the man who was afraid- 第32部分

Ookhtishchev　made　a　comical；　sly　grimace　and　looked　into　Foma's　face。

And　Foma　stood　before　him；　feeling　that　his　head　was　lowering　on　his　breast；　and　that　he　was　unable　to　hinder　it。

〃Yes；　the　radiant　Aurora。〃

〃Is　Medinskaya　going　away？〃　a　deep　bass　voice　asked。　〃That's　fine！　I　am　glad。〃

〃May　I　know　why？〃　exclaimed　Ookhtishchev。　Foma　smiled　sheepishly　and　stared　in　confusion　at　the　whiskered　man；　Ookhtishchev's　interlocutor。

That　man　was　stroking　his　moustache　with　an　air　of　importance；　and　deep；　heavy；　repulsive　words　fell　from　his　lips　on　Foma's　ears。

〃Because；　you　see；　there　will　be　one　co…cot…te　less　in　town。〃

〃Shame；　Martin　Nikitich！〃　said　Ookhtishchev；　reproachfully；　knitting　his　brow。

〃How　do　you　know　that　she　is　a　coquette？〃　asked　Foma；　sternly；　coming　closer　to　the　whiskered　man。　The　man　measured　him　with　a　scornful　look；　turned　aside　and　moving　his　thigh；　drawled　out：

〃I　didn't　saycoquette。〃

〃Martin　Nikitich；　you　mustn't　speak　that　way　about　a　woman　who〃　began　Ookhtishchev　in　a　convincing　tone；　but　Foma　interrupted　him：

〃Excuse　me；　just　a　moment！　I　wish　to　ask　the　gentleman；　what　is　the　meaning　of　the　word　he　said？〃

And　as　he　articulated　this　firmly　and　calmly；　Foma　thrust　his　hands　deep　into　his　trousers…pockets；　threw　his　chest　forward；　which　at　once　gave　his　figure　an　attitude　of　defiance。　The　whiskered　gentleman　again　eyed　Foma　with　a　sarcastic　smile。

〃Gentlemen！〃　exclaimed　Ookhtishchev；　softly。

〃I　said；　co…cot…te；〃　pronounced　the　whiskered　man；　moving　his　lips　as　if　he　tasted　the　word。　〃And　if　you　don't　understand　it；　I　can　explain　it　to　you。〃

〃You　had　better　explain　it；〃　said　Foma；　with　a　deep　sigh；　not　lifting　his　eyes　off　the　man。

Ookhtishchev　clasped　his　hands　and　rushed　aside。

〃A　cocotte；　if　you　want　to　know　it；　is　a　prostitute；〃　said　the　whiskered　man　in　a　low　voice；　moving　his　big；　fat　face　closer　to　Foma。

Foma　gave　a　soft　growl　and；　before　the　whiskered　man　had　time　to　move　away；　he　clutched　with　his　right　hand　his　curly；　grayish　hair。　With　a　convulsive　movement　of　the　hand；　Foma　began　to　shake　the　man's　head　and　his　big；　solid　body；　lifting　up　his　left　hand；　he　spoke　in　a　dull　voice；　keeping　time　to　the　punishment：

〃Don't　abuse　a　personin　his　absence。　Abuse　himright　in　his　facestraight　in　his　eyes。〃

He　experienced　a　burning　delight；　seeing　how　comically　the　stout　arms　were　swinging　in　the　air；　and　how　the　legs　of　the　man；　whom　he　was　shaking；　were　bending　under　him；　scraping　against　the　floor。　His　gold　watch　fell　out　of　the　pocket　and　dangled　on　the　chain；　over　his　round　paunch。　Intoxicated　with　his　own　strength　and　with　the　degradation　of　the　sedate　man；　filled　with　the　burning　feeling　of　malignancy；　trembling　with　the　happiness　of　revenge；　Foma　dragged　him　along　the　floor　and　in　a　dull　voice；　growled　wickedly；　in　wild　joy。　In　these　moments　he　experienced　a　great　feelingthe　feeling　of　emancipation　from　the　wearisome　burden　which　had　long　oppressed　his　heart　with　grief　and　morbidness。　He　felt　that　he　was　seized　by　the　waist　and　shoulders　from　behind；　that　someone　seized　his　hand　and　bent　it；　trying　to　break　it；　that　someone　was　crushing　his　toes；　but　he　saw　nothing；　following　with　his　bloodshot　eyes　the　dark；　heavy　mass　moaning　and　wriggling　in　his　hand。　Finally；　they　tore　him　away　and　downed　him；　and；　as　through　a　reddish　mist；　he　noticed　before　him　on　the　floor；　at　his　feet；　the　man　he　had　thrashed。　Dishevelled；　he　was　moving　his　legs　over　the　floor；　attempting　to　rise；　two　dark　men　were　holding　him　by　the　arms；　his　hands　were　dangling　in　the　air　like　broken　wings；　and；　in　a　voice　that　was　choking　with　sobs；　he　cried　to　Foma：

〃You　mustn't　beat　me！　You　mustn't！　I　have　an。。。

Order。　You　rascal！　Oh；　rascal！　I　have　children。

Everybody　knows　me！　Scoundrel！　Savage；　000！　You　may　expect　a　duel！〃

And　Ookhtishchev　spoke　loudly　in　Foma's　ear：

〃Come；　my　dear　boy；　for　God's　sake！〃

〃Wait；　I'll　give　him　a　kick　in　the　face；〃　begged　Foma。　But　he　was　dragged　off。　There　was　a　buzzing　in　his　ears；　his　heart　beat　fast；　but　he　felt　relieved　and　well。　At　the　entrance　of　the　club　he　heaved　a　deep　sigh　of　relief　and　said　to　Ookhtishchev；　with　a　good…　natured　smile：

〃I　gave　him　a　sound　drubbing；　didn't　I？〃

〃Listen！　〃exclaimed　the　gay　secretary；　indignantly。　〃You　must　pardon　me　but　that　was　the　act　of　a　savage！　The　devil　take　it。　I　never　witnessed　such　a　thing　before！〃

〃My　dear　man！〃　said　Foma；　friendly；　〃did　he　not　deserve　the　drubbing？　Is　he　not　a　scoundrel？　How　can　he　speak　like　that　behind　a　person's　back？　No！　Let　him　go　to　her　and　tell　it　plainly　to　her　alone。〃

〃Excuse　me。　The　devil　take　you！　But　it　wasn't　for　her　alone　that　you　gave　him　the　drubbing？〃

〃That　is；　what　do　you　mea；not　for　her　alone？　For　whom　then？〃　asked　Foma；　amazed。

〃For　whom？　I　don't　know。　Evidently　you　had　old　accounts　to　settle！　0h　Lord！　That　was　a　scene！　I　shall　not　forget　it　in　all　my　life！〃

〃Hethat　manwho　is　he？〃　asked　Foma；　and　suddenly　burst　out　laughing。　〃How　he　roared；　the　fool！〃

Ookhtishchev　looked　fixedly　into　his　face　and　asked：

〃Tell　me；　is　it　true；　that　you　don't　know　whom　you've　thrashed？　And　is　it　really　only　for　Sophya　Pavlovna？〃

〃It　is；　by　God！〃　avowed　Foma。

〃So；　the　devil　knows　what　the　result　may　be！〃　He　stopped　short；　shrugged　his　shoulders　perplexedly；　waved　his　hand；　and　again　began　to　pace　the　sidewalk；　looking　at　Foma　askance。　〃You'll　pay　for　this；　Foma　Ignatyevich。〃

〃Will　he　take　me　to　court？〃

〃Would　to　God　he　does。　He　is　the　Vice…Governor's　son…in…law；〃

〃Is　that　so？〃　said　Foma；　slowly；　and　made　a　long　face。

〃Yes。　To　tell　the　truth；　he　is　a　scoundrel　and　a　rascal。　According　to　this　fact　I　must　admit；　that　he　deserves　a　drubbing。　But　taking　into　consideration　the　fact　that　the　lady　you　defended　is　also〃

〃Sir！〃　said　Foma；　firmly；　placing　his　hand　on　Ookhtishchev's　shoulder；　〃I　have　always　liked　you；　and　you　are　now　walking　with　me。　I　understand　it　and　can　appreciate　it。　But　do　not　speak　ill　of　her　in　my　presence。　Whatever　she　may　be　in　your　opinion；　in　my　opinion；　she　is　dear　to　me。　To　me　she　is　the　best　woman。　So　I　am　telling　you　frankly。　Since　you　are　going　with　me；　do　not　touch　her。　I　consider　her　good；　therefore　she　is　good。〃

There　was　great　emotion　in　Foma's　voice。　Ookhtishchev　looked　at　him　and　said　thoughtfully：

〃You　are　a　queer　man；　I　must　confess。〃

〃I　am　a　simple　mana　savage。　I　have　given　him　a　thrashing　and　now　I　feel　jolly；　and　as　to　the　result；　let　come　what　will。'

〃I　am　afraid　that　it　will　result　in　something　bad。　Do　you　knowto　be　frank；　in　return　for　your　franknessI　also　like　you；　although　Mm！　It　is　rather　dangerous　to　be　with　you。　Such　a　knightly　temper　may　come　over　you　and　one　may　get　a　thrashing　at　your　hands。〃

〃How　so？　This　was　but　the　first　time。　I　am　not　going　to　beat　people　every　day；　am　I？〃　said　Foma；　confused。　His　companion　began　to　laugh。

〃What　a　monster　you　are！　Listen　to　meit　is　savage　to　fightyou　must　excuse　me；　but　it　is　abominable。　Yet；　I　must　tell　you；　in　this　case　you　made　a　happy　selection。　You　have　thrashed　a　rake；　a　cynic；　a　parasitea　man　who　robbed　his　nephews　with　impunity。〃

〃Well；　thank　God　for　that！〃　said　Foma　with　satisfaction。　〃Now　I　have　punished　him　a　little。〃

〃A　little？　Very　well；　let　us　suppose　it　was　a　little。　But　listen　to　me；　my　child；　permit　me　to　give　you　advice。　I　am　a　man　of　the　law。　He；　that　Kayazev；　is　a　rascal！　True！　But　you　must　not　thrash　even　a　rascal；　for　he　is　a　social　being；　under　the　paternal　custody　of　the　law。　You　cannot　touch　him　until　he　transgresses　the　limits　of　the　penal　code。　But　even　then；　not　you；　but　we；　the　judges；　will　give　him　his　due。　While　you　must　have　patience。〃

〃And　will　he　soon　fall　into　your　hands？〃　inquired　Foma；　naively。

〃It　is　hard　to　tell。　Being　far　from　stupid；　he　will　probably　never　be　caught；　and　to　the　end　of　his　days　he　will　live　with　you　and　me　in　the　same　degree　of　equality　before　the　law。　0h　God；　what　I　am　telling　you！〃　said　Ookhtishchev；　with　a　comical　sigh。

〃Betraying　secrets？〃　grinned　Foma。

〃It　isn't　secrets；　but　I　ought　not　to　be　frivolous。　De…e…evil！　But　then；　this　affair　enlivened　me。　Indeed；　Nemesis　is　even　then　true　to　herself　when　she　simply　kicks　like　a　horse。〃

Foma　stopped　suddenly；　as　though　he　had　met　an　obstacle　on　his　way。

〃Nemesisthe　goddess　of　Justice；〃　babbled　Ookhtishchev。　〃What's　the　matter　with　you？〃

〃And　it　all　came　about；〃　said　Foma；　slowly；　in　a　dull　voice；　〃because　you　said　that　she　was　going　away。〃

〃Who？

〃Sophya　Pavlovna。〃

〃Yes；　she　is　going　away。　Well？〃

He　stood　opposite　Foma　and　stared　at　him；　with　a　smile　in　his　eyes。　Gordyeeff　was　silent；　with　lowered　head；　tapping　the　stone　of　the　sidewalk　with　his　cane。

〃Come；〃　said　Ookhtishchev。

Foma　started；　saying　indifferently：

〃Well；　let　her　go。　And　I　am　alone。〃　Ookhtishchev；　waving　his　cane；　began　to　whistle；　looking　at　his　companion。

〃Sha'n't　I　be　able　to　get　along　without　her？〃　asked　Foma；　looking　somewhere　in　front　of　him　and　then；　after　a　pause；　he　answered　himself　softly　and　irresolutely：

〃Of　course；　I　shall。〃

〃Listen　to　me！〃　exclaimed　Ookhtishchev。　〃I'll　give　you　some　good　advice。　A　man　must　be　himself。　While　you；　you　are　an　epic　man；　so　to　say；　and　the　lyrical　is　not　becoming　to　you。　It　isn't　your　genre。〃

〃Speak　to　me　more　simply；　sir；〃　said　Foma；　having　listened　attentively　to　his　words。

〃More　simply？　Very　well。　I　want　to　say；　give　up　thinking　of　this　little　lady。　She　is　poisonous　food　for　you。〃

〃She　told　me　the　same；〃　put　in　Foma；　gloomily。

〃She　told　you？〃　Ookhtishchev　asked　and　became　thoughtful。　〃Now；　I'll　tell　you；　shouldn't　we　perhaps　go　and　have　supper？〃

〃Let's　go；〃　Foma　assented。　And　he　suddenly　roared　obdurately；　clinching　his　fists　and　waving　them　in　the　air：　〃Well；　let　us　go；　and　I'll　get　wound　up；　I'll　break　loose；　after　all　this；　so　you　can't　hold　me　back！〃

〃What　for？　We'll　do　it　modestly。〃

〃No！　wait！〃　said　Foma；　anxiously；　seizing　him　by　the　shoulder。　〃What's　that？　Am　I　worse　than　other　people？　Everybody　lives；　whirls；　hustles　about；　has　his　own　point。　While　I　am　weary。　Everybody　is　satisfied　with　himself。　And　as　to　their　complaining；　they　lie；　the　rascals！　They　are　simply　pretending　for　beauty's　sake。　I　have　no　reason　to　pretend。　I　am　a　fool。