Мертвые души
Chapter 4
“ShouldItellyouthetruth,”headdedaloud,“Imustbegofyounottorepeatit.ThetruthisthatIamthinkingofgettingmarried.But,unfortunately,mybetrothed’sfatherandmotherareveryambitiouspeople,anddonotwantmetomarryher,sincetheydesirethebridegroomtoownnotlessthanthreehundredsouls,whereasIownbutahundredandfifty,andthatnumberisnotsufficient.”
“Againyouarelying,”saidNozdrev.
“Thenlookhere;Ihavebeenlyingonlytothisextent.”AndChichikovmarkedoffuponhislittlefingeraminuteportion.
“NeverthelessIwillbetmyheadthatyouhavebeenlyingthroughout.”
“Come,come!Thatisnotverycivilofyou.WhyshouldIhavebeenlying?”
“BecauseIknowyou,andknowthatyouarearegularskinflint.Isaythatinallfriendship.IfIpossessedanypoweroveryouIshouldhangyoutothenearesttree.”
ThisremarkhurtChichikov,foratanytimehedislikedexpressionsgrossoroffensivetodecency,andneverallowedanyone—no,notevenpersonsofthehighestrank—tobehavetowardshimwithanunduemeasureoffamiliarity.Consequentlyhissenseofumbrageonthepresentoccasionwasunbounded.
“ByGod,IWOULDhangyou!”repeatedNozdrev.“Isaythisfrankly,andnotforthepurposeofoffendingyou,butsimplytocommunicatetoyoumyfriendlyopinion.”
“Toeverythingtherearelimits,”retortedChichikovstiffly.“Ifyouwanttoindulgeinspeechesofthatsortyouhadbetterreturntothebarracks.
