Мертвые души
Chapter 4
Thatdone,thevisitorsdulyinspectedthecouplealreadymentioned,andexpressedastonishmentattheirmuscles.Trueenough,theywerefineanimals.Next,thepartylookedataCrimeanbitchwhich,thoughblindandfastnearingherend,had,twoyearsago,beenatrulymagnificentdog.Atallevents,sosaidNozdrev.Nextcameanotherbitch—alsoblind;thenaninspectionofthewater-mill,whichlackedthespindle-socketwhereintheupperstoneoughttohavebeenrevolving—“fluttering,”tousetheRussianpeasant’squaintexpression.“Butnevermind,”saidNozdrev.“Letusproceedtotheblacksmith’sshop.”Sototheblacksmith’sshopthepartyproceeded,andwhenthesaidshophadbeenviewed,Nozdrevsaidashepointedtoafield:
“InthisfieldIhaveseensuchnumbersofharesastorenderthegroundquiteinvisible.Indeed,ononeoccasionI,withmyownhands,caughtaharebythehindlegs.”
“Younevercaughtaharebythehindlegswithyourhands!”remarkedthebrother-in-law.
“ButIDID”reiteratedNozdrev.“However,letmeshowyoutheboundarywheremylandscometoanend.”
Sosaying,hestartedtoconducthisguestsacrossafieldwhichconsistedmostlyofmoleheaps,andinwhichthepartyhadtopicktheirwaybetweenstripsofploughedlandandofharrowed.
