Мертвые души
Chapter 4
BythisImeanthelaughofquiveringcheeks,thelaughwhichcausesaneighbourwhoissleepingbehinddoubledoorsthreeroomsawaytoleapfromhisbedandexclaimwithdistendedeyes,“Hullo!SomethingHASupsethim!”
“Whatistheretolaughat?”askedChichikov,atriflenettled;butNozdrevlaughedmoreunrestrainedlythanever,ejaculating:“Oh,spareusall!ThethingissoamusingthatIshalldieofit!”
“Isaythatthereisnothingtolaughat,”repeatedChichikov.“ItisinfulfilmentofapromisethatIamonmywaytoSobakevitch’s.”
“Thenyouwillscarcelybegladtobealivewhenyou’vegotthere,forheistheveriestmiserinthecountryside.Oh,Iknowyou.However,ifyouthinktofindthereeitherfaroorabottleof‘Bonbon’youaremistaken.Lookhere,mygoodfriend.LetSobakevitchgotothedevil,andcometoMYplace,whereatleastIshallhaveapieceofsturgeontoofferyoufordinner.Ponomarevsaidtomeonparting:‘Thispieceisjustthethingforyou.Evenifyouweretosearchthewholemarket,youwouldneverfindabetterone.’Butofcourseheisaterriblerogue.Isaidtohimoutright:‘YouandtheCollectorofTaxesarethetwogreatestskinflintsinthetown.’Butheonlystrokedhisbeardandsmiled.EverydayIusedtobreakfastwithKuvshinnikovinhisrestaurant.Well,whatIwasnearlyforgettingisthis:that,thoughIamawarethatyoucan’tforgoyourengagement,Iamnotgoingtogiveyouup—no,notfortenthousandroublesofmoney.Itellyouthatinadvance.
