Мертвые души
Chapter 4
Butwhydoyouask?”
“BecauseIwantyoutomakethemovertome.”
“Ofwhatusewouldtheybetoyou?”
“Nevermind.Ihaveapurposeinwantingthem.”
“Whatpurpose?”
“Apurposewhichisstrictlymyownaffair.Inshort,Ineedthem.”
“Youseemtohavehatchedaveryfinescheme.Outwithit,now!Whatisinthewind?”
“HowcouldIhavehatchedsuchaschemeasyousay?Onecouldnotverywellhatchaschemeoutofsuchatrifleasthis.”
“Thenforwhatpurposedoyouwanttheserfs?”
“Oh,thecuriosityoftheman!Hewantstopokehisfingersintoandsmellovereverydetail!”
“Whydoyoudeclinetosaywhatisinyourmind?Atallevents,untilyouDOsayIshallnotmoveinthematter.”
“Buthowwoulditbenefityoutoknowwhatmyplansare?Awhimhasseizedme.Thatisall.Norareyouplayingfair.Youhavegivenmeyourwordofhonour,yetnowyouaretryingtobackoutofit.”
“Nomatterwhatyoudesiremetodo,Ideclinetodoituntilyouhavetoldmeyourpurpose.”
“WhatamItosaytothefellow?”thoughtChichikov.Hereflectedforamoment,andthenexplainedthathewantedthedeadsoulsinordertoacquireabetterstandinginsociety,sinceatpresenthepossessedlittlelandedproperty,andonlyahandfulofserfs.
“Youarelying,”saidNozdrevwithoutevenlettinghimfinish.“Yes,youarelyingmygoodfriend.”
Chichikovhimselfperceivedthathisdevicehadbeenaclumsyone,andhispretextweak.“Imusttellhimstraightout,”hesaidtohimselfashepulledhiswitstogether.
