Мертвые души
Chapter 3
Next,beforeonehasevenhadachancetoutterasnore,thereentersonceagainthecook,andonehastoordersupper;andwhenshehasdeparted,behold,backshecomeswitharequestforthefollowingday’sdinner!WhattimedoesTHATleaveonetobewearyofthings?”
Throughoutthisconversation,Chichikovhadbeentakingstockofthenewcomer,whoastonishedhimwithhisgoodlooks,hisupright,picturesquefigure,hisappearanceoffresh,unwastedyouthfulness,andtheboyishpurity,innocence,andclarityofhisfeatures.Neitherpassionnorcarenoraughtofthenatureofagitationoranxietyofmindhadventuredtotouchhisunsulliedface,ortolayasinglewrinklethereon.Yetthetouchoflifewhichthoseemotionsmighthaveimpartedwaswanting.Thefacewas,asitwere,dreaming,eventhoughfromtimetotimeanironicalsmiledisturbedit.
“I,too,cannotunderstand,”remarkedChichikov,“howamanofyourappearancecanfindthingswearisome.Ofcourse,ifamanishardpressedformoney,orifhehasenemieswhoarelyinginwaitforhislife(ashavecertainfolkofwhomIknow),well,then—”
“BelievemewhenIsay,”interruptedthehandsomeguest,“that,forthesakeofadiversion,IshouldbegladofANYsortofananxiety.Wouldthatsomeenemywouldconceiveagrudgeagainstme!Butnoonedoesso.Everythingremainseternallydull.”
“Butperhapsyoulackasufficiencyoflandorsouls?”
“Notatall.Iandmybrotherowntenthousanddesiatins44ofland,andoverathousandsouls.”
“Curious!Idonotunderstandit.
