Мертвые души
Chapter 1
Atlength,however,Tientietnikovrose,washedhimself,donnedadressing-gown,andmovedintothedrawing-roomformorningtea,coffee,cocoa,andwarmmilk;ofallofwhichhepartookbutsparingly,whilemunchingapieceofbread,andscatteringtobaccoashwithcompleteinsouciance.Twohoursdidhesitoverthismeal,thenpouredhimselfoutanothercupoftherapidlycoolingtea,andwalkedtothewindow.Thisfacedthecourtyard,andoutsideit,asusual,theretookplacethefollowingdailyaltercationbetweenaserfnamedGrigory(whopurportedtoactasbutler)andthehousekeeper,Perfilievna.
Grigory.Ah,younuisance,yougood-for-nothing,youhadbetterholdyourstupidtongue.
Perfilievna.Yes;anddon’tyouwishthatIwould?
Grigory.What?Yousothickwiththatbailiffofyours,youhousekeepingjade!
Perfilievna.Nay,heisasbigathiefasyouare.Doyouthinkthebarindoesn’tknowyou?Andthereheis!Hemusthaveheardeverything!
Grigory.Where?
Perfilievna.There—sittingbythewindow,andlookingatus!
Next,tocompletethehubbub,aserfchildwhichhadbeencloutedbyitsmotherbrokeoutintoabawl,whileaborzoipuppywhichhadhappenedtogetsplashedwithboilingwaterbythecookfelltoyelpingvociferously.Inshort,theplacesoonbecameababelofshoutsandsqueals,and,afterwatchingandlisteningforatime,thebarinfounditsoimpossibletoconcentratehisminduponanythingthathesentoutwordthatthenoisewouldhavetobeabated.
