Мертвые души
Chapter 5
”
“Thelistisready,”saidSobakevitch,turninground.
“Indeed!Thenpleaseletmelookatit.”Chichikovranhiseyeoverthedocument,andcouldnotbutmarvelatitsneatnessandaccuracy.Notonlyweretheresetforthinitthetrade,theage,andthepedigreeofeveryserf,butonthemarginofthesheetwerejottedremarksconcerningeachserf’sconductandsobriety.Trulyitwasapleasuretolookatit.
“Anddoyoumindhandingmetheearnestmoney?”saidSobakevitch.
“Yes,Ido.Whyneedthatbedone?Youcanreceivethemoneyinalumpsumassoonaswevisitthetown.”
“Butitisalwaysthecustom,youknow,”assertedSobakevitch.
“ThenIcannotfollowit,forIhavenomoneywithme.However,herearetenroubles.”
“Tenroubles,indeed?Youmightaswellhandmefiftywhileyouareaboutit.”
OncemoreChichikovstartedtodenythathehadanymoneyuponhim,butSobakevitchinsistedsostronglythatthiswasnotsothatatlengththeguestpulledoutanotherfifteenroubles,andaddedthemtothetenalreadyproduced.
“Kindlygivemeareceiptforthemoney,”headded.
“Areceipt?WhyshouldIgiveyouareceipt?”
“Becauseitisbettertodoso,inordertoguardagainstmistakes.”
“Verywell;butfirsthandmeoverthemoney.”
“Themoney?Ihaveithere.Doyouwriteoutthereceipt,andthenthemoneyshallbeyours.
