Мертвые души
Chapter 9
Thatistosay,atdeadofnight,justwheneveryonehadretiredtorest,therecamethemostdreadfulknockingimaginable,andsomeonescreamedout,‘Openthegates,orwewillbreakthemdown!’Justthink!Afterthis,howanyonecansaythatthemanischarmingIcannotimagine.”
“Well,whatofMadameKorobotchka?Issheayoungwomanorgoodlooking?”
“Ohdearno!Quiteanoldwoman.”
“Splendidindeed!Soheisactuallyengagedtoapersonlikethat?Onemayheartilycommendthetasteofourladiesforhavingfalleninlovewithhim!”
“Nevertheless,itisnotasyousuppose.Think,now!Armedwithweaponsfromheadtofoot,hecalleduponthisoldwoman,andsaid:‘Sellmeanysoulsofyourswhichhavelatelydied.’Ofcourse,MadameKorobotchkaanswered,reasonablyenough:‘Icannotsellyouthosesouls,seeingthattheyhavedepartedthisworld;’buthereplied:‘No,no!TheyareNOTdead.‘TisIwhotellyouthat—Iwhooughttoknowthetruthofthematter.Iswearthattheyarestillalive.’Inshort,hemadesuchascenethatthewholevillagecamerunningtothehouse,andchildrenscreamed,andmenshouted,andnoonecouldtellwhatitwasallabout.Theaffairseemedtomesohorrible,soutterlyhorrible,thatItrembledbeyondbeliefasIlistenedtothestory.‘Mydearestmadam,’saidmymaid,Mashka,‘praylookatyourselfinthemirror,andseehowwhiteyouare.’‘ButIhavenotimeforthat,’Ireplied,‘asImustbeofftotellmyfriend,AnnaGrigorievna,thenews.’NordidIloseamomentinorderingthekoliaska.
