Мертвые души
Chapter 5
Hespokewithouttheleastsurpriseinhistone,andmuchasthoughtheconversationhadbeenturningongrain.
“Yes,”repliedChichikov,andthen,asbefore,softeneddowntheexpression“deadsouls.”
“Theyaretobefound,”saidSobakevitch.“Whyshouldtheynotbe?”
“Thenofcourseyouwillbegladtogetridofanythatyoumaychancetohave?”
“Yes,IshallhavenoobjectiontoSELLINGthem.”Atthispointthespeakerraisedhisheadalittle,forithadstruckhimthatsurelythewould-bebuyermusthavesomeadvantageinview.
“Thedevil!”thoughtChichikovtohimself.“HereishesellingthegoodsbeforeIhaveevenhadtimetoutteraword!”
“Andwhatabouttheprice?”headdedaloud.“Ofcourse,thearticlesarenotofakindveryeasytoappraise.”
“Ishouldbesorrytoasktoomuch,”saidSobakevitch.“Howwouldahundredroublesperheadsuityou?”
“What,ahundredroublesperhead?”Chichikovstaredopen-mouthedathishost—doubtingwhetherhehadheardaright,orwhetherhishost’sslow-movingtonguemightnothaveinadvertentlysubstitutedonewordforanother.
“Yes.Isthattoomuchforyou?”saidSobakevitch.Thenheadded:“Whatisyourownprice?”
“Myownprice?Ithinkthatwecannotproperlyhaveunderstoodoneanother—thatyoumusthaveforgottenofwhatthegoodsconsist.WithmyhandonmyheartdoIsubmitthateightgrivnipersoulwouldbeahandsome,aVERYhandsome,offer.”
“What?Eightgrivni?”
“Inmyopinion,ahigherofferwouldbeimpossible.”
“ButIamnotasellerofboots.
