Мертвые души
Chapter 9
NotforamomentcoulditbesupposedthattheformerdocumentreferredtoChichikov;yet,aseachmanponderedthepositionfromhisownpointofview,herememberedthatnooneREALLYknewwhoChichikovwas;asalsothathisvaguereferencestohimselfhad—yes!—includedstatementsthathiscareerintheservicehadsufferedmuchtothecauseofTruth,andthathepossessedanumberofenemieswhowereseekinghislife.Thisgavethetchinovniksfurtherfoodforthought.PerhapshislifereallyDIDstandindanger?PerhapshereallyWASbeingsoughtforbysomeone?PerhapshereallyHADdonesomethingofthekindabovereferredto?Asamatteroffact,whowashe?—notthatitcouldactuallybesupposedthathewasaforgerofnotes,stilllessabrigand,seeingthathisexteriorwasrespectableinthehighestdegree.Yetwhowashe?Atlengththetchinovniksdecidedtomakeenquiriesamongthoseofwhomhehadpurchasedsouls,inorderthatatleastitmightbelearntwhatthepurchaseshadconsistedof,andwhatexactlyunderlaythem,andwhether,inpassing,hehadexplainedtoanyonehisrealintentions,orrevealedtoanyonehisidentity.Inthefirstinstance,therefore,resortwashadtoKorobotchka.
