Мертвые души
Chapter 4
”
“Thesamewithme,”thoughtChichikov.“ShallI,orshallInot,playthisfellow?Iusednottobeabadchess-player,anditisasportinwhichhewouldfinditmoredifficulttobeuptohistricks.”
“Verywell,”headdedaloud.“IWILLplayyouatchess.”
“Andstakethesoulsforahundredroubles?”askedNozdrev.
“No.Whyforahundred?Woulditnotbesufficienttostakethemforfifty?”
“No.Whatwouldbetheuseoffifty?Nevertheless,forthehundredroublesIwillthrowinamoderatelyoldpuppy,orelseagoldsealandwatch-chain.”
“Verywell,”assentedChichikov.
“Thenhowmanymovesareyougoingtoallowme?”
“IsTHATtobepartofthebargain?Why,none,ofcourse.”
“Atleastallowmetwo.”
“No,none.Imyselfamonlyapoorplayer.”
“Iknowyouandyourpoorplay,”saidNozdrev,movingachessman.
“Infact,itisalongtimesincelastIhadachessmaninmyhand,”repliedChichikov,alsomovingapiece.
“Ah!Iknowyouandyourpoorplay,”repeatedNozdrev,movingasecondchessman.
“IsayagainthatitisalongtimesincelastIhadachessmaninmyhand.”AndChichikov,inhisturn,moved.
“Ah!Iknowyouandyourpoorplay,”repeatedNozdrev,forthethirdtimeashemadeathirdmove.Atthesamemomentthecuffofoneofhissleeveshappenedtodislodgeanotherchessmanfromitsposition.
“Again,Isay,”saidChichikov,“that‘tisalongtimesincelast—Buthi!lookhere!Putthatpiecebackinitsplace!”
“Whatpiece?”
“Thisone.
