Oblomov - Ivan Goncharov [14]
Sudbinsky nodded significantly.
‘Since Easter,’ he said. ‘But the amount of work – it’s dreadful! From eight to twelve at home, from twelve to five at the office, and more work in the evening. Never see anyone!’
‘Well, well! Head of a department – so that’s it!’ said Oblomov. ‘Congratulations! What a fellow! And we used to be office clerks together. I shouldn’t be surprised if you were made a State Counsellor next year.’
‘Good heavens, no. I should have been given the order of the Crown this year. I thought I’d receive an order for distinguished services – but now that I’ve been given my new post – you can’t be promoted twice in two years.’
‘Come and have dinner with me; we’ll drink to your promotion,’ said Oblomov.
‘I’m sorry, but I’m dining with the vice-director to-day. I have to get my report ready for Thursday – hellish work! You can’t rely on the provincial reports. You have to check the lists yourself. Our vice-director is so particular, he insists on doing everything himself. So we shall sit down to it together after dinner.’
‘Not after dinner, surely?’ asked Oblomov, incredulously.
‘Why, what do you think? I’ll be lucky to get off early – I’ll have time to drive to Yekaterinhof. As a matter of fact, I came to ask if you wouldn’t go with me. I’d call for you.’
‘I’m afraid I’m not feeling very well,’ said Oblomov, frowning. ‘Besides, I’ve a lot to do – No, sorry, I can’t!’
‘A pity,’ said Sudbinsky. ‘It’s a lovely day. To-day is my only chance of getting some fresh air.’
‘Well, any news at the office?’ asked Oblomov.
‘Yes, all sorts of things. We don’t sign letters now, “Your humble servant”, but: “Accept our assurance of”. We’re no longer required to send in service lists in duplicate. Our department is to get three more sections and two more officials for special duties. Our committee has been closed. Lots of things!’
‘Well, and what about our former colleagues?’
‘Nothing special so far. Svinkin has lost a file of official documents.’
‘No? What did the director do?’ Oblomov asked in a trembling voice. In spite of himself, he felt frightened from force of habit.
‘He ordered to withhold his promotion till the file turns up. It’s an important case, concerning penalties. The director believes,’ Sudbinsky added almost in a whisper, ‘that he has lost it on purpose.’
‘I don’t believe it!’
‘You’re quite right,’ Sudbinsky affirmed importantly, with an air of condescension. ‘Svinkin is such a feather-brained fellow. He sometimes makes a mess of his figures and gets all his references muddled up. I’ve had such awful trouble with him, but I haven’t noticed anything of that kind – I mean, he wouldn’t do such a thing. He just wouldn’t. He must have mislaid the documents. They’ll turn up one day.’
‘So that’s how you spend your time,’ said Oblomov. ‘Always busy – working.’
‘Oh, it’s dreadful, dreadful! But of course with a man like the vice-director of our department it’s a pleasure. He never fails to reward a good and conscientious official for faithful service, and he doesn’t forget those who don’t do any work, either. Those who have done their term of service he recommends for promotion; and for those who aren’t due for promotion or the conferment of an order he’ll try to get a bonus.’
‘What salary do you get?’
‘Oh, nothing much. One thousand two hundred salary, seven hundred and fifty for board, six hundred for lodgings, five hundred for travelling expenses, and up to a thousand in bonuses.’
‘Good God!’ Oblomov exclaimed, jumping off the bed. ‘It isn’t singing you’re doing, is it? Why, you earn as much as an Italian opera singer!’
‘Oh, that’s nothing! Peresvetov receives additional remuneration, and he does less work than I – and he can’t make head or tail of anything. But then of course he hasn’t the same reputation. They think very highly of me,’ he added modestly, lowering his eyes. ‘The minister said the other day that I was a credit to the ministry.’
‘Stout fellow!’ said Oblomov. ‘But working from eight to twelve, from twelve to five,