Мертвые души
Chapter 4
“THERE’Sapuppyforyou!”criedNozdrev,catchingholdofitbytheback,andliftingitup.Thepuppyutteredapiteousyelp.
“Icanseethatyouhaven’tdonewhatItoldyoutodo,”hecontinuedtoPorphyriafteraninspectionoftheanimal’sbelly.“Youhavequiteforgottentobrushhim.”
“IDIDbrushhim,”protestedPorphyri.
“Thenwheredidthesefleascomefrom?”
“Icannotthink.Perhapstheyhaveleaptintohiscoatoutofthebritchka.”
“Youliar!Asamatteroffact,youhaveforgottentobrushhim.Nevertheless,lookattheseears,Chichikov.Justfeelthem.”
“WhyshouldI?Withoutdoingthat,Icanseethatheiswell-bred.”
“Nevertheless,catchholdofhisearsandfeelthem.”
TohumourthefellowChichikovdidashehadrequested,remarking:“Yes,heseemslikelytoturnoutwell.”
“Andfeelthecoldnessofhisnose!Justtakeitinyourhand.”
Notwishingtooffendhisinterlocutor,Chichikovfeltthepuppy’snose,saying:“Somedayhewillhaveanexcellentscent.”
“Yes,willhenot?‘Tistherightsortofmuzzleforthat.ImustsaythatIhavelongbeenwantingsuchapuppy.Porphyri,takehimawayagain.”
Porphyriliftedupthepuppy,andboreitdownstairs.
“Lookhere,Chichikov,”resumedNozdrev.“YouMUSTcometomyplace.Itliesonlyfiveverstsaway,andwecangotherelikethewind,andyoucanvisitSobakevitchafterwards.”
“ShallI,orshallInot,gotoNozdrev’s?”reflectedChichikov.“Ishelikelytoproveanymoreusefulthantherest?Well,atleastheisaspromising,eventhoughhehaslostsomuchatplay.
