In the luxurious parlor of the governor's house were gathered the heads of the county: the governor, the director of the Charity Hospital, the inspector, the judge, the police sub-prefect, the medical officer. A meeting that seemed to be of great importance was taking place here.
"Reliable but very unpleasant news has just been received: a Chinaman will be coming from Petersburg on a service visit, and with secret orders." The voice came hard from the prefect's dry throat. "I have asked you all to come here to inform you and to be ready." He paused, his eyes roving over the crowd before finally resting on the face of Artemi, the director of Charity Hospital. "It is customary that the officials who come up to us must first inspect those charity hospitals you run - so you should straighten everything up: wash your hats, and don't tell your patients to dress casually, like a bunch of blacksmiths." "It doesn't matter; they can be told to wear clean hats." "It is well to take in fewer patients, or people will blame you for mismanagement or the doctor's lack of skill." "I would advise you to do the same." The governor pointed his finger at Judge Amos again, "You need to take care of the court side of things. In the waiting room of your court, many parties are often in and out of there, but the janitor keeps a few geese there, with a flock of goslings, scurrying around at one's feet. Of course, a little sideline production is worth rewarding. But, as you know, it is not quite proper to keep geese in such a place ...... This is a point I have long wanted to draw to your attention, but somehow I keep forgetting to tell you." "I'll have the geese herded into the kitchen today, so if you're happy, please come over for a casual dinner." Amos's thin, hoarse voice still had a grunting, nasal sound in it, like an old-fashioned clock that sizzled and then struck. "Besides, there are many rags of all sorts drying in the courtroom, and a hunting whip hanging from the cabinet where the papers are kept, which is so out of place. I know you love to hunt, but it would be better to put the whip away for a while, and hang it up when the Chinaman is gone. And that jury officer of yours smells like he just came out of a brewery." The magistrate glanced at the medical officer, Hrith Jiyang, "However, if our medical officer administers all kinds of medicines to him, he will be cured in a heartbeat." "No, there's no cure for that odor of his: he says he told his nurse to drop him when he was a child, and ever since then he's always smelled of burnt wine." Amos eagerly parted for his men. "I'm merely reminding you of it." Prefect Anton waved his hand and rested his gaze on the face of Inspector Ruka again, "You, in particular, should keep an eye on the instructors. They are certainly learned men, educated in various specialized schools, but they act very oddly, naturally inseparable from their status as scholars. For example, there was a fat-faced fellow who, when he came to the podium, would not rest until he had made a face, and then stroked his beard with one hand under his bow tie ....... Then there was the history teacher who, when he got excited, would run from the podium, grab a chair, and throw it to the floor with all his might. All of this if the Chinaman or someone else saw it would think it was done for them, and who knows what kind of trouble it would cause." "I've talked them out of it several times. It's no use! God forbid I should ever be asked to serve in the academy again, I'm afraid to see anyone." Ruka shook his head dismally and sighed "Damn micro-aggressions!" The prefect cursed darkly. What am I afraid of? I'm not afraid, it's just a little ...... those merchants and citizens that worry me a little. I always take this and that from them, never pay, they have long harbored a grudge, will not take this opportunity to hand over a letter, to sue me down. Thinking of this, the governor went to the postmaster Ivan, took his hand, and led him to one side: "For the sake of our **** with the same interests, can you every letter that passes through your post office of the incoming and outgoing letters are opened for me to see if there is no prosecution of me in it, if there is nothing on the letter to be re-sealed, however, even can not be sealed so sent out. " "Out of curiosity I have long done so. Those letters are much more interesting than reading the Moscow Times, and it is soothing and beneficial to the body to read them. Some time ago one of the lieutenants wrote a letter to his friend so well that I saved it for the occasion; wouldn't you like to hear it?" The postmaster's brow was raised, and he was completely absorbed in the enjoyment of reading other people's letters privately. "Then take the trouble, Ivan: if you come across a letter accusing or denouncing me, you need not think about it, but simply withhold it." "I shall certainly do so."
The parlor was filled with a tumultuous murmuring, as these prominent members of the prefecture were secretly worried about their own future, fearing that their handles might fall into the hands of the big officer who was visiting in his microcosm.
While this was going on, Dobrzynski and Bobrzynski ran into the parlor, panting, and rushed to tell everyone that in the hotel there was a young man with a not unattractive appearance, dressed in civilian clothes. The innkeeper told them that the young man was an official, from Petersburg, called Khrestakov, going up to the Saratov province, and that he had acted strangely: he had been staying here for more than a week, had not taken a step out of the door, and had purchased everything on credit, without paying a single penny.
"If he is going to Saratov, why is he staying here? It must be that Chinaman." They both speculated. "Neither paying nor moving, yes, it must be him." The people agreed with them both.
The sudden news made the prefect's mouth open in horror: in the course of a week or so, the corporal's wife had been beaten! The prisoners' rations had been deducted! The streets were dirty and disorganized! For God's sake, have mercy on me! But the veteran prefect quickly came up with a countermeasure, and to his still frightened subordinates he ordered: "In a short time straighten up the city! Have the tall, sturdy policeman Pugovicin stand on the bridge to bolster the cityscape. Tear down the old fences and put up grass-tied boundary markers to make it look as if municipal construction was being planned. For the more places that were torn down, the more it showed that the governor had his way. Inform every police officer to answer 'everything is satisfactory, my lord' if the officer asks if it is satisfactory, and to clean the streets leading to the hotels quickly. Otherwise, have him look good ......" With the setup in place, the governor decided to make the trip to the inn himself.
Just as he was putting on his hat and straddling the prepared carriage, his wife Anna and his daughter Maria came after him, but at the moment how could he have the heart to answer their questions?
Two
In a disorganized room of the inn, the servant Osip was lying on his master's bed. At the moment he was hungry and his stomach was rumbling as if a cloud of soldiers were trumpeting inside.
It had been more than four weeks since Osip and his master Khrestakov had left Petersburg, and the money had been melted away by his master. Everywhere they went, they had to put on a show, asking for top-notch rooms and top-quality meals. The most detestable is to pull open the table to play cards, have to lose all before stopping. This fourteenth-grade civil official, not on the Yamen officer, all day long in the street to walk around, play cards, gambling. Sometimes even the last shirt is lost, only a big dress and a coat left on the body. Now the innkeeper refuses to give them dinner on credit because the previous bill has not been paid.
"Alas, my God, even a little vegetable soup would be nice. I hate to swallow the whole world right now." A knock on the door interrupted Osip's self-talk; his master had returned. Khrestakov was a thin young man, and hunger had made his parched frame more and more sickly like a water-starved bean-sprout. He had just gone out for a walk, thinking that he would get over this hunger, but it was no use; on the contrary, he felt hungrier. He regretted a little: if I did not spend the money in the border check, I will always have enough money to go home. He paced the room uneasily, several times wanting to speak, but stopped.
"I say, Osip!" Khrestakov seemed to have made up his mind. "What is it?" "You go up there for me." "Where?" "Downstairs, in the dining-room ...... and tell them to ...... give me dinner." Khrestakov said in a very laborious, almost pleading voice. "No, I can't go. You have not paid for three weeks, and the proprietor says you are a liar and a scoundrel. He says he's going to see the prefect." Osip continued, a little gloating and a little intimidating, "And he's going to send you to the courthouse to go to jail ......." "Asshole, that's enough. Go get me the boss." Hrystakov growled.
Osip was ordered to go, but failed to bring the boss, only a servant from the inn. The servant followed the owner's rule of "no food until the previous bill is settled" and refused to give Khlestakov any accommodation. Hrystakov was so coaxed and scolded that the owner had to send the servant to bring him a meal, stating that it was the last one he would ever eat. Even so, the meal to get the Khrestakov still young master temper, too little food, too bad soup. He cursed as he ate, but this did not affect the speed with which he ate, and the food that was placed in front of him was swept away as if it had been swept away by the wind. He still didn't feel full, but the owner wouldn't order him anything anymore.
"Scoundrel! Bastard thing! Just a little juice or a pie would be nice. Rascal! Just knocking the customers around." Hrystakov cursed in anger and hatred.
Suddenly, Osip came running in, panicked: "The prefects don't know what's come over them, and they're asking about you outside." He said carefully. "Oh, this is bad! The innkeeper this animal really put me sued! What if I were to be taken to jail?" Hrystakov was so shocked that his face turned white and his body curled up.
"Greetings." The prefect walked in, bending humbly. "Greetings." Khrestakov scrambled to salute. "Forgive me for disturbing you." "Never mind." "As prefect of this city, it is my duty to take care that the passing merchants and all noble people are not in the least aggrieved ...... "What can I be called upon to do? I can't be blamed for ...... it, the bill always has to be paid ...... the country will send me the money." Khrestakov stammered an explanation. "It's the boss's fault; the beef I was given was hard as wood; and the soup, hell knows what he poured into it, I ought to have thrown it out of the window. He told me to starve for days ...... The tea was so strange, it smelled of fish, and didn't even taste half like tea. Why should I suffer this sin ...... What a joke." Originally discursive, but said, but felt aggrieved, angry, Hristakov's words in turn fluent, the voice also became loud. "I'm sorry, it really can't be blamed on me." The governor was afraid. "If there is anything unsatisfactory ...... I dare advise your honor to move to another place." Finished! Really put me in jail. Khrestakov suddenly blanked out. "How do you dare? I am ...... I am an official in Petersburg." The words that fell seemed to remind Khrestakov. He was encouraged, his spirits were lifted, his courage increased steeply, and as he spoke, he beat the table with his fist: "You drive the procession here, and I won't go! I'll go straight to the Minister! What are you doing?"
Seeing the anger of the "official", the governor shook like a sieve and decided that his privacy had been seized by the big official in front of him. It must be those damnable merchants who have sued me! He thought hatefully. "You know all about it, I'm really inexperienced in doing things." There was a tremor in the governor's words. "To say that I was bribed is also extremely small, just a bit of food and clothes, and as for the claim that I beat the corporal's widowed wife, that's all a rumor. It was fabricated by a group of people who had a grudge against me! They are still trying to plot against my life."
The prefect's windy retort sent Khrestakov into a cloud of smoke. But at the moment he was too busy to think about anything else, just trying to excuse himself, "The debt has to be paid. I'm only here because I don't have a penny to spare." When the "minister" said that he didn't have any money to spare, the governor recognized this as a sign that he had no money to spare. The prefect, recognizing that this was an opportunity to be of service, immediately took out a wad of money from his underwear pocket and handed it over. Hrestakov, like a man who has been thirsty for manna for a long time, took the money and thanked the prefect again and again!
At this point, the governor's heart dropped. And thought: since he did not tell his identity, give me a smokescreen, then I pretend not to know that he is a minister of Qinzhi, perhaps the result will be more favorable to me.
So, the governor of the county will be in front of Hrestakov to show that he is a clean official, hard work, for the country and the people, he would not hesitate to break his bones. And once again visited the "minister" to move to his home, he has prepared for him a suitable, open, quiet room. This is the best thing that could have happened to Khrestakov and his wife.
The "incorruptible" governor would not let the honored official pay off the hotel's debts, and of course he would not pay them himself. The owner of the hotel had to admit his own bad luck.
Three
When they found out that the minister was going to live in their house, Anna and Maria were so happy that they took out all their clothes, tried them on one by one, and took great pains to dress up in the hope that they would be even more beautiful and glamorous.
The luggage had been sent for by Osip and settled. But the guest they had been waiting for was nowhere to be seen, and the mother and daughter ran anxiously to the window of their home on the street and stretched their necks to look.
After leaving the hotel, Khrestakov, accompanied by the prefect and his men, first inspected the charitable hospital, where Khrestakov was most satisfied with a good meal. He was in a good mood and kept asking questions in the manner of a big official.
After leaving the hospital, the group went to the governor's house. The prefect introduced Hrystakov to his wife Anna and daughter Maria, who were dressed up in fancy dress. Hrystakov gave them frequent glances, which made the mother and daughter fall in love with each other, and they both thought that the governor was in love with them.
Khrestakov, who had eaten his fill of wine, was surrounded by the group of officials, and became more and more proud of himself. Never before had he been so honored! So he blew off as he pleased.
"Do you know that the reception room in my house is always crowded with dukes and counts; that the ministers send me official letters with 'Your Excellency' written on them; that even the Cabinet Council is afraid of me because of my impartiality and lack of mercy; that I go to the palace every day, and that perhaps tomorrow I will be promoted to the rank of marshal! ...... "His bluster actually calmed these officials. They believed in the truth, trembling in fear, do not know how to please, flatter this "nobleman". Osip, too, helped to elevate his master, and boasted on his behalf. Because, he no longer want to starve.
The officials were busy, and one by one they went to see Khrestakov. They used different excuses to send money to him, hoping to gain the favor of this big official, to secure the existing official position, and at the same time hoping that in the future in the career can be more this big official's support. To the downtrodden Khrestakov, this is a great joy, with this much money, he can shake the wind in the casino. It is really lucky, lucky star high ah! Hrystakov was so happy that he almost shouted "Wula".
Hearing of the arrival of a "minister", businessmen who have been bullied by these officials have also come together to complain. Hristakov was secretly happy. When he listened to the merchants on the governor as the head of the officials complained, but could not help but move compassion, however, sympathy for sympathy, he did not forget to "borrow" money from the merchants, and even the merchants loaded with money money tray also politely accepted. Sent away from the people who complained, Khrestakov counted the money in his hands, but really rich! He immediately wrote a letter to his good friend Tliopichkin in Petersburg, telling him about this windfall. At the same time, he took Osip's advice and decided to take the money and leave as soon as possible.
Khrestakov put away the "borrowed" money and whistled leisurely, when Maria came in. Hrystakov immediately excitedly greeted, forgetting to embrace Maria: "With such a beautiful woman as you, I feel very happy, how I wish I could always hold you in my arms." "You are too much, treating me like a country woman ......" Maria angrily broke away from his arms and turned to go. Hrystakov stopped her in her tracks, "Out of love. I am truly out of love, you do not be angry, I am willing to kneel in front of you to ask for your forgiveness." Said he really knelt down. Just in time, Anna came in, saw the "minister" to their own daughter kneeling very surprised, then angrily reprimanded Maria, Maria with tears of frustration ran out.
Looking at this half-aged woman standing in front of the Hristakov suddenly felt that this woman is also a bit of flavor, look is not bad. So, put his own "love fire" to this sleazy mother.
"My lord! Be gracious!" The magistrate shouted and Maria walked in together: "Just now the gang of complainers, all bloodshed! ......" "You know how much honor Khrestakov has given us, he asked our daughter to marry him." Anna interrupted the prefect's ramblings. "Good heavens, where is it said!" The prefect simply could not believe the happy news that had fallen from the sky, how one could be so high up in the ranks of such a great official! "It's true, I proposed, I fell in love with her." Hrystakov confirmed quite solemnly and walked over to kiss Maria. The governor wiped his eyes in disbelief, and after he was convinced that they were kissing, he cried out with joy, "Haha, this is shaking!"
At that moment, Osip, who had prepared the carriage, came in and reminded his master that it was time to move. Khrestakov explained to the prefect, who felt the suddenness, "I'm going to spend a day's work to see my uncle - a very rich old man - and I'll be back tomorrow."
When he got into the car, Krystakov kissed Maria goodbye "fondly". Of course, did not forget to pull out the governor's pocket money, and "borrowed" four hundred, that is, to make up eight hundred, and then contentedly riding by the postmaster personally equipped with three sets of carriages, and gradually sailed away.
Four
After sending Khrestakov away, the prefect and his wife and daughter returned to their room in great excitement. They were completely immersed in infinite joy. Ah, from now on one could soar and roar! Anton could not stop laughing with joy at the thought. "Dear Anna, we will move to Petersburg." "Naturally, we will live in Petersburg, how can we still live here!" "Khrestakov is so powerful that if he would only give me a lift upwards, I could rise very quickly, and later on I would become a general." The governor was full of hope.
Of course, the prefect did not forget his "rebels" because of his excitement. He instructed his men to summon those who had complained against him, and had the police tell them that the "minister" from Petersburg was the governor's son-in-law, and that God had bestowed great honor on him!
The unlucky merchants were summoned to the prefect's house, all of them were downcast, no one dared to say a word. "Have you gained anything by suing me? That governor, will marry my daughter. You guys have to obey me absolutely from now on, or else ...... hehehe." The governor blinked his tiny eyes triumphantly, and the few sparse whiskers on his lips twitched uncontrollably in time with the dry laugh that escaped from his mouth. "Is there any shortage of things you guys have fudged and hidden from the world? As soon as I expose you, I can send you to Siberia." He stopped laughing and majestically scanned the merchants who knelt at the soles of his feet out of fear. "Be merciful, my lord, we won't dare again." The merchants begged for mercy. "This layer ...... of my daughter s wedding gift is understood? She's not marrying a common nobleman, so she can't bring some dried fish or sugar tarts. God forgive you all, well, go." The governor ended his lecture and waved his hand, and one by one the merchants went away in disgrace.
As soon as the merchants had left, Amos, Artemi and Rastakovsky, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Korobkin, and other notables of the county, heard of the news and came in droves to say goodbye. The governor's house was buzzing with congratulations and laughter.
Suddenly, the panicked-looking postmaster rushed in, holding an opened letter in his hand. "Gentlemen, something strange has happened! The official we took for a Chinaman turned out not to be a Chinaman." The postmaster couldn't catch his breath, "I opened his letter, I'll read it to you." He caught his breath and read the letter sharply. "In the presence of my good friend Tliopichkin, I write to inform you that I have met with a once-in-a-lifetime miracle. I was gambling at cards with a captain of infantry on the road, and he won all my money, and the innkeeper nearly sent me to prison, when suddenly, on account of my Petersburg-party looks and dress, the whole town took me for a governor. I am now living in the governor's house, and making a great deal of fun, and courting his wife and daughter with impunity; and do you remember how we were both poor and miserable, and ate for nothing, and how once the owner of the confectioner's store seized me by the collar and threw me out for eating a few pies and not paying for them? Now the times are really changing. People are begging to lend me as much money as they can. They're such monsters, you'd die of laughter. I know you've been writing a lot; you can put them in an article. First of all, the governor is as stupid as a gray, closed horse ......"
"It won't be! That won't be on the letter." The prefect's lids turned pale, he couldn't believe what he was hearing, especially the last sentence. The postmaster handed him the letter, "Read it for yourself." "Like a gray gelding. It won't! You wrote that sentence up." "Why would I write it like that?" The postmaster shot back, taking the letter and continuing to read, "The governor is as stupid as a gray gelding horse ......" "Damn! And to read it over and over again, as if the letter wasn't worth reading without that line." The governor cursed.
"The postmaster is a good fellow too ......" Taking his turn, Ivan refused to read on. Artemi volunteered to take the letter, put on his glasses, and read, "The postmaster looks exactly like Mikhiev, the janitor of the ministry, and is probably a bad guy, too, a good drunk who eats cups of wine. "Long" how can not pronounce: "The word is not written clearly ...... However, it can always be seen that this boy is a bad man."
"I have better eyesight." Korobkin grabbed the conviction, "The Director of Charity Hospital is exactly like a pig in a poop hat. The Inspector is covered in onion stench ......" Rucka protested, "I've never eaten onions." Judge Amos breathed a sigh of relief; thank goodness it wasn't about me after all. "The judge is a grounded and uneducated man." Korobkin glanced at the judge, who at once looked like a ball of runaway gas, and continued to read, "And yet, all hospitable and kind. I have decided to follow your example and engage in literature ......."
The magistrate's iron face: "This time really pit me against the bitter, quickly chased him back!" He was a little out of control and let out a bawling, piercing sound. "Where can I still chase back! I've specially asked the postmaster to prepare top three sets of carriages for him." The postmaster wailed. "How did I lose my head? Blind? I'm an old fool! Old enough to be dizzy, I'm a big fool! ...... "The magistrate couldn't stop cursing himself: "I've been an official for thirty years, no businessman, no bagman can cheat me, even the most cunning crooks have been cheated by me; even those old foxes and old sliders who have singlehandedly concealed the world from the world, have not been able to escape my palm of their hands, have eaten my losses, have been on my trap; I have cheated three governors ......." He is like a family treasure, one by one recounted his glorious achievements. He also kept tapping his forehead vigorously, as if this would clear his head and the fiasco would be saved.
Anna was thinking about her daughter's engagement. The governor was furious and stomped his feet, "Engagement, hell, this is great, the whole city will be ashamed of me, how could I suddenly lose my mind, that frivolous little rascal, not even a finger tip so much as a Chinaman ah. Ghostly! Who first said he was a Chinaman?"
The prefect's question immediately prompted the gang to talk, and Bobchinsky and Dobchinsky became the focus of condemnation, and both of them pulled the wool over each other's eyes and shifted the blame onto the other. At the moment, the governor's home like a frying pan, chaos, quarrels, shouting and cursing sound, almost to the roof to lift.
Just when everyone was in a mess, a gendarme came in and announced loudly and without expression, "The governor who has come from Petersburg by imperial decree wants you to go and see him at once. The regiment is located in the hotel."
The gendarme's words rolled through like a muffled thunderclap, shaking all those in the hall, who stood rigid and unresponsive.
The hall was silent. ......
Reference:
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