Мертвые души
Chapter 3
Withapairofyellowtrousershewaswearingagrass-greenjacket,andhisneckwasasguiltlessofacollarasCupid’s.Also,ashesatsidewaysinhisdrozhki,hisbulkwassuchthathecompletelyfilledthevehicle.Chichikovwasabouttomakesomeremarkoranotherwhenthestoutgentlemandisappeared;andpresentlyhisdrozhkire-emergedintoviewatthespotwherethefishhadbeendrawntoland,andhisvoicecouldbeheardreiteratingexhortationstohisserfs.YetwhenChichikovreachedtheverandahofthehousehefound,tohisintensesurprise,thestoutgentlemanwaitingtowelcomethevisitor.HowhehadcontrivedtoconveyhimselfthitherpassedChichikov’scomprehension.Hostandguestembracedthreetimes,accordingtoabygonecustomofRussia.Evidentlythebarinwasoneoftheoldschool.
“Ibringyou,”saidChichikov,“agreetingfromhisExcellency.”
“Fromwhom?”
“FromyourrelativeGeneralAlexanderDmitrievitch.”
“WhoisAlexanderDmitrievitch?”
“What?YoudonotknowGeneralAlexanderDmitrievitchBetrishev?”exclaimedChichikovwithatouchofsurprise.
“No,Idonot,”repliedthegentleman.
Chichikov’ssurprisegrewtoabsoluteastonishment.
“Howcomesthatabout?”heejaculated.“IhopethatIhavethehonourofaddressingColonelKoshkarev?”
“Yourhopesarevain.Itistomyhouse,nottohis,thatyouhavecome;andIamPeterPetrovitchPietukh—yes,PeterPetrovitchPietukh.”
Chichikov,dumbfounded,turnedtoSelifanandPetrushka.
“Whatdoyoumean?”heexclaimed.
