Gogol’s <> original text

The Imperial Envoy [Russian Gogol].

In the luxurious living room of the county magistrate’s house, the leading figures of the county gathered: the county magistrate, the director of the charity hospital, the school inspector, Judges, police chiefs, medical officers. What seems to be a very important meeting is being held here.

"I just got a reliable but very unpleasant news: an imperial envoy will come from Petersburg for a service inspection, and he will bring a secret order." The voice came from the dry throat of the county magistrate with difficulty. issue. "I invite you all here to inform you and prepare." He paused, his eyes wandering among the crowd, and finally stopped on the face of Artemi, the director of Charity Hospital. "As a rule, officials who come to us must first inspect the charity hospitals you run - so you should put everything in order: wash your hats, and don't let the patients dress casually, like a group of blacksmiths. "It doesn't matter, you can ask them to wear clean hats." "It's better to take in fewer patients, otherwise, people will blame you for poor management or poor medical skills." "I also want to advise you." Pointing at Judge Amos, "You have to pay attention to the order of the court. In the waiting room of your Yamen, there are often many parties coming in and out, but the janitor raised a few geese there and brought a group of geese outside. Goslings are running around under people's feet. Of course, doing some sideline production is worthy of reward. However, you know, it is not suitable to raise geese in this kind of place... I have long wanted to remind you of this, but. For some reason, I always forget to tell you. "I'll have the geese chased into the kitchen today. If you're happy, please come over and have a meal," Amos said in a thin, hoarse voice. With a snorting sound, like an old clock, it first hissed and then struck. "Besides, there is a lot of rags of all kinds hanging out in the courtroom, and there is a hunting whip hanging on the cabinet where the documents are kept. It's ridiculous. I know you love hunting, but it's best to put the whip away for a while. It's not too late to hang it up after the imperial envoy has left. Also, your assessor smells like he just came out of a brewery." The county magistrate glanced at the medical officer Helis Jiyang: " However, as long as our medical officer uses various medicines to ensure that the disease will be cured, "No, there is no cure for his odor: he said that when he was a child, he asked the wet nurse to throw him down, and from then on, he had bad smell. It always smells like soju," Amos defended his men eagerly. "I'm just reminding you to pay attention." County Magistrate Anton waved his hand, and then fixed his gaze on the face of Inspector Luka: "You must pay special attention to the teachers. Of course they are learned people who are skilled in various specialties. They are educated in the school, but their behavior is very strange, which is naturally inseparable from their status as scholars. For example, there is a guy with a fat face who will not give up until he makes a face when he comes to the podium. One hand was stroking his beard under his tie... There was also a history teacher who, when he got excited during his lecture, would run down from the podium, grab a chair, and throw it to the ground. Others will think this is for them, who knows what kind of trouble it will cause. "I have tried to persuade them several times! God forbid that I will be asked to serve in the academic world again." , I’m afraid of everyone.” Luka shook his head dejectedly and sighed, “Damn the incognito inspection!” The county magistrate secretly cursed. What am I afraid of? I'm not scared, I'm just a little... those businessmen and citizens make me a little worried. I always take this and that from them and never pay. They have long been holding a grudge. Will they take this opportunity to file a complaint and sue me? Thinking of this, the county magistrate walked to Ivan, the postmaster, took his hand and led him aside: "For the benefit of our colleagues, can you give me every letter that goes through your post office?" I'll open it and look at it to see if there's anything to report against me. If there's nothing, I'll seal the letter again. However, I can even send it out without sealing it. "Out of curiosity, I've done this a long time ago." Those letters are much more interesting than reading the "Moscow Times". After reading them, I felt very comfortable and benefited a lot. Not long ago, a lieutenant wrote a letter to his friend. It was so well written that I kept it because you don't want to hear it. Do you want to listen?" The postmaster was beaming, completely immersed in the enjoyment of reading other people's letters privately. "Then don't worry about it, Ivan: if you encounter a letter accusing or reporting me, you don't have to think about it, just detain it." "I will definitely do it.

”

The living room was filled with noisy discussions. These dignitaries in the county were secretly worried about their future, for fear that their leverage would fall into the hands of the official who was visiting incognito.

At this moment, Dobchinsky and Bobchinsky ran into the living room panting, rushing to tell everyone: In the hotel, there lived a young man who was not ugly in appearance, wearing casual clothes. The hotel owner told them that the young man was an official from Petersburg, his name was Khlestakov, and he was going to Saratov Province. His behavior was strange: he had been staying here for more than a week. He never left the house, bought everything on credit, and didn’t pay a penny.

“Why should he stay here if he wants to go to Saratov Province? It must be the imperial minister. "The two of them guessed. "He neither paid nor left. Yes, it must be him. "People agreed with both of them.

This sudden news made the county magistrate open his mouth in panic: In more than a week, the corporal's wife was beaten! The prisoner's rations were withheld! It’s dirty and messy! God, have mercy on me and give me a hand! But the sophisticated county magistrate quickly came up with a countermeasure. He ordered his subordinates who were still in panic: "Renovate the city in a short time." ! Let Pugovitchin, a tall and strong policeman, stand on the bridge to enhance the city's appearance. The old fences were torn down and grass boundary markers were put up to make it look like they were planning municipal construction. Because the more places that are demolished, the more it shows that the county magistrate has a solution. Inform every police officer that when an officer asks if he is satisfied or dissatisfied, he is to reply "Everything is satisfactory, my lord" and the streets leading to the hotel are quickly swept clean. Otherwise, he will look good..." After the arrangements were made, the county magistrate decided to go to the hotel in person.

Just as he put on his hat and climbed into the prepared carriage, his wife Anna and daughter Maria They chased him, but at this moment, how could he have the energy to answer their questions?

Two

In a messy room in the hotel, the servant Osip was lying down. On the master's bed. At this moment, he was hungry and his stomach was growling, as if a regiment of soldiers were blowing trumpets inside.

Osip and his master Khlestakov had left Petersburg four days ago. For many weeks, the owner had spent all his money. Everywhere he went, he wanted to be extravagant, asking for a nice room and good food. The most disgusting thing was that he would only lose all his money when he opened the table and played cards. This fourteenth-grade civil servant does not work in the yamen, but spends his days wandering the streets, playing cards, and gambling. Sometimes he even loses his last shirt, leaving only a coat and a coat. Now because the previous debt has not been paid, the hotel owner is no longer willing to give them food on credit.

“Oh my God, even some vegetable soup would be nice. Now I want to swallow the whole world. "The knock on the door interrupted Osip's soliloquy, and his master was back. Khlestakov was a thin young man. Hunger made his withered body look more like a dehydrated bean sprout, and he was very sick. He went out for a walk just now, thinking that he would be able to overcome this hunger, but it didn't work. Instead, he felt even hungrier. It will be enough. He paced the room uneasily, and hesitated several times.

"I say, Osip!" Khlestakov seemed determined. "What's the matter?" "You go there for me." "Where?" "Downstairs, in the dining room...ask them...to serve me a meal." " Khlestakov said with difficulty in a pleading voice. "No, I can't go. You haven't paid for three weeks and your boss calls you a liar and a scoundrel. He said he was going to see the county magistrate. Osip continued with a bit of gloating and a bit of threat: "He will also send you to the Yamen and go to jail..." "Asshole, that's enough." Go and call the boss. " Khlestakov shouted.

Osip went as ordered, but failed to invite the boss. Only a servant from the hotel came. This servant always followed the boss's "Uncleared accounts" The boss refused to give Khlestakov any accommodation according to the rule of "no meal, no meal". Khlestakov coaxed and scolded him, so the boss had to send a servant to bring him a meal and declared that it was his last meal. Even so, after receiving the meal, Khlestakov was still very temperamental. He thought the food was too little and the soup was too tasteless, and he scolded him while eating, but this did not affect the speed of his eating. He still felt he was not full, but the boss refused to give him anything more.

"Scoundrel! Vile thing! Just give him a little juice or pie. Rogue! He just knows how to rip off guests." Khlestakov cursed angrily.

Suddenly, Osip ran in in a panic: "The county magistrate came here because he didn't know what happened. He is asking about you outside." He said carefully. "Oh, this is bad! This beast of a hotel owner really sued me! What if I were really arrested and sent to jail?" Khlestakov was shocked, his face turned pale, and his body curled up.

"Greetings." The county magistrate came in and bowed down humbly. "Hello." Khlestakov hurriedly saluted. "Forgive me for disturbing you." "It doesn't matter." "As the county magistrate of this city, my responsibility is to take care not to cause any injustice to passing merchants and all noble people..." "What can I do?... You can't blame me, the debt has to be paid... The country will send me the money," Khlestakov explained stammeringly. "It's all the boss's fault; the beef he gave me was as hard as wood; and the soup, who knows what he poured into it, I should have thrown it out the window. He made me hungry for several days... …The tea is really weird, it smells fishy, ??and it doesn’t even taste like tea. Why should I suffer this? It’s really a joke.” It was originally an explanation, but as I said it, I felt aggrieved and angry. Khlestakov's words became smoother and his voice became louder. "I'm sorry, you really can't blame me." The county magistrate was scared. "If there's anything you don't like...I boldly advise you to move to another place." It's over! Literally put me in jail. Khlestakov's mind suddenly went blank. "How dare you? I am...I am an official in Petersburg." The voice that fell seemed to remind Khlestakov. He was encouraged, his spirit was lifted, and his courage suddenly increased. As he said, he banged the table with his fist: "You bring the team here, and I won't go! I'll go directly to the minister! What are you doing?"

When he saw the "official" getting angry, the county magistrate trembled like chaff, convinced that his privacy had been captured by the high-ranking official in front of him. It must be those nasty businessmen who sued me! He thought bitterly. "You all know that I really have no experience in doing things." The county magistrate said with a vibrato. "To say that I took bribes was extremely small, just for food and clothes. As for the fact that I was a corporal's widowed wife, that was all a lie. This was fabricated by a group of people who had a grudge against me! They also said You want to kill me."

The county magistrate's irrelevant reply made Khlestakov feel like he was in trouble. But at this moment, he had no intention of caring about anything else. He just tried his best to excuse himself: "The debt must be repaid. I live here just because I don't have any money around me." When the "imperial envoy" said that he had no money around him. The county magistrate recognized that this was an opportunity to serve, and immediately took out a wad of bills from his underwear pocket and handed it over. Like a man who has long been thirsty for nectar, Khlestakov took the money and thanked the county magistrate again and again!

At this time, the county magistrate felt relieved. And I thought: Since he didn't reveal his identity and was setting up a smoke screen for me, then if I pretend not to know that he is the imperial envoy, maybe the result will be more favorable to me.

So, the county magistrate kept proving to Khlestakov that he was an honest official, worked hard, and would not hesitate to break his body for the sake of the country and the people. And he visited the "Imperial Minister" again and moved to his house. He had prepared a suitable, bright and quiet room for him. This was a wonderful thing that Khlestakov, his master and servant, could only dream of.

The "incorruptible" county magistrate will naturally not let the distinguished officials pay off the debts in the hotel, and of course he will not pay it himself. The hotel owner had no choice but to consider himself unlucky.

Three

Anna and Maria were ecstatic when they learned that the imperial minister was coming to live in their home. They dug out all their clothes and tried them on one by one, taking the trouble to Dress up to make yourself more beautiful and radiant.

The luggage has been sent by Osip and has been placed. However, the guest they were looking forward to was still missing. The mother and daughter anxiously ran to the window of their home facing the street, craned their necks and looked around.

After leaving the hotel, Khlestakov, accompanied by the county magistrate and his subordinates, first inspected the charity hospital. Here, what satisfied Khlestakov most was the pleasure Had a wonderful meal. He was in a great mood, kept asking questions, and looked like a high official.

After leaving the hospital, they arrived at the county magistrate’s house.

The county magistrate introduced his beautifully dressed wife Anna and daughter Maria to Khlestakov. Khlestakov made frequent glances at the two of them, which made the mother and daughter fascinated. They both thought that the senior official was in love with him.

Khlestakov, who was full of wine and food, was surrounded by the officials and became more and more proud. An unprecedented honor! So he blew it as he pleased.

"Do you know that the reception room at my house is always crowded with dukes and counts; the official letter sent to me by the minister says 'Your Excellency'; because I act impartially and show no mercy. , even cabinet meetings are afraid of me; I go to the palace every day, maybe I will be promoted to marshal tomorrow..." His nonsense actually calmed these officials. They believed him to be true and shivered in fear, not knowing how to please and curry favor with this "distinguished person". Osip also took advantage of the situation, helped to promote his master, and flattered him. Because he never wanted to go hungry again.

The officials began to be busy. They went to see Khlestakov one by one. He used various excuses to send money to him, hoping to gain the favor of this high official and ensure his current official position. At the same time, he also hoped to get more support from this high official in his career in the future. For the down-and-out Khlestakov, this was a great joy. With this much money, he could once again show his prestige in the casino. It's really a blessing in time, with good luck and good luck! Khlestakov was so happy that he almost didn't shout "Ula".

Hearing that an "imperial minister" had arrived, the businessmen who had been bullied by these officials also came together to complain. Here comes another opportunity to make money! Khlestakov secretly said happily. When he heard the merchants' complaints against the officials headed by the county magistrate, he couldn't help but feel sympathy. However, sympathy was sympathy, and he did not forget to "borrow" money from the merchants, not even the money trays the merchants held. Accepted politely. After sending away the complainants, Khlestakov counted the money in his hands. He really made a fortune! He immediately wrote a letter to his friend Troupichkin in Petersburg to tell him about this unexpected gain. At the same time, he accepted Osip's advice and decided to take the money and run away as soon as possible.

Khrestakov put down the "borrowed" money and whistled leisurely, when Maria walked in. Khlestakov immediately rushed forward excitedly and hugged Maria forgetfully: "I feel so happy to be with a beauty like you. I wish I could hold you in my arms forever." "You are too much. You treat me like a country woman..." Maria broke away from his arms angrily and turned to leave. Khlestakov blocked her way: "Out of love. I am really out of love. Don't be angry. I am willing to kneel in front of you and ask for your forgiveness." He really knelt down. Just in time, Anna walked in and was surprised to see the "imperial minister" kneeling to her daughter, so she angrily scolded Maria, who ran out with tears of grievance.

Looking at the middle-aged lady standing in front of him, Khlestakov suddenly felt that this woman had some flavor and was not bad-looking. So, he burned his "fire of love" towards this romantic mother.

"Sir! Please have mercy!" the county magistrate called and walked in with Maria: "The people who complained just now were all slanderers!..." "You know Khlestakov What an honor to us, he proposed to our daughter." Anna interrupted the county magistrate's ramblings. "Oh my god, where did you go!" The county magistrate simply didn't believe this good news that fell from the sky. How could he reach such a high official position! "It's true, I proposed and I fell in love with her." Khlestakov confirmed solemnly, and walked over to kiss Maria. The county magistrate wiped his eyes in disbelief, convinced that after they kissed, he danced with joy and exclaimed: "Haha, I'm shaking now!"

At this time, Osip, who had prepared the carriage, left. Came in and reminded the owner that it was time to leave. Khlestakov explained to the surprised county magistrate: "I am going to spend a day to see my uncle, a very rich old man, and I will come back tomorrow."

Lin When getting in the car, Khlestakov "reluctantly" kissed Maria goodbye. Of course, he didn't forget to take out the banknotes in the county magistrate's pocket, and "borrowed" another four hundred, saying that it was enough to make up eight hundred. Then he sat contentedly and drove away in three carriages equipped by the postmaster himself.

Four

After seeing off Khlestakov, the county magistrate and his wife and daughter returned to the room excitedly. They are completely immersed in unlimited joy.

Ah, from now on I can achieve great success and achieve great success! Thinking of this, Anton laughed happily. "Dear Anna, we will move to Petersburg." "Of course we live in Petersburg, how can we live here!" "Khlestakov has great powers, as long as he is willing to support him. , I will be promoted very quickly and will become a general in the future." The county magistrate was full of hope.

Of course, the county magistrate did not forget his gang of "rebels" because of his excitement. He ordered his men to summon those who complained against him, and asked the police to tell everyone: the "imperial envoy" from Petersburg was already the son-in-law of his county magistrate, and God had given him great glory!

The unlucky businessmen were summoned to the county magistrate's house. They were all dejected, and no one dared to say a word. "What do you gain from suing me? That officer is going to marry my daughter. You must obey me absolutely from now on, otherwise...hehe." The county magistrate blinked his small eyes proudly, with a smile on his lips. Those few sparse beards trembled constantly with the dry laughter coming from his mouth. "Have you been cheating a lot? As long as I reveal your true identity, I can send you to Siberia." He stopped laughing and glanced majestically at the businessman who was kneeling at his feet out of fear. them. "Please have mercy, sir, we dare not do it anymore." The merchants begged for mercy. "My daughter's wedding gift... Do you understand? She is not marrying an ordinary nobleman, so she cannot bring some dried fish or sugar towers. God forgives you, okay, go ahead." The county magistrate ended his lecture. After waving their hands, the businessmen left in dejection one by one.

As soon as the businessmen left, celebrities from the county such as Amos, Artemy, Rastakovsky, and the Korobkin couple came to congratulate them after hearing the news. The county magistrate's house was full of congratulations, laughter, and excitement.

Suddenly, the panicked postmaster rushed in holding an open letter in his hand. "Everyone, something strange happened! The official we thought was the Imperial Envoy turned out to be not the Imperial Envoy." The postmaster was out of breath: "I opened his letter and I'll read it to you." He took a breath and read the letter hastily. "Friends of Troupichkin, I am writing this letter to inform you that I have encountered a once-in-a-lifetime miracle. I gambled with an infantry captain on the road, and he won all the money. The hotel owner almost sent me to jail. , suddenly because of my Petersburg appearance and clothes, the whole city regarded me as the governor. I am now living in the house of the county magistrate, pursuing pleasure and pursuing his wife and daughter without restraint; do you remember? , we brothers used to suffer from poverty and live for free. Once, because I ate a few pies without paying, the snack shop owner grabbed me by the collar and kicked me out! Lend me as much money as you want. They are really monsters, you will laugh to death. I know you often write articles; first of all, the county magistrate is as stupid as a gray turtle. Ma..."

"No! There won't be this sentence in the letter." The county magistrate's eyes turned pale, and he couldn't believe everything he heard, especially the last sentence. The postmaster handed him the letter: "Read it yourself." "Like a gray gelding. No way! You wrote this sentence." "Why should I write it like this?" the postmaster replied. , took the letter and continued reading: "The county magistrate is as stupid as a gray gelding..." "Damn it! I have to repeat it, as if without this sentence, the letter is not worth reading." The county magistrate cursed. .

"The postmaster is also a good guy..." When it was his turn, Ivan refused to read any more. Artemi volunteered to take the letter, put on his glasses, and read: "The postmaster looks exactly like Mikheyev, the janitor in the ministry. He is probably also a bad guy, a drunkard who likes to drink and drink. Charity hospital...hospital... ...House..." There seemed to be something stuck in the dean's throat, and he couldn't pronounce the word "长" in the dean's voice: "The writing is not clear... However, you can always tell that this boy is a bad guy. ."

"My eyesight is better." Korobkin grabbed his belief and said: "The director of the charity hospital is like a pig in a skullcap..." Luka protested. : "I've never eaten onions." Judge Amos breathed a sigh of relief; thank God, it didn't talk about me after all. "The judge is an absolutely uneducated person." Korobkin glanced at the judge who suddenly felt like a deflated ball, and continued: "However, they are all hospitable and kind-hearted people. I decided to learn from you. Like, engaged in literary creation...".

The county magistrate had a livid face: "This time I'm really in trouble, hurry up and get him back!" He couldn't control himself and made a shrill voice like a howl. "How can we get back? I specially asked the postmaster to prepare three good carriages for him." The postmaster said with a sad face. "Why am I dizzy? Blind? I'm an old fool! I'm so old that I'm dizzy, what a fool I am!..." The county magistrate kept scolding himself: "I have been an official for thirty years, and there is no one Businessmen, no contractor can deceive me, even the most cunning liar has been deceived by me; even those old foxes and old slickers who have concealed everything from the world cannot escape my grasp and have suffered my losses. I have fallen into my trap; I have deceived three provincial governors..." He recounted his glorious achievements one by one like a treasure trove. He also kept hitting his forehead hard, as if this would clear his mind and save the tragic defeat.

Anna is thinking about her daughter's engagement. The county magistrate stomped his feet angrily: "Engagement, hell, now it's great. Everyone in the city will laugh at me. How could I suddenly lose my mind? That frivolous little hooligan doesn't even have a fingertip." Like the imperial envoy. Who is the first to say that he is the imperial envoy?” Chinski became the focus of everyone's criticism, and the two of them also argued with each other and put the blame on each other. At this moment, the county magistrate's house was like a frying pan. There was a lot of noise, quarrels, and yelling, and the roof was about to be lifted off.

While everyone was in chaos, a gendarme walked in and announced loudly and expressionlessly: "The commander who came from Petersburg with an imperial decree wants you to go and see him immediately. The camp is located at In the hotel."

The words of the military policeman rolled over like a thunder, shaking everyone in the hall. They all stood there stiffly, without any reaction.

The hall was extremely quiet. …

Reference: /09/onews.asp?id=106