Мертвые души
Chapter 4
”
Herehebrokeofftoruntothewindowandshouttohisservant(whowasholdingaknifeinonehandandacrustofbreadandapieceofsturgeonintheother—hehadcontrivedtofilchthelatterwhilefumblinginthebritchkaforsomethingelse):
“Hi,Porphyri!Bringherethatpuppy,yourascal!Whatapuppyitis!Unfortunatelythatthiefofalandlordhasgivenitnothingtoeat,eventhoughIhavepromisedhimtheroanfillywhich,asyoumayremember,IswoppedfromKhvostirev.”Asamatterofact,ChichikovhadneverinhislifeseeneitherKhvostirevortheroanfilly.
“Barin,doyouwishforanythingtoeat?”inquiredthelandladyassheentered.
“No,nothingatall.Ah,friendChichikov,whattimeswehad!Yes,givemeaglassofvodka,oldwoman.Whatsortdoyoukeep?”
“Aniseed.”
“Thenbringmeaglassofit,”repeatedNozdrev.
“Andoneformeaswell,”addedtheflaxen-hairedman.
“Atthetheatre,”wentonNozdrev,“therewasanactresswhosanglikeacanary.Kuvshinnikov,whohappenedtobesittingwithme,said:‘Myboy,youhadbettergoandgatherthatstrawberry.’Asfortheboothsatthefair,theynumbered,Ishouldsay,fifty.”Atthispointhebrokeofftotaketheglassofvodkafromthelandlady,whobowedlowinacknowledgementofhisdoingso.AtthesamemomentPorphyri—afellowdressedlikehismaster(thatistosay,inagreasy,waddedovercoat)—enteredwiththepuppy.
“Putthebrutedownhere,”commandedNozdrev,“andthenfastenitup.”
Porphyridepositedtheanimaluponthefloor;whereuponitproceededtoactafterthemannerofdogs.
