Oblomov - Ivan Goncharov [95]
‘Well, of course, if they do that, it will certainly not be much good,’ observed Stolz. ‘But why shouldn’t you open a school in your village?’
‘Isn’t it a bit too soon?’ said Oblomov. ‘Literacy is harmful to the peasant: educate him and for all you know he may not want to plough any more.’
‘But the peasants will be able to read how to plough their fields – you funny man! But, look here, you really ought to go to your estate this year.’
‘Yes, that’s true, but, you see, my plan isn’t quite ready yet.…’ Oblomov observed timidly.
‘You don’t want any plan!’ said Stolz. ‘All you have to do is to go there – you’ll see on the spot what has to be done. You’ve been working on this plan for years: isn’t it finished yet? What do you do?’
‘My dear fellow, as though I have only the estate to worry about! What about my other misfortune?’
‘What’s that?’
‘They’re driving me out of my flat.’
‘Driving you out?’
‘Yes, they just told me to clear out, and they seem to mean it.’
‘Well, what about it?’
‘What about it? I’ve worn myself to a shadow worrying about it. I’m all alone, and there’s this and that to be seen to, check the accounts, pay the bills, and then there’s the moving! I’m spending a terrible amount of money and I’m hanged if I know what on! Before I know where I am, I shall be left penniless!’
‘What a pampered fellow you are – can’t bring yourself to move to a new flat!’ Stolz said in surprise. ‘Talking of money – how much money have you got on you? Let me have five hundred roubles, please. I must send it off at once. I’ll get it from our office to-morrow – –’
‘Wait, let me think! I received a thousand roubles from the estate the other day, and now there’s left – wait a minute – –’
Oblomov began rummaging in the drawers.
‘Here – ten, twenty, two hundred roubles – and here’s another twenty. There were some coppers here – Zakhar! Zakhar!’
Zakhar, as usual, jumped off the stove and came in.
‘Where are the twenty copecks I put on the table yesterday?’
‘You keep on harping on the twenty copecks, sir! I’ve already told you that there were no twenty copecks on the table.’
‘Of course there were! The change from the oranges.’
‘You must have given it to somebody and forgotten all about it, sir,’ said Zakhar, turning to the door.
Stolz laughed.
‘Oh, you Oblomovs!’ he upbraided them. ‘Don’t know how much money you have in your pockets!’
‘And didn’t you give some money to Mr Tarantyev, sir?’ Zakhar reminded Oblomov.
‘Yes, yes, of course,’ Oblomov said, turning to Stolz. ‘Tarantyev took ten roubles. I forgot all about it.’
‘Why do you receive that brute?’ Stolz observed.
‘Receive him, sir?’ Zakhar intervened. ‘Why, he comes here as if it was his own house or a pub. Took the master’s shirt and waistcoat, he did, and we never saw ’em again! This morning he came for a dress-coat, if you please. Wanted to put it on at once, he did! I wish, sir, you’d speak to him about it!’
‘It’s not your business, Zakhar!’ Oblomov said sternly. ‘Go back to your room.’
‘Let’s have a sheet of note-paper,’ Stolz said. ‘I must write a note to someone.’
‘Zakhar, Mr Stolz wants paper; give him some,’ said Oblomov.
‘But there isn’t any, sir,’ Zakhar replied from the passage. ‘You looked for it yourself this morning,’ he added, without bothering to come in.
‘Just a scrap of paper!’ Stolz persisted.
Oblomov searched on the table; there wasn’t a scrap.
‘Give me your visiting card at least.’
‘I haven’t had any for ages,’ said Oblomov.
‘What is the matter with you?’ Stolz asked ironically. ‘And you’re about to do something – you’re writing a plan. Tell me, do you go out anywhere? Whom do you see?’
‘Going out? Good Lord, no! I’m always at home. My plan does worry me, you know, and then