Chapter 22 Chapter 05

"Ah, it's you, Masloboyev!" I exclaimed, suddenly recognizing him as a schoolmate of mine in the provinces. "Hey, what a coincidence!" "Isn't it? What a coincidence! We haven't seen each other for five or six years. It can be said that we have met, but your lordship dismisses me. You have become a general, a general who gallops in the literary world, you! . . . " he said, smiling mockingly. with. "Come on, brother Masloboyev, you are talking nonsense," I interrupted him, "first, the general is not like me at all, even in literature, and second, please Listen, I do remember, I was in

I met you twice on the street, but you clearly avoided me, and when I saw people avoiding me, I still insisted on getting close?You know what I'm thinking right now?You wouldn't be calling me now if you weren't so drunk right now.right?Ah hello!I Say dude, I'm very, very happy to meet you. " "Dare! You won't be tarnished because of my... this virtue, right? Well, there is no need to ask; it's no big deal, brother Vanya, I will always remember that you are a good friend. Remember? , you once took a beating for me? You kept silent and didn't confess me, but instead of thanking you, I made fun of you for a week.You are such a nice person!Hello, old man, hello! (We kissed each other.) You know, I've been fooling around all these years-----

One day plus one night -- even if one day and night pass by, the past is not forgotten.I can't forget it even if I want to!How are you? How are you doing? " "What's so bad about it, I'm just fooling around by myself..." He looked at me for a long time and affectionately—everyone who is addicted to drinking is exhausted physically and mentally, and is easily emotional.Then again, he was a very kind man, even when he wasn't drinking. "No, Vanya, there is no comparison between you and me!" he said at last, in a mournful tone, "I have read your great book; read it, Vanya, read it! . . . Talk! Do you have something urgent to do?"

"It's something important; to tell you the truth, there's something that makes me very unhappy. I'll take it this way: Where do you live?" "I'll tell you in a moment. But that's not the way; shall I tell you what's the best thing to do?" "Well, what are you doing?" "Do this! See?" he said, pointing to a signboard ten steps away from where we were standing, "Did you see: a food store is also a restaurant, to put it bluntly, it is a restaurant, but the place is good, I declare in advance, It's a well-behaved Place, as for vodka, let alone!It was shipped from Kyiv!I've had it, I've had it many times, and I know; here, they wouldn't dare bring me bad wine at all.Everyone knows me, Philippe Philippe.I'm Philip Philippe.How

How about?Curl?No, let me finish.It's a quarter past eleven, and I've just seen it; well, I'll let you go at eleven thirty-five.There is enough time for the two of us to have a drink.Waste twenty minutes for an old friend -- okay? " "If it's only twenty minutes, fine; because, old chap, I've got something to do..." "That's fine. But that's the thing, I have two things I want to say first: your complexion is not good, it seems that something has made you unhappy just now, isn't it?" "right." "I'll take a guess. Old man, it's more or less a pastime for me to meet now! Well, let's go in and have a good talk. In these twenty minutes, I will first kill General Tea① and drink A glass of birch wine, followed by some bitter orange

Liquor, then Lime Liquor, then Sweet Love, and whatever you like.I like to eat and drink, old man!Only during the holidays and before church do I feel like a human being.even if you don't You can also drink.As long as you stay with me.If you drink it, you will appear very noble-hearted.Let's go!Chatting casually, and then we have to divide things up, and we have been separated for ten years.I say old man, Vanya, we don't get along well! " "Okay, don't talk nonsense, just go if you want to go. I'll give you twenty minutes, and I have to go when the time comes."

To get to the restaurant, we had to go up to the second floor, two flights of stairs with the steps, and on the stairs we suddenly met two very drunk gentlemen.They wobbled out of the way when they saw us. One of them was a very young and tender-faced guy, he hadn't grown a beard yet, only some small stubbles appeared faintly, and his facial expression was very stupid.He was well-dressed, dandy-looking, but ridiculous: as if the clothes had been rented Yes, with some precious stone rings on his fingers, precious pins in his tie, and his hair is so stupidly styled, with an aviator comb.He kept smiling and giggling.His drinking buddies are in their fifties and fat

Fat, with a big belly, dressed very casually, with a big pin in his tie, bald, with a few sparse hairs, pockmarked, flabby, drunken, with a flat nose like a button, a pair of eyes on the bridge of the nose mirror.The expression on this face is both vicious and lustful, a pair of naked eyes, surrounded by fat, narrowed into two small dimensions, the eyes are fierce, vile and suspicious.It seems that they both knew Masloboyev, but the big belly is meeting us He made a disappointing grimace, although the expression was fleeting, and the young man was all smiles, with a sweet and flattering look.Even took off the hat.He wears a peaked cap.

① refers to drinking tea. ②The name of the wine.The original text is French. "I'm sorry, Philippe Philippe," he said inarticulately, looking at him fawningly. "What's up?" "I'm sorry; you... this... (he flicks his collar with his fingers). Mitroshka sits over there, you. Philip Philippe, the fellow is a bastard, you where." "What's the matter?" "That's how it is, you... last week, it was Mitroshka who made sour cream on him (he pointed to his drinking buddy) in a sleazy place, don't you ……hey-hey!" The drinking buddy nudged him unhappily.

"Philip Felipe, we shall have a half-dozen at the Tussaud's, will you do it?" "No, little brother, not now," Masloboyev replied. "Something happened." "Hey! I also have a little matter, I need to find you..." The drinking buddy nudged him again. "Later, let's talk about it later!" Masloboyev somehow clearly tried not to look at them.We walked into the first room, and there was a long and neat counter across the whole room. On the counter, there were all kinds of cold cuts, baked pies of various colors, and bottles of colorful wines.

, wait - as soon as we entered the house, Masloboyev pulled me to a corner and said: "The young man was a young master named Sizobryukhov, son of a well-known grain merchant. After his father's death, he received half a million dollars, and is now enjoying himself. He went to Paris, where There's a big spender there, all the money is gone Maybe, but after his uncle's death he got another inheritance and came back from Paris; here he is now spending the little money he has left.Needless to say, in another year, he will have to beg for food.stupid as a goose -- see restaurant Just go up, hang out in cellars and in taverns, chase after actresses, and want to be a hussar—I just handed in my application not long ago.The other, an elderly man named Arkhipov, was also a sort of merchant or manager.go home He is a swindler and a swindler, now Sizobryukhov's cronies, Judas and Falstaff ② both, double shabby, and a disgusting pervert. , did all the bad things.In this regard, I know I know he's been involved in a very criminal case; he's slipped away; there's something I really wanted to see him for, and I'm glad to meet him here; I've been waiting for him for a long time... Needless to say, Arkhipov is changing Spend Sizobryukhov's money.he knows a lot There are all kinds of shady places, so this group of young people rely on him and regard him as a treasure.Old man, I've hated this man so much.Mitroshka hated him too.Mitroshka was standing there at the window, wearing a A young man in a gorgeous tight jacket, valiant, high-spirited, with a gypsy face.He sells horses and knows all the cavalry here.To tell you the truth, he is a big liar, even if he makes fake banknotes under your nose, even if you look at him In his eyes, you have no choice but to help him exchange this fake banknote.He wears a Russian tunic, velvet to be sure, but he looks Slavophile (I think it suits him well), but if you give him He puts on a very fine suit and the like, takes him into the English Club, and says to there: This is so-and-so, the hereditary Count Balabanov, and so, at the In two hours, there will be a bow Take him respectfully for a real Earl--he can play whist and talk like a real Earl, and nobody can tell;Nothing good will come of this fellow.This is Mitroshka who hates that big belly He gritted his teeth, because Mitroshka was in tight hands now, but Deng Dawei snatched Sizobryukhov from him.Sizobryukhov had been his friend before he had time to pluck all his hair.Since they were in the hotel just now If you meet him, you will definitely make a fool of yourself.I even knew what was going on, and I had expected it, because Mitroshka (not anyone else) told me that Arkhipov and Sizobryukhov would definitely be here, and he both I often run around in this area, doing something bad.Since Mitroshka hated Arkhipov, I wanted to make use of him, because I had a reason; that was almost why I came here.But I don't want Mitros When Ka sees me, don't keep staring at him.When we get out of here, he'll come to me himself and tell me what I want to know... As for now, let's go, Vanya, to that room over there, see?come on stile Pan," he continued to a waiter, "do you understand what I want? " "Understood, you." "Can it be done?" "It can be done, you." "Go ahead then. Sit down, Vanya. I say, why do you keep looking at me like that? You know, I can see you looking at me all the time. You think it's weird? Don't be surprised. Anything can happen to a person, even in a dream Things can happen that you haven't dreamed about, especially when...well, even if we were still learning the history books of Cornelius Napos by rote!I tell you, Vanya, just believe one thing: I, Masloboyev, He has gone astray, but his heart is still the same as before, but the situation has changed.Although I am like a pig and dog, I am no worse than anyone else.I worked as a doctor, and I also wanted to teach the literature of the motherland. I also wrote a thesis on Gogol. Gold mining, and once planned to get married -- people always want to earn money and food, and she agreed, although my family is so rich that we don't even have anything to feed cats and dogs.I'm getting married and want to borrow a pair of sturdy leather boots because I've been wearing them for a year and a half Boots full of holes...but I'm not married.She married a schoolteacher, and I worked in an office, not a firm, but an ordinary office.Alas, that's another matter.Time passes like flowing water , Although I am not a errand and do not do things now, it is very convenient to earn money: I have taken bribes and acted impartially; I am a hero when dealing with sheep, and I am a sheep when dealing with heroes.I have certain rules: for example, I know that a single-handed horse can't fight on the battlefield, So I do my thing.Most of my business belongs to spying on other people's privacy... Do you understand? " "You are not a private detective, are you?" "No, it's not a private detective, but it's pretty much the same thing, part business, part pleasure. That's the thing, Vanya: I love to drink. But I never lose my mind because of it." ,so I know what will happen if this goes on.My time has passed, and a dark horse cannot be washed into a white horse.All I have to say is this: If I hadn't been human, Vanya, I wouldn't have come up to say hello to you today.You're right, I've met You, I have seen you in the past, many times I wanted to come and say hello to you, but I always didn't have the courage, so I kept procrastinating.I am not good enough for you.You're right, Vanya, the only reason I came to say hello to you was because I was drunk.Although all this It's all nonsense that isn't worth mentioning, but let's stop here about me.Let me tell you about your situation.I said old man: read it!Not only read it, but finished it.I mean your first novel, old man.finished reading After that, I almost didn't become an honest and responsible person!I mean almost; but looking back, I'd rather stay the same and be a dishonest person.that's it……" ① Cornelius Nepos (after 99132 BC), Roman historian and writer; his book was used as a Latin textbook in Russian middle schools. He also said a lot to me.His drunkenness became more and more intense, and he began to have mixed feelings, and he burst into tears.Masloboyev has always been a very nice person, but he has always had a plan in his chest and is a bit precocious; Scheming, impenetrable, full of bad water.But he wasn't heartless at heart; he was just depraved.There are many such people among the Russians.These people are often very talented; but it all seems to be confused in them. It’s messed up. In addition, because of their weaknesses in some aspects, they will consciously do things that violate their conscience. Not only do they fall again and again, but they also know it in their own minds.By the way, Maslobo Jeff has been soaked in the wine tank and can't extricate himself. "And now, old chap," he went on, "I heard that first you were famous; then I read all kinds of articles about you (I won't lie, I did; you thought I don't see anything, don't I read anything); after When I met you later, and saw you in worn-out boots, in the muddy streets without goloshes, and in a worn-out hat, I guessed in my mind that it was all right.You're writing for magazines now, and you're making a living, right? " "Yes, Masloboyev." "Then you are a worn-out stage-horse?" "A bit like." "Well, old chap, I have one word of advice for that: let's get drunk! Look at me, after a good drink, I'm going to throw myself on the sofa (my sofa is very comfortable, with spring cushions), and I'll Think, let's say, I'm some sort of Homer Or Dante, or some Frederick the Great—whatever you like.Well, but you can't imagine that you are Tandin or Frederick the Great, first, because you keep your own way, and second, you are forbidden to do whatever you want , because you are a weary stage horse.I can have wild thoughts, but you have only reality.Please listen to my heartfelt words as a brother, or if you look down on me and despise me, (even if it takes another ten years, I will be angry with you) Excuse me: you need money?I have it.Don't curl your lips.Take the money, settle the account with the boss, get rid of the shackles, and then do something to guarantee my food and clothing for a year, and then sit down and write whatever I like, and write a tome!how Sample?What do you think? " ① Refers to Dostoevsky's debut novel "The Poor". ② Frederick the Great (red beard) (-123-1190), King of Germany, Holy Roman Emperor (crowned in 1155). "I say Masloboyev! I appreciate your kindness, but I can't answer you now because it's a long story. There are some circumstances. However, I promise to tell you everything in the future, like a brother." tell you the same. thank you Kindness: I promise to see you, and many times.But here's the thing: since you have everything to say to me, I want you to make up my mind, and besides, you're an expert at these things. " So I told him everything about Smith and his granddaughter, starting with the grocery store.But it's odd: when I told him about it, I could see in his eyes that he had heard a little about it too. .So I asked him what was the matter. "No, not quite," he answered, "but I have heard a little about Smith, that an old man died in a grocery store. I do know a thing or two about Mrs. Bubnova." .Two months ago, I accepted A bribe from this lady.Wherever it is good, I put my hand there, only in this respect I am a bit like Molière.However, although I knocked her a hundred rubles, I made up my mind at the time to knock her hard again. One hundred rubles, but five hundred rubles.These girls are so bad!Just do something unreasonable.This is nothing, but sometimes it is too extreme.Please don't think I'm Don Quixote.The point is that I can earn a fortune again, So I was overjoyed to have met Sizobrihuoben half an hour ago.Sizobryukhov was obviously brought by someone, that is, the big belly, because I know what the big belly is up to, so I decided... I want Capture him on the spot!I'm glad to hear about the little girl from you; and now I've got another lead.I said old man, I often accept all kinds of private commissions, and I also know some people of all kinds!not long ago i Once prying into a little thing, let me tell you the truth for a duke--it's unbelievable that the duke cared about such a little thing.Or else, if you like to hear it, I can tell you another story about a married woman ?I said old man, you can often come to my house, I have prepared many stories, as long as you write them out, it will definitely be amazing..." "What's the Duke's last name?" I interrupted him as if I had a premonition. "Why do you ask that? All right: Valkowski." "Peter?" "That's him. You know him?" ①The original text is French. ②It is said that the above idiom sent Molière, so it is said. "Acquainted, but not well. Well, Masloboyev, I will come to see you more than once, please tell me about this gentleman," I said, standing up, "I am very interested in you. " "I say old chap, come in as often as you like. I'm a man of stories, but there's a line—understand? If you don't, you lose credit and reputation, I mean business, and Others and so on." "Well, say as much as you can, just keep your reputation." I even got emotional when I said that.He noticed it. "Well, do you have anything else to say about what I told you just now? Did you remember anything?" "About that thing you said? Wait for me for two minutes; we'll talk after we've settled our accounts." He went to the counter, where, as if inadvertently, he was joined by the young man in the tight jacket, who was called Mitroshka, who was called unceremoniously.I think that Masloboyev has a better relationship with him than he does with me. Admit it deeply.At least it could be seen that the two of them chattered about everything, and this was by no means the first time.From the outside, the young man Mitroshka was quite prominent.He was wearing a tight coat and a red silk shirt close to his body, and his face was rough, but Very handsome.Fairly young-looking, with a dark complexion, and a sharp, piercing eye, he gave the impression that this man was interesting and that he had nothing against him.His every move seems to show that he is not afraid of anything, and he is not afraid of anything. At the same time, at the moment, he is obviously restrained, and he is eager to put on an appearance of being very capable and steady. "I say Vanya," said Masloboyev when he came back to me, "come to my house tonight at seven, and I'm not sure I can tell you anything. You know, I can't get up alone. Great effect; in the past, it could start to work, but now, He's just a drunk, and he quit long ago.But I still have some past connections; I can find out more or less, and I have a little hook-up with various experts in private; When I'm free, when I'm sober, I'll do a little bit by myself, through acquaintances...mostly by asking around...well, let's not talk about this!Enough... This is my address: on Liupu Street.But now, man, there's nothing I can do La.Have another glass of red wine and head home.Lie down.You are here—I want to introduce you to Alexandra Semyonovna, and when I have time, we will talk about poetry. " "Well, talk about that too?" "Well, maybe we can talk about it." "Okay, I'll come, definitely come..."