Nastasya Filippovna had accidentally said a few words about him, so he would not go away until the matter was cleared up.He made up his mind to sit down to the end, but didn't say a word, just watched from the sidelines, which, of course, was what his dignity required.There was only General Epanchin, who had just been annoyed by Nastasya Filippovna's rude and ridiculous return of his gift, and now it happened again. This extraordinary sequence of events, and the arrival of Rogozhin, intensified his anger.It was condescending enough for a man like him to condescend to be on an equal footing with Ptitsyn and Fedsenko.Although lust is also a kind of power, what it can do may be overwhelmed by the sense of responsibility, vocation, official title and status, in short, his self-esteem. Therefore, the appearance of Rogozhin and his gang, and In the presence of his lord general, it made him feel extremely embarrassed.

"Oh, General," he had just protested to Nastasya Filippovna, who interrupted him at once, "I forgot! But don't worry, I expected you to do so." I think about it. If you feel humiliated, I will not insist and force you to stay, although I very much hope to see you by my side now. Anyway, you and I have known each other for a while, and you are considerate to me I'm very grateful for that, but if you're afraid..." "Excuse me, Nastasya Filippovna," cried the general, with chivalrous grace, "where did you say that? Faithful, stay with you now, for example, in case of any danger... Besides, to tell you the truth, I am also very curious. I mean, they might break the carpet, or break something Stuff... In my opinion, there is no need to let them all in, Nastasya Filippovna!"

"Rogoren is here!" Fedsenko solemnly announced. "What do you think, Afanasy Ivanovitch," the general whispered hurriedly to him, "is she mad? I don't mean by metaphor, but is she really mad?" "I told you long ago that she has always been prone to this disease," Afanasy Ivanovitch replied slyly in a low voice. "Besides, it's hot and cold..." Rogozhin's group, like this morning, is almost the same group, with the addition of a bad old man who used to be the editor of a tabloid newspaper that is depraved and specializes in exposing people's privacy.There is an anecdote about this gentleman. It is said that he once pawned off several of his gold teeth in exchange for wine.In addition, there is a retired second lieutenant, who is a close competitor with the Mr. Fist in the morning, as far as the profession and mission are concerned. Picked up from the street, this old man stopped passers-by on the sunny side of Nevsky Prospekt, and asked for funding in Marlinsky style, with cunning intentions and excuses, "I think back then, I also helped others, and I responded to everyone's requests, and I was very helpful to everyone." Give fifteen rubles."The two contenders turned against each other as soon as they met.In the morning, since everyone accepted the "forced giver" into the group, that Mr. Fist thought he had been slighted, but he was not talkative by nature, so sometimes he could only growl like a bear twice and express his deepest gratitude. He looked with contempt at the fawning of the "obsessive giver", but this man was a man of high society and good at dealing with people.On the surface, the ensign would rather use dexterity and wit than resort to force when it comes to "getting real," and he's also slightly shorter than Mr. Fist.He was amiable, kept out of obvious controversy, but boasted a lot, and had already hinted several times at the surprising virtues of English boxing, and in short, the gentleman was a pure Occidental.Mr. Fist sniffs at the word "boxing" and returns it with a contemptuous smile. He has no intention of condescending to enter into an obvious argument with his competitor, but sometimes, silently, as if by accident, Show, or rather, sometimes throw out something that is entirely national—a huge fist with knotted veins, thick knuckles, and overgrown with reddish-brown hair, and everyone understands at once that if this authentic If something of national character falls on one thing accurately, it is no small matter, and it will definitely be bloody and horrible.

Not one of them was as drunk as in the morning, and this was all the result of Rogozhin's efforts to dissuade him, for he was obsessed all day long with the idea that he was going to visit Nastasya Filippovna tonight.He was almost wide awake, and yet there was so much going on in this messed up, most outrageous day of his life that he almost lost his wits.There is only one thing that often hovers in his mind and heart, and he can't forget it every minute and every moment.For this matter, from five o'clock in the afternoon until eleven o'clock in the evening, he was in endless troubles and panics with Jindel and Biskup's gang, and the gang was almost out of control. Insane, in order to get that huge sum of money, he ran around like a madman, scrounging everywhere.However, the one hundred thousand rubles in cash, which Nastasya Filippovna had incidentally, mockingly, and very vaguely hinted at, had at last been collected, and the interest was so high. It was so staggering that Biskup even mentioned interest in private conversations with Kindle, but because he was ashamed to speak, he could only whisper it.

Just like in the morning, Rogozhin walked in front of everyone, and the rest followed behind him. Although they were fully aware that they had a chance of winning, they were still a little apprehensive.Above all (God knows why) they were terrified at the sight of Nastasya Filippovna.Some of them even thought that their group would be "bombed down the stairs" immediately.Those who think so include Huahua Taisui and love veteran Zaryozhev.As for the others, mainly Mr. Fist, although they did not say so, they looked down on Nastasya Filippovna very much in their hearts, and even hated her very much. They came to her as if they were coming to attack a city.But the sumptuous furnishings of the first two rooms, their unheard-of or unseen furnishings, the precious furniture, the expensive paintings, the gigantic Venus--all this filled them with awe, even terror.Of course, this did not prevent them from gradually following Rogozhin into the living room with impudence and curiosity (albeit with a little fear).However, when Mr. Fist, the "Forcible Donator" and some others suddenly discovered that General Ye Panqin was among the guests, at the very first moment, they all froze, and even retreated, retreating a little, retreating. into another room.Only Lebedev was valiant, high-spirited, and full of confidence, and he almost went forward with Rogozhin, because he knew in his heart that the net worth of 1.4 million, plus now, right now, has 100,000 rubles in his hands. Hands, what the hell does that mean.We must note, however, that their group, even Lebedev the know-it-all, was somewhat uncertain about how much they were capable of, and whether they could really do whatever they wanted now.For a few minutes Lebedev was even ready to swear that money could turn the mill, but at other times he was terrified, and just in case, he meditated in his heart those words from the code that would cheer him up and make him happy. Reassuring terms.

Nastasya Filippovna's drawing-room made the exact opposite impression of Rogozhin himself from that of all his companions.No sooner had the curtain been lifted than he saw Nastasya Filippovna—all the rest ceased to exist for him as much as this morning, or even more strongly than this morning.His face turned pale, and he stopped for a moment.It is not difficult to guess that his heart is beating violently.He gazed at Nastasya Filippovna intently for a few seconds timidly and bewildered.Suddenly, as if losing all reason, he staggered to the table, touched Ptitsyn's seat on the way, and stepped on the silent German beauty with his big dirty leather boots. The lace of the beautiful light blue dress, he neither apologized nor noticed.He went to the table and put a strange thing on the table.He walked into the living room with this bag in his hands.It was a large paper package, about three and a half inches high and four inches long, tightly wrapped with the Bourse Gazette, tied on all sides with rope, and tied in two crisscross ways, like Like a bundle of candies.Then he stood there without saying a word, with his hands down, as if waiting for the sentence to be pronounced.The clothes he wore were exactly the same as the one he wore not long ago, except that he added a brand new silk scarf, light green, green field red flowers, and a large diamond brooch in the shape of a beetle was pinned to the scarf. There was also a large diamond ring on the dirty finger.Lebedev stopped three paces before reaching the table.Others, as mentioned above, also squeezed into the living room one by one.Katya and Pasha, Nastasya Filippovna's maidservants, also came to watch the excitement, and looked in through the raised curtain, but with great surprise and fear.

"What is this?" asked Nastasya Filippovna, looking intently and curiously at Rogozhin, and then pointing to the package of "things." "One hundred thousand rubles!" he replied in a low voice. "Oh, well done, you mean what you say! Sit down, here, in this chair, and I'll have something to say to you later. Who came with you? Or the whole morning party? Well, let them all come in." , all sit down, you can sit on the couch over there, and a couch here, and two armchairs over there... What's the matter with them, they won't sit, will they?"

It is true that some people were embarrassed and withdrew and sat in another room to wait, but some people were invited to stay and sat down one by one, but they were far away from the table, and most of them sat crowded in the corner. Here, some people still want to slip away quietly, and some people, the farther they sit, the more courageous they become, and their courage becomes unusually fast.Rogozhin also sat down in the chair he had been invited to sit in, but he sat down for a while, then got up again, and never sat down again.Slowly, slowly, he began to identify and look at each of the guests present.Seeing Ganya, he sneered, and muttered to himself: "Good!" He glanced at the general and Afanasy Ivanovitch, and, far from being uneasy, he was not even particularly curious.But when he found the prince next to Nastasya Filippovna, he fixed his eyes on him for a long time, in astonishment, as if he could not understand how he had come across him here.As might be expected, he was downright distracted at times.Except for the fact that he was in danger today and was greatly stimulated, he spent the whole night on the train yesterday, and he didn't close his eyes for almost two days and two nights.

"Here is a hundred thousand rubles, gentlemen," said Nastasya Filippovna, addressing them all with an eager, eager challenge, "in this dirty paper bag. This morning he was like Shouting like a lunatic, that a hundred thousand rubles would be sent to me tonight, so I have been waiting for him. He offered to buy me: first eighteen thousand, then suddenly forty thousand, then another Now a hundred thousand. He really meant what he said! Oh, how pale he is!... This is what happened at Ganecka's this morning: I went to visit his mother, to my future husband's house, but But his sister yelled at me: 'Can't we just throw that shameless thing out!' and she spat on Ganetchka, his brother's face. A girl of character!"

"Nastasya Filippovna!" cried the general reproachfully.He began to understand the joints a little bit, but he understood it according to his own mind. "What's the matter, General? Unseemly, isn't it? That's enough, don't be prudish, I used to sit in a box on the second floor of the French Theater, like the embodiment of unattainable virtue, and for the past five years I've been like Running away from all those who pursued me like a savage, it seems very proud and chaste, but it is really foolish and prudish! But now, you see, after I have lived a life of self-defense for five years, someone suddenly comes running, right in front of all of you Putting a hundred thousand rubles on the table, they must have some troikas waiting for me outside. He offered me a hundred thousand rubles! I see, Ganetchka, that you still have Are you angry with me? Do you really want to marry me? Marry me, a woman sold to Rogozhin! What did the prince say?" "I didn't say you were sold to Rogozhin, you don't belong to Rogozhin!" said the prince in a trembling voice. "Nastasya Filippovna, come on, my dear, come on, baby," Darya Alexeyevna suddenly couldn't help it, "you're sick of seeing them." , just ignore them! Are you willing to go with such a person if I give you 100,000 rubles! Indeed, 100,000 rubles is a lot. Then you take the 100,000 rubles and drive him away. This group of people has to be dealt with like this. Oh, if I were you, I would take them all... Really!" Darya Alexeyevna became more and more angry as she talked, and finally became angry.This is a good-hearted, very emotional woman. "Don't be angry, Darya Alexeyevna," Nastasya Filippovna smiled at her, "I was not angry when I spoke to him just now, and I didn't reproach him, Don't you? I just don't understand how I can be so foolish as to want to marry someone who is innocent. I saw his mother and kissed her hand. Ganetchka, this morning I Sarcasm at your house, I did it on purpose, and I wanted to see one last time: how far you've come down here? Well, you surprised me, really. I expected a lot of things I didn't expect this! You knew that almost the day before you were going to get married, he gave me a string of pearls, and I accepted them. Can you still marry me? Besides, Rogozhin , he was at your house, and in front of Lingtang and Lingmei, he bargained and bought me. After such a thing happened, you actually came to ask me to marry you, and you almost didn't bring Lingmei Rogozhin said that if you give you three rubles you'll crawl all the way to Vasily Island on your stomach?" "He will certainly crawl," Rogozhin whispered suddenly, but with an air of conviction. "If you're dying of starvation, that's all right, but they say you're well paid and well paid! Besides, let alone your shame, you're willing to marry a wife you hate. (Because you hate me, I know it!) No, now I believe it, people like you will kill for a few dollars! These people are full of money now, and they are greedy, see With an eye for money, you can do any stupid thing. I was still a child, so I racked my brains to lend usury. Not long ago, I saw a news that a person wrapped a piece of silk around a razor, tied it tightly, and ran quietly behind In the past, I killed my friends like a sheep. Huh! You are a shameless person! I am shameless, and you are even more shameless than me. I will not mention the person who came to congratulate me on my birthday with a bouquet... " "Nastasya Filippovna, how did you become like this!" the general raised his hands and slapped them in great sorrow, "you used to be so gentle, and your conversation was so delicate and euphemistic, but now! This mouth How powerful! What sharp words!" "I'm a little drunk now, General," Nastasya Filippovna laughed suddenly, "and I want to have a good drink! It's my birthday, my holiday, my birthday, and I I've been waiting for this day. Darya Alexeyevna, have you seen this man with the bouquet? This is the monsieur aux camelias? Look at him sitting there smiling at us..." "I'm not laughing, Nastasya Filippovna, I'm listening," Totsky retorted solemnly. "Well, why did I torture him for five years and not let him go? Was it worth it! He deserved it... He would think I was ungrateful and sorry for him; he would say he educated me and put I was supported like a countess, I don’t know how much, and I found a good wife in the country, and here I found a Ganecka. Guess what: I haven’t been with you for five years. He lived with him, but he took the money anyway, and I thought I was doing the right thing! Look, I confused myself! You just said that you can take one hundred thousand rubles, and if you feel disgusted, just throw him away It's really disgusting... Actually, I could have married a long time ago, not to say Ganecka, but it's also disgusting. Then why should I waste five years in anger Well! Believe it or not, about four years ago, I sometimes thought, Why don't I really marry my Afanasy Ivanovich? I was in a rage at the time, so I thought so. At that time, I'm tossing and turning in my head. I don't have any thoughts. You know, I will force him to marry me. Can you believe it, he once begged me for nothing? Of course he is lying, but this man is very horny and can't stand it But then, thank God, I changed my mind: Is he worthy of my hating him so much! At that time, I suddenly felt that he was disgusting to me, even if he came to ask for marriage in person, I would not marry him. For five years, I They're all posing and pretending to be serious! No, it's better to hang out in the streets, that's where I should be! Either I'll have fun with Rogozhin, or I'll be a washerwoman tomorrow Because I have nothing on me that is my own. If I want to leave, I will throw everything back to him. I will not leave the last piece of clothing. If I have nothing, who will marry me? You ask Jia Nya, will he marry me? Not even Fedsenko! . . . " "Perhaps Fedeshenko won't marry, Nastasya Filippovna, what can I say," interrupted Fedeshenko, "but the prince will! Look! You sit there weeping, but look up at the prince! I've been watching..." Nastasya Filippovna turned curiously to the prince. "Really?" she asked. "Really." The Duke whispered. "Marry a poor girl who has nothing!" "I will marry, Nastasya Filippovna..." "Another anecdote in the world!" The general muttered, "But it's also expected." Nastasya Filippovna continued to look at the prince, and the prince looked at Nastasya Filippovna's face with sad, stern, penetrating eyes. "Look, there's another queer!" she said suddenly, turning her head to Darya Alexeyevna again. "You know he's really kind, I know him. I've found a very good man." But then again, perhaps, they are right, saying that he... is a bit like that. Since you are so in love with me, you are willing to marry a woman who sold to Rogozhin as your wife, and let her marry Myself, marrying a duke, then what are you going to rely on to support your family?..." "Nastasya Filippovna, I married you innocently, not a woman sold to Rogozhin." "I'm still innocent?" "Yes, you." "Well, that's there... from a novel! My dear prince, it's old-fashioned nonsense, and now that the world has become wiser, it's all nonsense! Besides, you can't get married, you I need to find a nanny to take care of me!" The prince stood up, and though his voice was trembling and timid, but at the same time, he said with a firm air: "I don't know anything, Nastasya Filippovna, and I haven't seen anything, and you're right, but I... I think it's you doing me a favor, not me doing it to you." Saving face. I am an insignificant person, but you suffer and survive the mud, that is very remarkable. Why should you be ashamed and go with Rogozhin? This is a moment of emotion... ...you returned seventy-five thousand rubles to Mr. Totsky and said you would throw everything away, which no one here can do. I ... Nastasia Filippo Vna... I love you. I will die for you, Nastasya Filippovna. I will not allow anyone to say anything to you, Nastasya Filippovna... . . . if we were poor, I would work, Nastasya Filippovna . . . " As he spoke his last words, Fedsenko and Lebedev could be heard snickering, and even the general made a sort of quacking noise from his throat in disapproval.Ptitsyn and Totsky could not but smile brightly, but held back.The rest of the people opened their mouths wide in surprise. "...but we will, perhaps, not be poor, but rich, Nastasya Filippovna," said the prince in the same timid voice as before, "but I'm not sure, unfortunately. All day today, until now, I have found nothing, but while I was in Switzerland, I received a letter from Moscow from a M. A great legacy. This is the letter..." The duke did pull a letter from his pocket. "Isn't he talking nonsense?" the general muttered. "What a madhouse!" There was silence for a moment. "Prince, you seem to have said that this letter was written to you by Sarazkin?" asked Ptitsyn. I inform you, and you can be sure of it, but fortunately I know his handwriting, because I have had dealings with him not long ago... If you would let me see, I might be able to tell you something." The Duke handed him the letter silently, with trembling hands. "What's going on, what's going on?" The general came to his senses suddenly, and looked at everyone like a madman, "Is there really an inheritance?" Ptitsyn was reading the letter, and all eyes were on him.General curiosity now acquired a new and extraordinary impetus.Fedsenko could not sit still.Rogozhin looked now at the prince, now at Ptitsyn, inexplicably and with great anxiety.Darya Alexeyevna sat on pins and needles waiting for the next sentence.Even Lebedev couldn't help coming out of his corner, hunched over Ptitsyn's back, reading the letter, as if he was afraid that someone would kick him right away. .