Мертвые души
Chapter 4
Iwillgiveyouthebarrel-organandallthedeadsoulswhichIpossess,andinreturnyoushallgivemeyourbritchka,andanotherthreehundredroublesintothebargain.”
“Listentotheman!Inthatcase,whatshouldIhavelefttodrivein?”
“Oh,Iwouldstandyouanotherbritchka.Cometothecoach-house,andIwillshowyoutheoneImean.Itonlyneedsrepaintingtolookaperfectlysplendidbritchka.”
“Theramping,incorrigibledevil!”thoughtChichikovtohimselfasatallhazardsheresolvedtoescapefrombritchkas,organs,andeveryspeciesofdog,howevermarvellouslybarrel-ribbedandtuckedupofpaw.
“Andinexchange,youshallhavethebritchka,thebarrel-organ,andthedeadsouls,”repeatedNozdrev.
“Imustdeclinetheoffer,”saidChichikov.
“Andwhy?”
“BecauseIdon’tWANTthethings—Iamfullupalready.”
“Icanseethatyoudon’tknowhowthingsshouldbedonebetweengoodfriendsandcomrades.Plainlyyouareamanoftwofaces.”
“Whatdoyoumean,youfool?Thinkforyourself.WhyshouldIacquirearticleswhichIdon’twant?”
“Saynomoreaboutit,ifyouplease.Ihavequitetakenyourmeasure.Butseehere.Shouldyoucaretoplayagameofbanker?Iamreadytostakeboththedeadsoulsandthebarrel-organatcards.”
“No;toleaveanissuetocardsmeanstosubmitoneselftotheunknown,”saidChichikov,covertlyglancingatthepackwhichNozdrevhadgotinhishands.Somehowthewayinwhichhiscompanionhadcutthatpackseemedtohimsuspicious.
“Why‘totheunknown’?”askedNozdrev.“Thereisnosuchthingas‘theunknown.
