Chapter 25 six

Lebedev's dacha was small, but comfortable and even beautiful.The part that is used for rental is even more renovated.On a fairly spacious veranda, the entrance from the outside into the house, Lebedev delighted the eye with several orange trees, lemon trees, and jasmines planted in large green barrels.Among them are several trees that he bought together with the villa.He admired the effect of these flowers and trees placed on the balcony, and it was a coincidence, so he made up his mind to buy some of the same flowers and trees planted in wooden barrels to match Jackie Chan while taking advantage of the auction elsewhere.When the flowers and trees were finally transported to the villa and arranged one by one, Lebedev ran down the steps of the verandah several times that day, admiring his territory from the outside, thinking about it every time, and gradually increasing the size. The amount of rent demanded from future tenants who come to rent the villa.The Duke was weak, depressed, and disintegrated, but he liked the villa very much.However, on the day the prince moved to Pavlovsk, that is, on the third day after his epileptic seizure, the prince looked like a healthy person only in appearance, although he felt in his heart that he had not completely recovered.During these three days he liked everyone he saw around him, Kolya who was with him almost every step of the way, the whole Lebedev family (except the missing nephew), and Lebedev himself even took pleasure in receiving General Ivolkin, who had visited him in the city.On the day he moved here (it was late in the evening), many guests came and sat around him on the verandah: Ganya was the first to come, the prince almost didn't recognize him,— During this time he has changed a lot and lost a lot of weight.Next came Varya and Ptitsyn, also summer guests from Pavlovsk.General Ivolkin lived almost all the time with the Lebedevs, and even seemed to have moved with him.Lebedev tried not to bother him with the prince, kept him on his side, and treated the general in a friendly manner, and it seemed that they had known each other for a long time.The prince noticed that during these three days the two of them had sometimes had long conversations, quarrels and arguments, even on academic matters, which obviously pleased Lebedev.It can be imagined that he even needs the general very much, and cannot do without the general.However, the precautions he had taken to protect the duke, since he moved to the villa, were also observed with regard to his own family: he did not allow anyone to approach him in the name of not disturbing the duke.Although the duke begged him not to drive anyone away, at the slightest suspicion that his daughters were going to the terrace where the duke was, he stomped on them, rushed at them, and chased them, even the one with the baby in his arms. Vera is no exception.

"First, it would be too impolite to let them go; second, they are too indecent..." the Duke pressed him straight to the point, and he was forced to explain. "Then what's the point?" said the prince disapprovingly. "Really, this whole set of surveillance and security measures you have taken only makes me feel bad. I'm bored by myself, as I've told you several times." , you yourself are constantly waving your hands and walking on tiptoe, which only annoys me more." By this the prince was implying that, although Lebedev drove all the children away on the pretext that the sick man wanted peace, he himself had been sneaking in to see the prince almost every hour of the three days, and always first. Open the door, stick your head in, and look around the room, as if to check: Is anyone here?Didn't run away?Then he walked slowly on tiptoe to the easy chair, so that sometimes, unexpectedly, the Duke was taken aback.He kept asking the duke if he wanted anything, and when the duke could bear it no longer and began to point out to him, please let him be quiet, he turned obediently and silently, and went back on tiptoe to the door, and he Every time he went out, he would wave his hands repeatedly, as if to express to others that he just came in casually to look around and never said a word. Now that he has gone out, he will never come back again next time, but after ten minutes, or very In short, a quarter of an hour later, he reappeared.Only Kolya was allowed to come in and see the prince at will, and this made Lebedev very sad, even angry and annoyed.Kolya discovered that Lebedev often stood outside the door and overheard him talking to the prince for half an hour at a time. Needless to say, Kolya also told the prince about this.

"You seem to have locked me up for yourself," protested the prince, "at least at the villa, I hope not, you know: I can see anyone, and I can go wherever I like .” "There is no doubt about it," said Lebedev, waving his hands. The Duke looked him over carefully from head to toe. "I say, Lukyan Timofeevich, has that little cupboard you nailed to the head of the bed brought here?" "No, I didn't move here." "Did it stay there?" "It can't be moved unless it's pried out of the wall...it's nailed down, very strong."

"Maybe, there's the same closet here?" "It's even better than that, better than that, when I bought the house, there were closets." "Ah-ah. Who was that man you didn't let me in? An hour ago." "This... this is the general. I did not let him in, and there is no need for him to come to you. Duke, I respect this duke very much, this... this is a great man, you, don't you believe it? Well, later You will see, but then again... Your lord duke, you'd better not see him, my lord." "Why, please? Lebedev, why are you always on tiptoe now, and every time you visit me, you always seem to have some secret to tell me?"

"Insignificant, I feel inferior," replied Lebedev unexpectedly, beating his chest passionately, "but don't you think the general is too hospitable and hospitable to you, don't you? " "Too attentive, too hospitable?" "It's too hospitable and hospitable, you. First, he is already planning to live with me. He can live here if he wants to, but it's too much. He immediately became relatives with me. He and I have already become relatives. We have been relatives a few times. According to him, we are related by marriage. He also explained to me yesterday that you are still his nephew. Since you are his nephew, then so are we, Your Excellency the Duke. Relatives. This is nothing, just a small weakness, but then he said that in his whole life, from the time he became a warrant officer until June 11th last year, the number of people eating at his house every day has never been less than Two hundred people. In the end, they blatantly boasted that these people would not move as soon as they sat down, and they had eaten lunch and dinner without a break for thirty years, and drank tea after dinner, fifteen hours a day and night After eating and drinking continuously, it was hard to find time to let someone change the tablecloth. One person stood up and left, another person came, and on New Year's Day and royal celebrations, there were as many as three hundred people who came to eat There are many. And when Russia was founded for a thousand years, there were as many as 700 people. Bragging is also a hobby, and it is a very bad sign to talk big like this. Please come down to such a hospitable person, It's even scary, so I thought, isn't such a person a little too hospitable and hospitable for you and me?"

"But you are probably on very good terms with him?" "Like a brother, I take it as a joke, even if we are in-laws: what do I have—it's a great honor. Even if he brags about two hundred guests and a thousand years of Russia, I can see it He is a very fine man. I mean it. Prince, you spoke of secrets just now. It seems that I came to you to tell you a secret, and there is a secret: a lady just told me, She would love to have a secret meeting with you." "Why a secret meeting? That won't work. I can visit her in person, even today." "Absolutely, absolutely not," Lebedev waved his hands again and again. "It's not that she's afraid of the man you think she's afraid of. By the way, that scoundrel comes every day to inquire about your health, do you know?"

"Why do you always call him a villain? It makes me suspicious." "You don't have to have any doubts, no," Lebedev hastily changed the subject, "I just want to say that the lady is not afraid of him, she is afraid of someone else, someone else." "Who are you afraid of? Tell me quickly." The prince asked impatiently, seeing Lebedev's sneaky and timid manner. "That's the secret." After all, Lebedev smiled. "Whose secret?" "Your secret. Your Excellency, you yourself forbade me to speak of this matter in your presence..." muttered Lebedev, noticing that the prince's curiosity had been aroused to the point of impatience. She was very proud, and then suddenly said something surprising: "She is afraid of Aglaya Ivanovna."

The Duke frowned and was silent for about a minute. "Really, Lebedev, I'm leaving your dacha," he said abruptly. "Where are Gavrila Ardalionovich and the Ptitsyns? Are you on your side? Lured them to you too?" "They're coming soon, sir, and the general is coming with them. I'm going to open all the doors and get my daughters out, all of them, and at once, Call me at once," whispered Lebedev in terror, and waving his hands, he ran from door to door. At this moment Kolya came in from the outside, appeared on the verandah, and announced that there were some guests: Lizaveta Prokofievna and her three daughters, who would arrive shortly thereafter.

Lebedev was taken aback by the news, jumped up and asked: "Will the Ptitsyns and Gavrila Ardalionovich be allowed in now? Will the general be allowed in?" "Why not? Whoever wants to come in, let them all in! To tell you the truth, Lebedev, you misunderstood my relationship with everyone from the beginning, and you always make mistakes again and again. I have no The reason is hiding." The Duke smiled. Lebedev looked at him, thinking it was his duty to laugh too.Although he was very disturbed, he also seemed very proud. Kolya’s report was true. In order to inform them in advance, he walked two steps ahead of Yepanchin and her daughter, so the two guests suddenly drove up from both sides, and it was Yepanchin and her daughter who came in from the balcony. From the house came the Ptitsyns, Ganya, and General Ivolkin.

The Epanchins had just learned from Kolya that the prince was ill and that he was in Pavlovsk, and the general's wife had been very preoccupied and bewildered until then.The day before yesterday the general had told his family about the receipt of the prince's card, which aroused confidence in Lizaveta Prokofievna, and she was absolutely sure that the prince would follow. After this business card came to Pavlovsk to see them in person.Although the ladies said that a man who hadn't written a letter for a year and a half might not be in a hurry at all, and that he might have enough to do in Petersburg even if he didn't come to see them, but she didn't listen to them at all,— —How do you know something is wrong with him?The general's wife was very angry, and even made a bet with them: the Duke will come the next day, which is extremely true, although "it is already late."The next day she waited all morning, at noon, and in the evening, it was already dark, and she was still waiting, Lizaveta Prokofievna got angry at everything and quarreled with everyone It goes without saying that the prince was not mentioned a single word in the cause of the quarrel.Nor was a word mentioned of the duke throughout the third day.During the meal, Aglaya accidentally blurted out that Maman was angry because the Duke didn't come, and the general immediately pointed out: "It's not his fault." - Lizaveta Prokofier After hearing this, Funa stood up and left the dinner table angrily.At last, in the evening, Kolya arrived, bringing with him various news and a vivid description of what he knew had happened to the prince.In the end, Lizaveta Prokofievna won, but Kolya was still severely reprimanded: "If you hang around here all day for several days, you won't be able to drive him away." , but right now, even if you don’t want to come, send us a message.” Kolya wanted to get angry immediately when he heard the words “you can’t be driven away”, but then decided to save it for the next time. Besides, perhaps he would have completely forgiven the presumptuous remark if it hadn't been so irritating in itself: for he saw how Lizaveta Prokofievna looked when she heard that the prince was ill. Very excited and restless, which pleased him.She kept insisting that someone should be sent to Petersburg at once to fetch such-and-such a leading figure in the medical profession, and ask him to come here immediately by the first train tomorrow morning, but the ladies dissuaded her.Then again, when they saw their mother packing up in the blink of an eye and going to visit the sick, they were not far behind and wanted to come with her.

"He's almost dying," said Lizaveta Prokofievna, bustling about. "We're still observing some stupid etiquette here! Is he a friend of ours?" "But you shouldn't have barged in indiscriminately," said Aglaya. "Well, then you don't go, it's better: otherwise, Yevgeny Pavlych is here and no one will receive you." After hearing this, needless to say, Aglaya immediately followed everyone. In fact, she planned to do the same without saying this.The Duke was sitting with Adelaida, and she asked him to go, and he immediately agreed to go with the ladies.In the past, at the beginning of his association with the Yepanchins, he had heard them talk about the duke, so he was very interested in the duke.It turned out that he knew the Duke, that they had met somewhere not long ago, and had lived together for a week or two in a small town.This was two or three months ago.The Duke also told them a lot about the Duke, and he had a very good impression of him, so now he is very happy to visit old acquaintances.General Ivan Fyodorovitch happened to be away.Yevgeny Pavlovitch had not yet come, either. The distance from the Yepanchins to the Lebedevs' dacha was less than three hundred paces.Lizaveta Prokofievna's first unpleasant impression upon seeing the prince was that she found himself surrounded by a large company of guests, not to mention that there were two or three of them whom she hated. the second unpleasant impression was that of astonishment: she had expected the duke to be a dying man, but instead she saw a well-dressed, smiling young man who appeared to be in perfect health and people.She even stopped for no apparent reason, which pleased Kolya very much.In fact, before she left her own villa, he could have made it clear to her that no one was dying, and no one was going to die, but he insisted on not explaining, he guessed, as soon as she saw his confidant The good friend, the Duke, was healthy and must be very angry. He had mischievously anticipated the funny and ridiculous angry appearance of the general's wife.Moreover, Kolya's public utterance of his conjectures seemed too impolite, which greatly annoyed Lizaveta Prokofievna.Although he and the general's wife had friendship and could not do without each other, they often ridiculed each other, sometimes very sharply. "Wait, my dear, don't be in a hurry, don't get too excited!" replied Lizaveta Prokofievna, sitting down in the easy chair the prince had given her. Generals Lebedev, Ptitsyn, and Ivolkin hurriedly offered chairs to the ladies.The chair in which Aglaya was sitting was brought by the general, and Lebedev brought another chair for Prince Shy, and he bent over it with a respectful air.Varya greeted the ladies cheerfully and quietly, as usual. "It's true, duke, I thought you were bedridden, and I exaggerated your condition when I was afraid, and I won't lie to you, I was very angry when I saw your rosy face, but I dare God Swear, it only took a minute, and I figured it out quickly. As long as I use my brain and think about everything, I will become smarter no matter what I say or do. I think you must do the same. Seriously, see I'm glad you're cured, and even if my own son (if I had one) was cured, I'd be happier not to see you well. If you don't believe what I just said, It was you, not me, who was ashamed. But this bad boy played a kind of joke on me. You probably want to protect him, so I warn you, someday, please believe me, I will I will reluctantly part with him and refuse to associate with him." "Where was I wrong?" cried Kolya. "Even if I told you over and over again that the prince is almost recovered, you wouldn't believe it, because it's much more interesting to imagine him dying." "Are you coming to stay with us permanently?" Lizaveta Prokofievna asked the prince. "For a summer, maybe longer." "Aren't you alone? Not married, are you?" "No, not married." The Duke smiled at this naive and stinging statement. "It's nothing funny, it happens all the time, I'm talking about the villa, why don't you come over to our house? We've got the whole wing empty, but you can do what you want. Did you rent it from him? With this man?" She pointed to Lebedev, and added in a low voice, "Why is he always bowing and putting on airs?" At this time, Vera carried the child from the back room to the balcony as usual.Lebedev had been circling around the chair, ingratiating, not knowing what to do, but he was very unwilling to leave, and when he saw Vera coming, he rushed towards her, and hurled at her. He waved her away from the balcony, and even stomped at her obsessively. "Is he crazy?" the general's wife suddenly added. "No, he..." "Drunk, perhaps? Your gang is so unrefined," she said curtly, glancing at the other guests, "but the girl is lovely! Who is she?" "Her name is Vera Lukyanovna, and she is Mr. Lebedev's daughter." "Ah! . . . very lovely. I should like to get to know her." But Lebedev, having heard Lizaveta Prokofievna's compliment, had already dragged his daughter over to present him to the general's wife. "They are all motherless children, motherless children!" He said with emotion as he walked over, "The child in her arms is also motherless. It is her sister and my daughter, named Liu. Bov, she was born to Yelena, who just passed away. She was called by my Lord six weeks ago and died in childbirth... yes, you... she can only be the mother. Although she is just a sister, but a sister...but, just..." "But, sir, you are nothing but a fool, pardon me. Well, that's enough, I think, you will understand for yourself," Lizaveta Prokofievna interrupted him suddenly, very annoyed. . "True!" Lebedev bowed deeply and respectfully. "I said, Mr. Lebedev, it is said that you can explain the Book of Revelations. Is that true?" asked Aglaya. "It's true...it's been about fifteen years." "I have heard about you. It seems that your deeds have also been published in the newspapers?" "No, it's about another interpreter, another one, you, but he's dead, and I'll take his place," said Lebedev, triumphantly. "Excuse me, since we are neighbors, can you explain it to me in a couple of days? I don't know anything about "Apocalypse." "I cannot but warn you, Aglaya Ivanovna, that all this is nothing more than a sham and a swindler, please believe me," broke in General Ivolkin, who had been on pins and needles. Waiting for an opportunity, trying to make a speech in every possible way, he sat down next to Aglaya Ivanovna. "Of course, you have your own rights at the dacha," he went on, "and your own entertainment. Such an extraordinary counterfeit, asking him to explain the "Apocalypse", it should be said that, like other entertainment, it is also a kind of entertainment, even a kind of entertainment that enlightens wisdom and makes a difference, but I... you seem to be very surprised looking at me? I have the honor to introduce myself, I am General Ivolkin. I even hugged you, Aglaya Ivanovna." "It's a pleasure to meet you. I know my daughter Varvara Ardalionovna and my esteemed wife Nina Alexandrovna," muttered Aglaya, trying to hold herself back so as not to Can't help but laugh out loud. Lizaveta Prokofievna was suddenly in a rage.Something that had been pent up in her heart for a long time suddenly wanted to take the opportunity to vent it.She hated this General Iwolkin the most, although she knew him before, but it was a long time ago. "Sir, you have become a habit of lying, and you have never hugged her!" She said to him angrily. "You forgot, Maman, he really hugged me, in Tver," Aglaya confirmed suddenly, "we lived in Tver at that time. I remember, I was about six years old. He made me a Arrows and a bow, and he taught me archery, and I shot a pigeon. Do you remember we shot a pigeon together?" "I also remember that at that time, he brought me a helmet made of cardboard and a sword made of wood!" Adelaida also yelled. "I remember that too," Alessandra confirmed. "At that time, you two were still arguing about this injured pigeon. The adults ordered you to stand. When Adelaida was punished, she was still wearing a helmet and Take the sword." When the General declared to Aglaya that he had held her, it was only a casual remark, and it was only for the purpose of making a fuss, because he almost always did so when he felt the need to meet and make friends with young people. Get started and start talking.But this time he happened to be right, and he just forgot about the fact that it really happened.Therefore, when Aglaya now suddenly confirmed that this happened, and said that they shot a pigeon together, his memory suddenly brightened, and he remembered everything, and he remembered clearly even the smallest details. , just like some people, even though they are old, will remember some distant past events.It is difficult to express what it was in this recollection that moved so strongly the poor general, who was, as usual, a little drunk, but at any rate he was suddenly overwhelmed and moved. "I remember, I remember everything!" he cried. "I was a captain. You were a little boy, and you were pretty. Nina Alexandrovna... Ganya... I was at the house... . . . Your kindness. Ivan Fyodorovich . . . " "Look at how depressed you are now!" the general's wife interjected. "Since you are so moved, it shows that you haven't drunk all your noble emotions! How much your wife has suffered from you. You should have Educate children with such sentiments, and you're sitting in a debt prison. Get out, sir, out of here, wherever you want, and stand in the corner behind the door, and have a good cry, and think how much you've been Pure and spotless, maybe God will forgive you. Go, go, I tell you this seriously. There is no better way to change your mind than to look back and regret it." In fact, there is no need to tell him again and again that he is being persuaded in a serious manner, because the general, like all people who are often drunk, is very emotional, and like all drunks who are too depressed, they will feel mixed feelings when they think of the happy past. intersection.He got up and walked obediently towards the door, which immediately made Lizaveta Prokofievna feel sorry for him. "Mr. Ardalion Alexandritch!" she cried after him, "wait a moment, we are all guilty, and as soon as you feel your conscience lessen, come to the dormitory." Xu, let's sit together and talk about the past. You know, I may be more sinful than you. Well, goodbye now, you go, you don't have to stay here..." She was suddenly afraid that he would come back. "You'd better not go with him," Kolya wanted to go out with his father, but the prince stopped him. "Otherwise he will complain about you later, and all this time will be in vain." "That's right, don't pay attention to him, and leave in half an hour," Lizaveta Prokofievna affirmed. "Although he told the truth just once in his life, the result was very different—moved to tears!" Lebedev ventured to intervene. "If what I've heard is true, sir, you won't be any better." Lizaveta Prokofievna immediately stopped him. The mutual status of the guests gathered around the Duke gradually became clear.It is needless to say that the Duke could and did see the great interest shown to him by the General's wife and her daughters, and he told them with all sincerity that, before their visit, in spite of his sickness and lateness, he I still plan to visit their house today.Lizaveta Prokofievna looked at his visitor, and replied that even now it was all right to do so.Ptitsyn, a polite and worldly man, got up quickly when he heard this, and slipped quietly into Lebedev's annexe, wanting very much to take Lebedev out with him.Lebedev promised to come right away.At this time Varya was having a pleasant conversation with the ladies, so she stayed.She and Ganya were very glad to see the general go, and Ganya soon followed Ptitsyn.During the few minutes he spent on the verandah, facing the Epanchins and the mother and daughter, he behaved very modestly and well, although Lizaveta Prokofievna looked him over from head to toe twice with Seriously, he didn't panic in the slightest.To be honest, those who knew him in the past must feel that he has changed a lot.Aglaya was also very happy when she saw this. "Isn't it Gavrila Ardalionovich who went out just now?" she suddenly interrupted, as she often does sometimes, and asked loudly and rudely, but without specific questions. who. "Yes." The Duke replied. "Almost unrecognizable him. He's gotten better, . . . much better." "I'm very happy for him," said the Duke. "He has been ill, very ill," added Varya, with joyful sympathy. "How has he changed for the better?" Lizaveta Prokofievna asked angrily, bewildered, almost terrified. "What makes him better. Not at all. Do you think?" How did he get better?" "Nothing better than 'poor knight'!" Kolya suddenly declared, standing by Lizaveta Prokofievna's chair. "I think so too," said the Duke, laughing. "It's exactly the same in my humble opinion." Adelaida also solemnly declared. "What 'poor knight'?" asked the General's wife, who looked at all who spoke in perplexity and dismay, but seeing Aglaya's face flush, she added angrily: "Nonsense." !What is 'poor knight'?" "Could it be the first time that you little boy, your favorite, has twisted words!" replied Aglaya with haughty indignation. Whenever Aglaya got angry suddenly (and she got angry very often), although she looked serious on the surface and seemed to have a hard heart, she almost always showed some childish, schoolboy-like impatient expressions, She tried to hide this expression, but she couldn't do it well, so one couldn't help but smile when looking at her, but Aglaya was very annoyed that she didn't understand what people were laughing at." How dare they laugh, how can they laugh."This time her sister and Prince Shy laughed too, and even Prince Lev Nikolayevich blushed for some reason and then smiled.Kolya laughed triumphantly.Aglaya was really angry this time, but when she was angry, she looked even more charming, and when she was embarrassed, she looked very charming, and she was still angry at herself because of her embarrassment, making her even more charming and cute up. "Isn't it enough that he misrepresented you?" She added. "I have a basis for saying this, and it is based on your own long sigh!" Kolya exclaimed, "a month ago, when you were reading "Don Quixote", you said this sentence with great emotion. Well, you said nothing better than 'poor knight'. I don't know who you were talking about: Don Quixote, or Yevgeny Pavlych, or someone else, anyway It’s about one person, it’s a long story..." "Don't make wild guesses, my dear, I think you're too presumptuous," Lizaveta Prokofievna interrupted him with regret. "Am I the only one?" Kolya refused to let it go. "Everyone said that at the time, and they still say it now. Just now, Prince Shi, Adelaida Ivanovna, everyone agreed." The expression "poor knight" shows that "poor knight" exists and exists, and I think we all would have known it if it hadn't been for Adelaida Ivanovna. Who is the 'poor knight'." "Why are you blaming me?" Adelaida laughed. "I asked you to paint a portrait, and you refused to do it—you are to blame! Aglaya Ivanovna asked you to paint a portrait of 'the poor knight', and even told you The whole theme of this painting, she made up this theme herself, remember this theme? You just don't want to..." "How do you tell me to paint, who should I paint? According to the subject matter, this 'poor knight' should be: "From now on, never from the face "Remove the steel mask. "How to draw this face? What to draw: just a mask? Draw a person who can't see his face?" "I just don't understand what you are talking about. What kind of mask is long and short!" The general's wife was furious. In fact, she already knew who this "poor knight" (probably called him by mutual understanding) was referring to.But what irritated her most was that Lev Nikolayevich was embarrassed, and finally blushed like a ten-year-old. "Why, shouldn't this stupid joke be over? Can you tell me what happened to this 'poor knight'? Is this some kind of secret, so terrible that no one is allowed to ask? " However, everyone continued to laugh without saying a word. "It's just a strange Russian poem," said the Duke at last, in an attempt to divert and change the subject quickly, "about a 'poor knight,' without a head or tail, a Part of the first poem. About a month ago, we were joking after dinner, as usual, looking for subjects for Adelaida Ivanovna's future paintings. You know, for Adelaida Ivanovna It has long been a common task for our family to find themes for his paintings: someone thought of this 'poor knight' at that time, but I can't remember who first thought of it..." "It's Adelaida Ivanovna!" cried Kolya. "Perhaps, I agree, but I don't remember exactly," the Duke continued. "Some people laughed at the subject, others declared that there was nothing more elegant, but anyway, to paint this 'Poor knight', you gotta have a face. They started picking faces of all their acquaintances one by one, and no one was suitable, so the matter was dropped, that's all. I don't understand why Nicolae Arda Leonovic wants to bring up the old story again and bring this matter up? In fact, I thought it was ridiculous and appropriate at the time, but now I feel dull." "Because it's not meant to be, it's a stupid new prank, it's annoying," said Lizaveta Prokofievna gruffly. “除了表示深深的敬意以外，根本不是什么愚蠢的恶作剧。”阿格拉娅完全出人意料地用一种严肃而又一本正经的语调说道，她已经完全恢复过来了，刚才那种又窘又急的神态已经一扫而光。不仅如此，瞧她那副模样，从某些迹象看得出来，她看到这玩笑越开越离谱，越开越有劲，现在甚至觉得很高兴，而且她心情的这一转变，正是在已经非常明显地可以看出公爵已经变得越来越不好意思了，而且他的不好意思已经达到了无以复加的地步这一时刻发生的。 “一会儿像疯子似的哈哈大笑，现在又突然冒出了深深的敬意！真是些疯子！为什么要表示敬意？快说，你为什么平白无故地突然冒出了这个深深的敬意？” “我所以要对他表示深深的敬意，是因为，”阿格拉娅继续严肃而又一本正经地回答她母亲的近乎挖苦的问话，“是因为在这首诗里直接描写了一个人，他富有理想，其次，一旦树立了理想，便坚信不疑，不仅坚信，而且盲目地把自己的整个生命献给了它。这种情况在我们这个时代并不是总能遇到的。那儿，也就是在这首诗里，并没有具体说明这位'可怜的骑士'的理想究竟是什么，但是看得出来，这是一个光辉的形象，'纯真之美的形象'，于是在热恋中的骑士便用念珠代替围巾，系在自己的脖子上。不错，那儿还有一个含义模糊而又隐晦的铭文——字母AH，他把它写在自己的盾牌上……” “是AH.。”科利亚纠正说。 “我说的是AH，我偏要这样说，”阿格拉娅恼火地打断道，“无论如何有一点很明显，这位可怜的骑士已经无所谓了：不管她的心上人是谁，也不管她过去做过什么事。他既然看上了她，相信她那'纯真之美'，有这点也就够了，以后便终身崇拜她。他好就好在，哪怕她后来当了小偷，他仍旧对她坚信不疑，为她那纯真之美而舍生忘死，拼杀到底。诗人大概想把一个纯洁而高尚的骑士那种中世纪富有骑士之风的柏拉图式的爱这一大概念，通通纳入一个无与伦比的形象中。不用说，这一切不过是理想。在'可怜的骑士'身上，这种情感已经发展到顶点，发展到禁欲主义。应当承认，一个人能有这样的情感是难能可贵的，而且这样的情感定将在自己身后留下深深的，一方面也可以说极可赞许的痕迹，更不用说堂吉诃德了。'可怜的骑士'就是堂吉诃德，不过他是严肃的堂吉诃德，而不是滑稽可笑的堂吉诃德。我起初并不明白这个道理，取笑过他，可是现在我爱这位'可怜的骑士'，主要是景仰他的丰功伟绩。” 阿格拉娅结束了自己的讲演，瞧她那模样，甚至很难相信，她在说正经话还是存取笑人。 “哼，他一定是傻瓜，他的丰功伟绩也傻得出奇！”将军夫人断言，“还有你，小姐你也是信口开河，竟给我们长篇大论地上起课来了。我看，你这样做很不合适。不管怎么说，是不许可的。什么诗？读出来给我听听，你肯定背得出来！我一定要知道这首诗。我这辈子最讨厌的就是诗，我好像有预感似的。看在上帝分上，公爵，你就忍耐一下吧，看来，现在咱俩都只能耐下性子听了。”她对列夫·尼古拉耶维奇公爵说她听了阿格拉娅的这席话后感到非常懊丧。 列夫·尼古拉耶维奇公爵本来想说什么，但是因为他的窘态还没有消除，所以一句话也说不出来。只有那位放肆地在大发“宏论”的阿格拉娅，非但毫不害羞，反而显得很高兴似的。她立刻站起身来，依旧一本正经而又装腔作势地，那模样似乎早就做好准备，只待人家邀请她似的，她走到凉台中央，站在仍旧坐在自己那把安乐椅上的公爵对面。大家都带着几分惊讶望着她，几乎所有的人，希公爵、两位姐姐和母亲，全都带着一种不愉快的感觉望着这个正准备开场的新的恶作剧，这无论如何闹得有点过火了。但是看得出来，阿格拉娅喜欢的正是她要一本正经地朗诵诗的那种装模作样的架势。利扎韦塔·普罗科菲耶芙娜差点没把她轰回她原来坐的地方去，但是就在阿格拉娅刚要开始朗诵这首著名的抒情叙事诗的时候，两位新客人一面大声交谈着，一面从外面走上了凉台，他俩是伊万·费奥多罗维奇·叶潘钦将军和跟在他后面的一名年轻人，引起了一阵小小的骚动。