Bobac, Dostojevski

8/9/2019 Bobac, Dostojevski

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Bobok

From Somebody's Diary

by Fyodor Dostoevsky

translated by Constance Garnett

SEMYON ARDALYONO!"C# said to me all o$ a s%dden t&e day be$ore yesterday ()&y* +illyo% ever be sober* !van !vano, vitc&- "ell me t&at* .ray/(

A stran0e re1%irement/ ! did not resent it* ! am a timid man2 b%t &ere t&ey &ave act%allymade me o%t mad/ An artist .ainted my .ortrait as it &a..ened (A$ter all* yo% are a literary

man*( &e said/ ! s%bmitted* &e e3&ibited it/ ! read (Go and look at t&at morbid $aces%00estin0 insanity/(

!t may be so* b%t t&ink o$ .%ttin0 it so bl%ntly into .rint/ !n .rint everyt&in0 o%0&t to bedecoro%s2 t&ere o%0&t to be ideals* +&ile instead o$ t&at///

Say it indirectly* at least2 t&at's +&at yo% &ave style $or/ 4%t no* &e doesn't care to do itindirectly/ No+adays &%mo%r and a $ine style &ave disa..eared* and ab%se is acce.ted as

+it/ ! do not resent it b%t God kno+s ! am not eno%0& o$ a literary man to 0o o%t o$ mymind/ ! &ave +ritten a novel* it &as not been .%blis&ed/ ! &ave +ritten articles , t&ey &ave

been re$%sed/ "&ose articles ! took abo%t $rom one editor to anot&er2 every+&ere t&eyre$%sed t&em yo% &ave no salt t&ey told me/ ()&at sort o$ salt do yo% +ant-( ! asked +it&

a eer/ (Attic salt-(

"&ey did not even %nderstand* For t&e most .art ! translate $rom t&e Frenc& $or t&e

booksellers/ ! +rite advertisements $or s&o.kee.ers too (5ni1%e o..ort%nity6 Fine tea*$rom o%r o+n .lantations/// ( ! made a nice little s%m over a .ane0yric on &is deceased

e3cellency 7yotr Matveyitc&/ ! com.iled t&e (Art o$ .leasin0 t&e ladies(* a commission $rom

a bookseller/ ! &ave bro%0&t o%t some si3 little +orks o$ t&is kind in t&e co%rse o$ my li$e/ !am t&inkin0 o$ makin0 a collection o$ t&e bons mobs o$ oltaire* b%t am a$raid it may seem

a little $lat to o%r .eo.le/ oltaire's no 0ood no+2 no+adays +e +ant a c%d0el* not oltaire/)e knock eac& ot&er's last teet& o%t no+adays/ )ell* so t&at's t&e +&ole e3tent o$ my

literary activity/ "&o%0& indeed ! do send ro%nd letters to t&e editors 0ratis and $%lly si0ned/

! 0ive t&em all sorts o$ co%nsels and admonitions* criticise and .oint o%t t&e tr%e .at&/ "&eletter ! sent last +eek to an editor's o$$ice +as t&e $ortiet& ! &ad sent in t&e last t+o years/ !

&ave +asted $o%r ro%bles over stam.s alone $or t&em/ My tem.er is at t&e bottom o$ it all/

! believe t&at t&e artist +&o .ainted me did so not $or t&e sake o$ literat%re* b%t $or t&e sake

o$ t+o symmetrical +arts on my $ore&ead* a nat%ral .&enomenon* &e +o%ld say/ "&ey &aveno ideas* so no+ t&ey are o%t $or .&enomena/ And didn't &e s%cceed in 0ettin0 my +arts in

&is .ortrait , to t&e li$e/ "&at is +&at t&ey call realism/

And as to madness* a 0reat many .eo.le +ere .%t do+n as mad amon0 %s last year/ And in

s%c& lan0%a0e6 ()it& s%c& ori0inal talent/// //// and yet* a$ter all* it a..ears(/// (&o+, ever*one o%0&t to &ave $oreseen it lon0 a0o/( "&at is rat&er art$%l2 so t&at $rom t&e .oint o$ vie+

o$ .%re art one may really commend it/ )ell* b%t a$ter all* t&ese so,called madmen &avet%rned o%t cleverer t&an ever/ So it seems t&e critics can call t&em mad* b%t t&ey cannot

.rod%ce anyone better/



"&e +isest o$ all* in my o.inion* is &e +&o can* i$ only once a mont&* call &imsel$ a $ool , a$ac%lty %n&eard o$ no+adays/ !n old days* once a year at any rate a $ool +o%ld reco0nise

t&at &e +as a $ool* b%t no+adays not a bit o$ it/ And t&ey &ave so m%ddled t&in0s %. t&att&ere is no tellin0 a $ool $rom a +ise man/ "&ey &ave done t&at on .%r.ose/

! remember a +itty S.aniard sayin0 +&en* t+o &%ndred and $i$ty years a0o* t&e Frenc& b%ilt

t&eir $irst mad&o%ses ("&ey &ave s&%t %. all t&eir $ools in a &o%se a.art* to make s%re t&att&ey are +ise men t&emselves/( 8%st so yo% don't s&o+ yo%r o+n +isdom by s&%ttin0someone else in a mad&o%se/ (9/ &as 0one o%t o$ &is mind* means t&at +e are sane no+/(

No* it doesn't mean t&at yet/

#an0 it t&o%0&* +&y am ! ma%nderin0 on- ! 0o on 0r%mblin0 and 0r%mblin0/ Even my

maidservant is sick o$ me/ Yester, day a $riend came to see me/ (Yo%r style is c&an0in0*( &esaid2 (it is c&o..y yo% c&o. and c&o. , and t&en a .arent&esis* t&en a .arent&esis in t&e

.arent&esis* t&en yo% stick in some, t&in0 else in brackets* t&en yo% be0in c&o..in0 andc&o..in0 a0ain/(

"&e $riend is ri0&t/ Somet&in0 stran0e is &a..enin0 to me/ My c&aracter is c&an0in0 and my

&ead ac&es/ ! am be0innin0 to see and &ear stran0e t&in0s* not voices e3actly* b%t ast&o%0& someone beside me +ere m%tterin0* (bobok* bobok* bobok6( )&at's t&e meanin0 o$t&is bobok- ! m%st divert my mind/

! +ent o%t in searc& o$ diversion* ! &it %.on a $%neral/ A distant relation , a colle0iate

co%nsellor* &o+ever/ A +ido+ and $ive da%0&ters* all marria0eable yo%n0 ladies/ )&at m%stit come to even to kee. t&em in sli..ers/ "&eir $at&er mana0ed it* b%t no+ t&ere is only a

little .ension/ "&ey +ill &ave to eat &%mble .ie/ "&ey &ave al+ays received me %n0racio%sly/

And indeed ! s&o%ld not &ave 0one to t&e $%neral no+ &ad it not been $or a .ec%liarcirc%mstance/ ! $ollo+ed t&e .rocession to t&e cemetery +it& t&e rest2 t&ey +ere st%ck,%.

and &eld aloo$ $rom me/ My %ni$orm +as certainly rat&er s&abby/ !t's $ive, and,t+enty years*! believe* since ! +as at t&e cemetery2 +&at a +retc&ed .lace6

"o be0in +it& t&e smell/ "&ere +ere $i$teen &earses* +it& .alls varyin0 in e3.ensiveness2t&ere +ere act%ally t+o cata, $al1%es/ One +as a 0eneral's and one some lady's/ "&ere +ere

many mo%rners* a 0reat deal o$ $ei0ned mo%rnin0 and a 0reat deal o$ o.en 0aiety/ "&ecler0y &ave not&in0 to com.lain o$2 it brin0s t&em a 0ood income/ 4%t t&e smell* t&e smell/

! s&o%ld not like to be one o$ t&e cler0y &ere/

! ke.t 0lancin0 at t&e $aces o$ t&e dead ca%tio%sly* distr%st, in0 my im.ressionability/ Some

&ad a mild e3.ression* some looked %n.leasant/ As a r%le t&e smiles +ere disa0reeable* andin some cases very m%c& so/ ! don't like t&em2 t&ey &a%nt one's dreams/

D%rin0 t&e service ! +ent o%t o$ t&e c&%rc& into t&e air it +as a 0rey day* b%t dry/ !t +as

cold too* b%t t&en it +as October/ ! +alked abo%t amon0 t&e tombs/ "&ey are o$ di$$erent

0rades/ "&e t&ird 0rade cost t&irty ro%bles2 it's decent and not so very dear/ "&e $irst t+o0rades are tombs in t&e c&%rc& and %nder t&e .orc&2 t&ey cost a .retty .enny/ On t&is

occasion t&ey +ere b%ryin0 in tombs o$ t&e t&ird 0rade si3 .ersons* amon0 t&em t&e0eneral and t&e lady/



! looked into t&e 0raves , and it +as &orrible +ater and s%c& +ater6 Absol%tely 0reen*and/// b%t t&ere* +&y talk o$ it6 "&e 0ravedi00er +as balin0 it o%t every min%te/ ! +ent o%t

+&ile t&e service +as 0oin0 on and strolled o%tside t&e 0ates/ Close by +as an alms&o%se*and a little $%rt&er o$$ t&ere +as a resta%rant/ !t +as not a bad little resta%rant t&ere +as

l%nc& and everyt&in0/ "&ere +ere lots o$ t&e mo%rners &ere/ ! noticed a 0reat deal o$ 0aietyand 0en%ine &eartiness/ ! &ad somet&in0 to eat and drink/

"&en ! took .art in t&e bearin0 o$ t&e co$$in $rom t&e c&%rc& to t&e 0rave/ )&y is it t&atcor.ses in t&eir co$$ins are so &eavy- "&ey say it is d%e to some sort o$ inertia* t&at t&e

body is no lon0er directed by its o+ner/// or some nonsense o$ t&at sort* in o..osition to t&ela+s o$ mec&anics and common sense/ ! don't like to &ear .eo.le +&o &ave not&in0 b%t a

0eneral ed%cation vent%re to solve t&e .roblems t&at re1%ire s.ecial kno+led0e2 and +it&%s t&at's done contin%ally/ Civilians love to .ass o.inions abo%t s%b:ects t&at are t&e

.rovince o$ t&e soldier and even o$ t&e $ield,mars&al2 +&ile men +&o &ave been ed%cated asen0ineers .re$er disc%ssin0 .&iloso.&y and .olitical economy/

! did not 0o to t&e re1%iem service/ ! &ave some .ride* and i$ ! am only received o+in0 tosome s.ecial necessity* +&y $orce mysel$ on t&eir dinners* even i$ it be a $%neral dinner/ "&e

only t&in0 ! don't %nderstand is +&y ! stayed at t&e cemetery2 ! sat on a tombstone andsank into a..ro.riate re$lections/

! be0an +it& t&e Mosco+ e3&ibition and ended +it& re$lect, in0 %.on astonis&ment in t&e

abstract/ My ded%ctions abo%t astonis&ment +ere t&ese

("o be s%r.rised at everyt&in0 is st%.id o$ co%rse* and to be astonis&ed at not&in0 is a 0reatdeal more becomin0 and $or some reason acce.ted as 0ood $orm/ 4%t t&at is not really tr%e/

"o my mind to be astonis&ed at not&in0 is m%c& more st%.id t&an to be astonis&ed ateveryt&in0/ And* moreover* to be astonis&ed at not&in0 is almost t&e same as $eelin0

res.ect $or not&in0/ And indeed a st%.id man is inca.able o$ $eelin0 res.ect/(

(4%t +&at ! desire most o$ all is to $eel res.ect/ ! t&irst to $eel res.ect*( one o$ my

ac1%aintances said to me t&e ot&er day/

#e t&irsts to $eel res.ect6 Goodness* ! t&o%0&t* +&at +o%ld &a..en to yo% i$ yo% dared to

.rint t&at no+adays- At t&at .oint ! sank into $or0et$%lness/ ! don't like readin0 t&e e.ita.&so$ tombstones t&ey are everlastin0ly t&e same/ An %n$inis&ed sand+ic& +as lyin0 on t&e

tombstone near me2 st%.id and ina..ro.riate/ ! t&re+ it on t&e 0ro%nd* as it +as not breadb%t only a sand+ic&/ "&o%0& ! believe it is not a sin to t&ro+ bread on t&e eart&* b%t only

on t&e $loor/ ! m%st look it %. in S%vorin's calendar/

! s%..ose ! sat t&ere a lon0 time,too lon0 a time* in $act2 ! m%st &ave lain do+n on a lon0

stone +&ic& +as o$ t&e s&a.e o$ a marble co$$in/ And &o+ it &a..ened ! don't kno+* b%t !be0an to &ear t&in0s o$ all sorts bein0 said/ At $irst ! did not .ay attention to it* b%t treated

it +it& contem.t/ 4%t t&e con, versation +ent on/ ! &eard m%$$led so%nds as t&o%0& t&es.eakers' mo%t&s +ere covered +it& a .illo+* and at t&e same time t&ey +ere distinct and

very near/ ! came to mysel$* sat %. and be0an listenin0 attentively/

(Yo%r E3cellency* it's %tterly im.ossible/ Yo% led &earts* ! ret%rn yo%r lead* and &ere yo%

.lay t&e seven o$ diamonds/ Yo% o%0&t to &ave 0iven me a &int abo%t diamonds/(

()&at* .lay by &ard and $ast r%les- )&ere is t&e c&arm o$ t&at-(



(Yo% m%st* yo%r E3cellency/ One can't do anyt&in0 +it&, o%t somet&in0 to 0o %.on/ )e m%st.lay +it& d%mmy* let one &and not be t%rned %./(

()ell* yo% +on't $ind a d%mmy &ere/(

)&at conceited +ords6 And it +as 1%eer and %ne3.ected/ One +as s%c& a .ondero%s*

di0ni$ied voice* t&e ot&er so$tly s%ave2 ! s&o%ld not &ave believed it i$ ! &ad not &eard itmysel$/ ! &ad not been to t&e re1%iem dinner* ! believe/ And yet &o+ co%ld t&ey be .layin0

.re$erence &ere and +&at 0eneral +as t&is- "&at t&e so%nds came $rom %nder t&etombstones o$ t&at t&ere co%ld be no do%bt/ ! bent do+n and read on t&e tomb

(#ere lies t&e body o$ Ma:or,General 7ervoyedov/// a cavalier o$ s%c& and s%c& orders/( #m6(7assed a+ay in A%0%st o$ t&is year/// $i$ty,seven//// Rest* beloved as&es* till t&e :oy$%l

da+n6(

#m* das& it* it really is a 0eneral6 "&ere +as no mon%ment on t&e 0rave $rom +&ic& t&e

obse1%io%s voice came* t&ere +as only a tombstone/ #e m%st &ave been a $res& arrival/From &is voice &e +as a lo+er co%rt co%ncillor/

(O&,&o,&o,&o6( ! &eard in a ne+ voice a do;en yards $rom t&e 0eneral's restin0,.lace*comin0 $rom 1%ite a $res& 0rave/ "&e voice belon0ed to a man and a .lebeian* ma+kis& +it&

its a$$ectation o$ reli0io%s $ervo%r/ (O&,&o,&o,&o6(

(O&* &ere &e is &icc%..in0 a0ain6( cried t&e &a%0&ty and disdain$%l voice o$ an irritated lady*

a..arently o$ t&e &i0&est society/ (!t is an a$$liction to be by t&is s&o.kee.er6(

(! didn't &icc%.2 +&y* !'ve &ad not&in0 to eat/ !t's sim.ly my nat%re/ Really* madam* yo%

don't seem able to 0et rid o$ yo%r ca.rices &ere/(

("&en +&y did yo% come and lie do+n &ere-(

("&ey .%t me &ere* my +i$e and little c&ildren .%t me &ere* ! did not lie do+n &ere o$mysel$/ "&e mystery o$ deat&6 And ! +o%ld not &ave lain do+n beside yo% not $or any

money2 ! lie &ere as be$ittin0 my $ort%ne* :%d0in0 by t&e .rice/ For +e can al+ays do t&at ,.ay $or a tomb o$ t&e t&ird 0rade/(

(Yo% made money* ! s%..ose- Yo% $leeced .eo.le-(

(Fleece yo%* indeed6 )e &aven't seen t&e colo%r o$ yo%r money since 8an%ary/ "&ere's a

little bill a0ainst yo% at t&e s&o./(

()ell* t&at's really st%.id2 to try and recover debts &ere is too st%.id* to my t&inkin06 Go to

t&e s%r$ace/ Ask my niece , s&e is my &eiress/(

("&ere's no askin0 anyone no+* and no 0oin0 any+&ere/ )e &ave bot& reac&ed o%r limit

and* be$ore t&e :%d0ment,seat o$ God* are e1%al in o%r sins/(

(!n o%r sins*( t&e lady mimicked &im contem.t%o%sly/ (Don't dare to s.eak to me/(

(O&,&o,&o,&o6(



(Yo% see* t&e s&o.kee.er obeys t&e lady* yo%r E3cellency/(

()&y s&o%ldn't &e-(

()&y* yo%r E3cellency* beca%se* as +e all kno+* t&in0s are di$$erent &ere/(

(Di$$erent- #o+-(

()e are dead* so to s.eak* yo%r E3cellency/(

(O&* yes6 4%t still/// (

)ell* t&is is an entertainment* it is a $ine s&o+* ! m%st say6 !$ it &as come to t&is do+n &ere*

+&at can one e3.ect on t&e s%r$ace- 4%t +&at a 1%eer b%siness6 ! +ent on listenin0* &o+,ever* t&o%0& +it& e3treme indi0nation/

(Yes* ! s&o%ld like a taste o$ li$e6 Yes* yo% kno+/// ! s&o%ld like a taste o$ $i$e/( ! &eard a ne+

voice s%ddenly some+&ere in t&e s.ace bet+een t&e 0eneral and t&e irritable lady/

(Do yo% &ear* yo%r E3cellency* o%r $riend is at t&e same 0ame a0ain/ For t&ree days at a

time &e says not&in0* and t&en &e b%rsts o%t +it& '! s&o%ld like a taste o$ li$e* yes* a tasteo$ li$e6' And +it& s%c& a..etite* &e,&e6(

(And s%c& $rivolity/(

(!t 0ets &old o$ &im* yo%r E3cellency* and do yo% kno+* &e is 0ro+in0 slee.y* 1%ite slee.y ,&e &as been &ere since A.ril2 and t&en all o$ a s%dden '! s&o%ld like a taste o$ li$e6'(

(!t is rat&er d%ll* t&o%0&*( observed &is E3cellency/

(!t is* yo%r E3cellency/ S&all +e tease Avdotya !0natyevna a0ain* &e,&e-(

(No* s.are me* .lease/ ! can't end%re t&at 1%arrelsome vira0o/(

(And ! can't end%re eit&er o$ yo%*( cried t&e vira0o disdain, $%lly/ (Yo% are bot& o$ yo% boresand can't tell me anyt&in0 ideal/ ! kno+ one little story abo%t yo%* yo%r E3cellency, don't

t%rn %. yo%r nose* .lease , &o+ a manservant s+e.t yo% o%t $rom %nder a married co%.le's

bed one mornin0/(

(Nasty +oman*( t&e 0eneral m%ttered t&ro%0& &is teet&/

(Avdotya l0natycvna* ma'am*( t&e s&o.kee.er +ailed s%ddenly a0ain* (my dear lady* don'tbe an0ry* b%t tell me* am ! 0oin0 t&ro%0& t&e ordeal by torment no+* or is it some, t&in0else-(

(A&* &e is at it a0ain* as ! e3.ected6 For t&ere's a smell $rom &im +&ic& means &e is t%rnin0ro%nd6(





(!/ / / !/// it +as a com.lication* and so s%dden6( $altered t&e yo%n0 man a0ain/ (Only t&eevenin0 be$ore* Sc&%lt; said to me* '"&ere's a com.lication*' and ! died s%ddenly be$ore

mornin0/ O&6 o&6(

()ell* t&ere's no &el. $or it* yo%n0 man*( t&e 0eneral observed 0racio%sly* evidently .leasedat a ne+ arrival/ (Yo% m%st be com$orted/ Yo% are kindly +elcome to o%r ale o$

8e&os&a.&at* so to call it/ )e are kind,&earted .eo.le* yo% +ill come to kno+ %s anda..reciate %s/ Ma:or,General assili assilitc& 7ervoyedov* at yo%r service/(

(O&* no* no6 Certainly not6 ! +as at Sc&%lt;'s2 ! &ad a com.lication* yo% kno+* at $irst it +as

my c&est and a co%0&* and t&en ! ca%0&t a cold my l%n0s and in$l%en;a/// and all o$ as%dden* 1%ite %ne3.ectedly/// t&e +orst o$ all +as its bein0 so %ne3.ected/(

(Yo% say it be0an +it& t&e c&est*( t&e 0overnment clerk .%t in s%avely* as t&o%0& &e +is&edto reass%re t&e ne+ arrival/

(Yes* my c&est and catarr& and t&en no catarr&* b%t still t&e c&est* and ! co%ldn't breat&e///and yo% kno+/ / / (

(l kno+* ! kno+/ 4%t i$ it +as t&e c&est yo% o%0&t to &ave 0one to Ecke and not to Sc&%lt;/(

(Yo% kno+* ! ke.t meanin0 to 0o to 4otkin's* and all at once/// (

(4otkin is 1%ite .ro&ibitive*( observed t&e 0eneral/

(O&* no* &e is not $orbiddin0 at all2 !'ve &eard &e is so attentive and $oretells everyt&in0

be$ore&and/(

(#is E3cellency +as re$errin0 to &is $ees*( t&e 0overnment clerk corrected &im/

(O&* not at all* &e only asks t&ree ro%bles* and &e makes s%c& an e3amination* and 0ivesyo% a .rescri.tion / / /and ! +as very an3io%s to see &im* $or ! &ave been told/// )ell*

0entlemen* &ad ! better 0o to Ecke or to 4otkin-(

()&at- "o +&om-( "&e 0eneral's cor.se s&ook +it& a0reeable la%0&ter/ "&e 0overnment

clerk ec&oed it in $alsetto/

(Dear boy* dear* deli0&t$%l boy* &o+ ! love yo%6( Avdotya !0natyevna s1%ealed ecstatically/

(! +is& t&ey &ad .%t some, one like yo% ne3t to me/(

No* t&at +as too m%c&6 And t&ese +ere t&e dead o$ o%r times6 Still* ! o%0&t to listen tomore and not be in too 0reat a &%rry to dra+ concl%sions/ "&at snivellin0 ne+ arrival , !

remember &im :%st no+ in &is co$$in , &ad t&e e3.ression o$ a $ri0&tened c&icken* t&e mostrevoltin0 e3.ression in t&e +orld6 #o+ever* let %s +ait and see/

4%t +&at &a..ened ne3t +as s%c& a 4edlam t&at ! co%ld not kee. it all in my memory/ For a

0reat many +oke %. at once2 an o$$icial , a civil co%ncillor , +oke %.* and be0an disc%ssin0at once t&e .ro:ect o$ a ne+ s%b,committee in a 0overnment de.artment and o$ t&e

.robable trans$er o$ vario%s $%nc, tionaries in connection +it& t&e s%b,committee , +&ic&very 0reatly interested t&e 0eneral/ ! m%st con$ess ! learnt a 0reat deal t&at +as ne+

mysel$* so m%c& so t&at ! marvelled at t&e c&annels by +&ic& one may sometimes in t&e



metro.olis learn 0overnment ne+s/ "&en an en0ineer &al$ +oke %.* b%t $or a lon0 timem%ttered absol%te nonsense* so t&at o%r $riends le$t o$$ +orryin0 &im and let &im lie till &e

+as ready/ At last t&e distin0%is&ed lady +&o &ad been b%ried in t&e mornin0 %nder t&ecata$al1%e s&o+ed sym.toms o$ t&e reanimation o$ t&e tomb/ Lebe;iatnikov <$or t&e

obse1%io%s lo+er co%rt co%ncillor +&om ! detested and +&o lay beside General 7ervoyedov+as called* it a..ears* Lebe;iatnikov= became m%c& e3cited* and s%r.rised t&at t&ey +ere

all +akin0 %. so soon tllis time/ ! m%st o+n ! +as s%r.rised too2 t&o%0& some o$ t&ose +&o+oke &ad been b%ried $or t&ree days* as* $or instance* a very yo%n0 0irl o$ si3teen +&o ke.t0i00lin0/// 0i00lin0 in a &orrible and .redatory +ay/

(Yo%r E3cellency* .rivy co%ncillor "arasevitc& is +akin06( Lebe;iatnikov anno%nced +it&

e3treme $%ssiness/

(E&- )&at-( t&e .rivy co%ncillor* +akin0 %. s%ddenly m%mbled* +it& a lis. o$ dis0%st/ "&ere

+as a note o$ ill, &%mo%red .erem.toriness in t&e so%nd o$ &is voice/

! listened +it& c%riosity , $or d%rin0 t&e last $e+ days ! &ad &eard somet&in0 abo%t

"arasevitc& , s&ockin0 and %.settin0 in t&e e3treme/

(!t's !* yo%r E3cellency* so $ar only !/(

()&at is yo%r .etition- )&at do yo% +ant-(

(Merely to in1%ire a$ter yo%r E3cellency's &ealt&2 in t&ese %nacc%stomed s%rro%ndin0s

everyone $eels at $irst* as it +ere* o..ressed/ General 7ervoyedov +is&es to &ave t&e&ono%r o$ makin0 yo%r E3cellency's ac1%aintance* and &o.es/// (

(!'ve never &eard o$ &im/(

(S%rely* yo%r E3cellency6 General 7ervoyedov* assili assilitc&/// (

(Are yo% General 7ervoyedov-(

(No* yo%r E3cellency* ! am only t&e lo+er co%rt co%ncillor Lebe;iatnikov* at yo%r service* b%t

General 7ervoyedov///(

(Nonsense6 And ! be0 yo% to leave me alone/(

(Let &im be/( General 7ervoyedov at last &imsel$ c&ecked +it& di0nity t&e dis0%stin0o$$icio%sness o$ &is syco.&ant in t&e 0rave/

(#e is not $%lly a+ake* yo%r E3cellency* yo% m%st consider t&at2 it's t&e novelty o$ it all/

)&en &e is $%lly a+ake &e +ill take it di$$erently/(

(Let &im be*( re.eated t&e 0eneral/

(assili assilitc&6 #ey* yo%r E3cellency6( a .er$ectly ne+ voice s&o%ted lo%dly and

a00ressively $rom close beside Avdotya l0natyevna/ !t +as a voice o$ 0entlemanly insolence*+it& t&e lan0%id .ron%nciation no+ $as&ionable and an arro0ant dra+l/ (!'ve been +atc&in0

yo% all $or t&e last t+o &o%rs/ Do yo% remember me* assili assilitc&- My name is



9linevitc&* +e met at t&e olokonskys' +&ere yo%* too* +ere received as a 0%est* ! am s%re! don't kno+ +&y/(

()&at* Co%nt 7yotr 7etrovitc&-/// Can it be really yo%/// and at s%c& an early a0e- #o+ sorry

! am to &ear it/(

(O&* ! am sorry mysel$* t&o%0& ! really don't mind* and ! +ant to am%se mysel$ as $ar as !can every+&ere/ And ! am not a co%nt b%t a baron* only a baron/ )e are only a set o$

sc%rvy barons* risen $rom bein0 $l%nkeys* b%t +&y ! don't kno+ and ! don't care/ ! am only asco%ndrel o$ t&e .se%do,aristo, cratic society* and ! am re0arded as 'a c&armin0 .olisson'/

My $at&er is a +retc&ed little 0eneral* and my mot&er +as at one time received en &a%t lie%/)it& t&e &el. o$ t&e 8e+ >i$el ! $or0ed $i$ty t&o%sand ro%ble notes last year and t&en !

in$ormed a0ainst &im* +&ile 8%lic C&ar.entier de L%si0nan carried o$$ t&e money to4ordea%3/ And only $ancy* ! +as en0a0ed to be married , to a 0irl still at sc&ool* t&ree

mont&s %nder si3teen* +it& a do+ry o$ ninety t&o%sand/ Avdotya l0natyevna* do yo%remember &o+ yo% sed%ced me $i$teen years a0o +&en ! +as a boy o$ $o%rteen in t&e Cor.s

des 7a0es-(

(A&* t&at's yo%* yo% rascal6 )ell* yo% are a 0odsend* any, +ay* $or &ere//// (

(Yo% +ere mistaken in s%s.ectin0 yo%r nei0&bo%r* t&e b%siness 0entleman* o$ %n.leasant

$ra0rance//// ! said not&in0* b%t ! la%0&ed/ "&e stenc& came $rom me t&ey &ad to b%ry me

in a nailed,%. co$$in/(

(50&* yo% &orrid creat%re6 Still* ! am 0lad yo% are &ere2 yo% can't ima0ine t&e lack o$ li$e

and +it &ere/(

(?%ite so* 1%ite so* and ! intend to start &ere somet&in0 ori0inal/ Yo%r E3cellency , ! don't

mean yo%* 7ervoyedov , yo%r E3cellency t&e ot&er one* "arasevitc&* t&e .rivy co%ncillor6Ans+er6 ! am 9linevitc&* +&o took yo% to Mlle/ F%rie in Lent* do yo% &ear-(

(! do* 9linevitc&* and ! am deli0&ted* and tr%st me /

(! +o%ldn't tr%st yo% +it& a &al$.enny* and ! don't care/ ! sim.ly +ant to kiss yo%* dear oldman* b%t l%ckily ! can't/ Do yo% kno+* 0entlemen* +&at t&is 0rand,.ere's little 0ame +as-

#e died t&ree or $o%r days a0o* and +o%ld yo% believe it* &e le$t a de$icit o$ $o%r &%ndred

t&o%sand 0overnment money $rom t&e $%nd $or +ido+s and or.&ans/ #e +as t&e sole.erson in control o$ it $or some reason* so t&at &is acco%nts +ere not a%dited $or t&e last

ei0&t years/ ! can $ancy +&at lon0 $aces t&ey all &ave no+* and +&at t&ey call &im/ !t's adelectable t&o%0&t* isn't it- ! &ave been +onderin0 $or t&e last year &o+ a +retc&ed old man

o$ seventy* 0o%ty and r&e%matic* s%cceeded in .reservin0 t&e .&ysical ener0y $or &isdeba%c&eries , and no+ t&e riddle is solved6 "&ose +ido+s and or.&ans , t&e very t&o%0&t

o$ t&em m%st &ave e00ed &im on6 ! kne+ abo%t it lon0 a0o* ! +as t&e only one +&o didkno+2 it +as 8%lie told me* and as soon as ! discovered it* ! attacked &im in a $riendly +ay

at once in Easter +eek 'Give me t+enty,$ive t&o%sand* i$ yo% don't t&ey'll look into yo%racco%nts to,morro+/' And :%st $ancy* &e &ad only t&irteen t&o%sand le$t t&en* so it seems it

+as very a.ro.os &is dyin0 no+/ Grand,.ere* 0rand,.ere2 do yo% &ear-(

(C&er 9&nevitc&* ! 1%ite a0ree +it& yo%* and t&ere +as no need $or yo%/// to 0o into s%c&

details/ Li$e is so $%ll o$ s%$$erin0 and torment and so little to make %. $or it/// t&at ! +antedat last to be at rest* and so $ar as ! can see ! &o.e to 0et all ! can $rom &ere too/(



(! bet t&at &e &as already sni$$ed 9atic&e 4erestoy6(

()&o- )&at 9atic&e-( "&ere +as a ra.acio%s 1%iver in t&e old man's voice/

(A,a&* +&at 9atic&e- )&y* &ere on t&e le$t* $ive .aces $rom me and ten $rom yo%/ S&e &asbeen &ere $or $ive days* and i$ only yo% kne+* 0rand,.ere* +&at a little +retc& s&e is6 O$

0ood $amily and breedin0 and a monster* a re0%lar monster6 ! did not introd%ce &er toanyone t&ere* ! +as t&e only one +&o kne+ &er//// 9atic&e* ans+er6(

(#e,&e,&e6( t&e 0irl res.onded +it& a :an0lin0 la%0&* in +&ic& t&ere +as a note o$somet&in0 as s&ar. as t&e .rick o$ a needle/ (#e,&e,&e6(

(And a little blonde-( t&e 0rand,.ere $altered* dra+lin0 o%t t&e syllables/

(#e,&e,&e6(

(!/// &ave lon0/// ! &ave lon0*( t&e old man $altered breat&lessly* (c&eris&ed t&e dream o$ alittle $air t&in0 o$ $i$teen and :%st in s%c& s%rro%ndin0s/(

(Ac&* t&e monster6( cried Avdotya !0natyevna/

(Eno%0&6( 9linevitc& decided/ (! see t&ere is e3cellent material/ )e s&all soon arran0e

t&in0s better/ "&e 0reat t&in0 is to s.end t&e rest o$ o%r time c&eer$%lly2 b%t +&at time-#ey* yo%* 0overnment clerk* Lebe;iatnikov or +&atever it is* ! &ear t&at's yo%r name6(

(Semyon Yevseitc& Lebe;iatnikov* lo+er co%rt co%ncillor* at yo%r service* very* very* verym%c& deli0&ted to meet yo%/(

(! don't care +&et&er yo% are deli0&ted or not* b%t yo% seem to kno+ everyt&in0 &ere/ "ellme $irst o$ all &o+ it is +e can talk- !'ve been +onderin0 ever since yesterday/ )e are dead

and yet +e are talkin0 and seem to be movin0 , and yet +e are not talkin0 and not movin0/)&at :%00lery is t&is-(

(!$ yo% +ant an e3.lanation* baron* 7laton Nikolaevitc& co%ld 0ive yo% one better t&an !/(

()&at 7laton Nikolaevitc& is t&at- "o t&e .oint/ Don't beat abo%t t&e b%s&/(

(7laton Nikolaevitc& is o%r &ome,0ro+n .&iloso.&er* scientist and Master o$ Arts/ #e &asbro%0&t o%t several .&iloso.&ical +orks* b%t $or t&e last t&ree mont&s &e &as been 0ettin0

1%ite dro+sy* and t&ere is no stirrin0 &im %. no+/ Once a +eek &e m%tters somet&in0

%tterly irrelevant/(

("o t&e .oint* to t&e .oint6(

(#e e3.lains all t&is by t&e sim.lest $act* namely* t&at +&en +e +ere livin0 on t&e s%r$ace

+e mistakenly t&o%0&t t&at deat& t&ere +as deat&/ "&e body revives* as it +ere* &ere* t&eremains o$ li$e are concentrated* b%t only in conscio%sness/ ! don't kno+ &o+ to e3.ress it*

b%t li$e 0oes on* as it +ere* by inertia/ !n &is o.inion everyt&in0 is concentrated some+&erein con, scio%sness and 0oes on $or t+o or t&ree mont&s/// sometimes even $or &al$ a year////

"&ere is one &ere* $or instance* +&o is almost com.letely decom.osed* b%t once every si3



+eeks &e s%ddenly %tters one +ord* 1%ite senseless o$ co%rse* abo%t some bobok* '4obok*bobok*' b%t yo% see t&at an im.er, ce.tible s.eck o$ li$e is still +arm +it&in &im/(

(!t's rat&er st%.id/ )ell* and &o+ is it ! &ave no sense o$ smell and yet ! $eel t&ere's a

stenc&-(

("&at/// &e,&e/// )ell* on t&at .oint o%r .&iloso.&er is a bit $o00y/ !t's a.ro.os o$ smell* &esaid* t&at t&e stenc& one .erceives &ere is* so to s.eak* moral , &e,&e6 !t's t&e stenc& o$ t&e

so%l* &e says* t&at in t&ese t+o or t&ree mont&s it may &ave time to recover itsel$/// and t&isis* so to s.eak* t&e last mercy//// Only* ! t&ink* baron* t&at t&ese are mystic ravin0s very

e3c%sable in &is .osition///

(Eno%0&2 all t&e rest o$ it* ! am s%re* is nonsense/ "&e 0reat t&in0 is t&at +e &ave t+o or

t&ree mont&s more o$ li$e and t&en , bobok6 ! .ro.ose to s.end t&ese t+o mont&s asa0reeably as .ossible* and so to arran0e everyt&in0 on a ne+ basis/ Gentle, men6 ! .ro.ose

to cast aside all s&ame/(

(A&* let %s cast aside all s&ame* let %s6( many voices co%ld be &eard sayin02 and stran0e to

say* several ne+ voices +ere a%dible* +&ic& m%st &ave belon0ed to ot&ers ne+ly a+akened/"&e en0ineer* no+ $%lly a+ake* boomed o%t &is a0reement +it& .ec%liar deli0&t/ "&e 0irl9atic&e 0i00led 0lee$%lly/

(O&* &o+ ! lon0 to cast o$$ all s&ame6( Avdotya l0natyevna e3claimed ra.t%ro%sly/

(! say* i$ Avdotya l0natyevna +ants to cast o$$ all s&ame///(

(No* no* no* 9linevitc&* ! +as as&amed %. t&ere all t&e same* b%t &ere ! s&o%ld like to cast

o$$ s&ame* ! s&o%ld like it a+$%lly/(

(! %nderstand* 9linevitc&*( boomed t&e en0ineer* (t&at yo% +ant to rearran0e li$e &ere on

ne+ and rational .rinci.les/(

(O&* ! don't care a &an0 abo%t t&at6 For t&at +e'll +ait $or 9%deyarov +&o +as bro%0&t &ere

yesterday/ )&en &e +akes &e'll tell yo% all abo%t it/ #e is s%c& a .ersonality* s%c& a titanic.ersonality6 "o,morro+ t&ey'll brin0 alon0 anot&er nat%ral scientist* ! believe* an o$$icer $or

certain* and t&ree or $o%r days later a :o%rnalist* and* ! believe* &is editor +it& &im/ 4%tde%ce take t&em all* t&ere +ill be a little 0ro%. o$ %s any, +ay* and t&in0s +ill arran0e

t&emselves/ "&o%0& mean+&ile ! don't +ant %s to be tellin0 lies/ "&at's all ! care abo%t* $ort&at is one t&in0 t&at matters/ One cannot e3ist on t&e s%r$ace +it&, o%t lyin0* $or li$e and

lyin0 are synonymo%s* b%t &ere +e +ill am%se o%rselves by not lyin0/ #an0 it all* t&e 0rave&as some val%e a$ter all6 )e'll all tell o%r stories alo%d* and +e +on't be as&amed o$

anyt&in0/ First o$ all !'ll tell yo% abo%t mysel$/ ! am one o$ t&e .redatory kind* yo% kno+/ Allt&at +as bo%nd and &eld in c&eck by rotten cords %. t&ere on t&e s%r$ace/ A+ay +it& cords

and let %s s.end t&ese t+o mont&s in s&ame, less tr%t&$%lness6 Let %s stri. and be naked6(

(Let %s be naked* let %s be naked6( cried all t&e voices/

(! lon0 to be naked* ! lon0 to be*( Avdotya !0natyevna s&rilled/

(A&/// a&* ! see +e s&all &ave $%n &ere2 ! don't +ant Ecke a$ter all/(



(No* ! tell yo%/ Give me a taste o$ li$e6(

(#e,&e,&e6( 0i00led 9atic&e/

("&e 0reat t&in0 is t&at no one can inter$ere +it& %s* and t&o%0& ! see 7ervoyedov is in atem.er* &e can't reac& me +it& &is &and/ Grand,.ere* do yo% a0ree-(

(! $%lly a0ree* $%lly* and +it& t&e %tmost satis$action* b%t on condition t&at 9atic&e is t&e$irst to 0ive %s &er bio0ra.&y/(

(! .rotest6 ! .rotest +it& all my &eart6( General 7ervoyedov bro%0&t o%t $irmly/

(Yo%r E3cellency6( t&e sco%ndrel Lebe;iatnikov .ers%aded &im in a m%rm%r o$ $%ssy

e3citement* (yo%r E3cellency* it +ill be to o%r advanta0e to a0ree/ #ere* yo% see* t&ere'st&is 0irl's/// and all t&eir little a$$airs/(

("&ere's t&e 0irl* it's tr%e* b%t/// (

(!t's to o%r advanta0e* yo%r E3cellency* %.on my +ord it is6 !$ only as an e3.eriment* let %s

try it/ / /(

(Even in t&e 0rave t&ey +on't let %s rest in .eace/(

(!n t&e $irst .lace* General* yo% +ere .layin0 .re$erence in t&e 0rave* and in t&e second +edon't care a &an0 abo%t yo%*( dra+led 9linevitc&/

(Sir* ! be0 yo% not to $or0et yo%rsel$/(

()&at- )&y* yo% can't 0et at me* and ! can tease yo% $rom &ere as t&o%0& yo% +ere 8%lie's

la.do0/ And anot&er t&in0* 0entlemen* &o+ is &e a 0eneral &ere- #e +as a 0eneral t&ere*b%t &ere is mere re$%se/(

(No* not mere re$%se//// Even &ere///(

(#ere yo% +ill rot in t&e 0rave and si3 brass b%ttons +ill be all t&at +ill be le$t o$ yo%/(

(4ravo* 9linevitc&* &a,&a,&a6( roared voices/

(! &ave served my soverei0n//// ! &ave t&e s+ord/// (

(Yo%r s+ord is only $it to .rick mice* and yo% never dre+ it even $or t&at/(

("&at makes no di$$erence2 ! $ormed a .art o$ t&e +&ole/(

(4ravo* 9linevitc&* bravo6 #a,&a,&a6(

(! don't %nderstand +&at t&e s+ord stands $or*( boomed t&e en0ineer/

()e s&all r%n a+ay $rom t&e 7r%ssians like mice* t&ey'll cr%s& %s to .o+der6( cried a voice int&e distance t&at +as %n$amiliar to me* t&at +as .ositively s.l%tterin0 +it& 0lee/



("&e s+ord* sir* is an &ono%r*( t&e 0eneral cried* b%t only ! &eard &im/ "&ere arose a.rolon0ed and $%rio%s roar* clamo%r* and &%bb%b* and only t&e &ysterically im.atient

s1%eals o$ Avdotya !0natyevna +ere a%dible/

(4%t do let %s make &aste6 A&* +&en are +e 0oin0 to be0in to cast o$$ all s&ame6(

(O&,&o,&o6/// "&e so%l does in tr%t& .ass t&ro%0& torments6( e3claimed t&e voice o$ t&e.lebeian* (and/// (

And &ere ! s%ddenly snee;ed/ !t &a..ened s%ddenly and %nintentionally* b%t t&e e$$ect +asstrikin0 all became as silent as one e3.ects it to be in a c&%rc&yard* it all vanis&ed like a

dream/ A real silence o$ t&e tomb set in/ ! don't believe t&ey +ere as&amed on acco%nt o$my .resence t&ey &ad made %. t&eir minds to cast o$$ all s&ame6 ! +aited $ive min%tes ,

not a +ord* not a so%nd/ !t cannot be s%..osed t&at t&ey +ere a$raid o$ my in$ormin0 t&e.olice2 $or +&at co%ld t&e .olice do to t&em- ! m%st concl%de t&at t&ey &ad some secret %n,

kno+n to t&e livin0* +&ic& t&ey care$%lly concealed $rom every mortal/

()ell* my dears*( ! t&o%0&t* (! s&all visit yo% a0ain/( And +it& t&ose +ords* ! le$t t&e

cemetery/

No* t&at ! cannot admit2 no* ! really cannot6 "&e bobok case does not tro%ble me <so t&at is+&at t&e bobok si0ni$ied6=

De.ravity in s%c& a .lace* de.ravity o$ t&e last as.irations* de.ravity o$ sodden and rotten

cor.ses , and not even s.arin0 t&e last inoments o$ conscio%sness6 "&ose moments &avebeen 0ranted* vo%c&sa$ed to t&em* and/// and* +orst o$ all* in s%c& a .lace6 No* t&at !

cannot admit/

! s&all 0o to ot&er tombs* ! s&all listen every+&ere/ Certainly one o%0&t to listen every+&ereand not merely at one s.ot in order to $orm an idea/ 7er&a.s one may come across some,t&in0 reass%rin0/

4%t ! s&all certainly 0o back to t&ose/ "&ey .romised t&eir bio0ra.&ies and anecdotes o$ allsorts/ "$oo6 4%t ! s&all 0o* ! s&all certainly 0o2 it is a 1%estion o$ conscience6

! s&all take it to t&e Citi;en2 t&e editor t&ere &as &ad &is .ortrait e3&ibited too/ Maybe &e+ill .rint it/

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Bobac, Dostojevski