Мертвые души
Chapter 3
“Atthisrateitwillnotbelongbeforethismanhasnopropertyatallleft.Imusthurrymydeparture.”Aloudhesaidwithanairofsympathy:“Thatyouhavemortgagedtheestateseemstomeamatterofregret.”
“No,notatall,”repliedPietukh.“Infact,theytellmethatitisagoodthingtodo,andthateveryoneelseisdoingit.WhyshouldIactdifferentlyfrommyneighbours?Moreover,Ihavehadenoughoflivinghere,andshouldliketotryMoscow—moreespeciallysincemysonsarealwaysbeggingmetogivethemametropolitaneducation.”
“Oh,thefool,thefool!”reflectedChichikov.“Heisforthrowingupeverythingandmakingspendthriftsofhissons.Yetthisisaniceproperty,anditisclearthatthelocalpeasantsaredoingwell,andthatthefamily,too,iscomfortablyoff.Ontheotherhand,assoonasevertheseladsbegintheireducationinrestaurantsandtheatres,thedevilwillawaywitheverystickoftheirsubstance.Formyownpart,Icoulddesirenothingbetterthanthisquietlifeinthecountry.”
“Letmeguesswhatisinyourmind,”saidPietukh.
“What,then?”askedChichikov,rathertakenaback.
“Youarethinkingtoyourself:‘ThatfoolofaPietukhhasaskedmetodinner,yetnotabiteofdinnerdoIsee.’Butwaitalittle.Itwillbereadypresently,foritisbeingcookedasfastasamaidenwhohashadherhaircutoffplaitsherselfanewsetoftresses.”
“HerecomesPlatonMikhalitch,father!”exclaimedAleksasha,whohadbeenpeepingoutofthewindow.
“Yes,andonagreyhorse,”addedhisbrother.
