Мертвые души
Chapter 3
Nextmorningtheguest’sstateofrepletionhadreachedthepointofPlatonbeingunabletomounthishorse;whereforethelatterwasdispatchedhomewardwithoneofPietukh’sgrooms,andthetwoguestsenteredChichikov’skoliaska.Eventhedogtrottedlazilyintherear;forhe,too,hadover-eatenhimself.
“Ithasbeenrathertoomuchofagoodthing,”remarkedChichikovasthevehicleissuedfromthecourtyard.
“Yes,anditvexesmetoseethefellownevertireofit,”repliedPlaton.
“Ah,”thoughtChichikovtohimself,“ifIhadanincomeofseventythousandroubles,asyouhave,I’dverysoongivetirednessoneintheeye!TakeMurazov,thetax-farmer—he,again,mustbeworthtenmillions.Whatafortune!”
“Doyoumindwherewedrive?”askedPlaton.“Ishouldlikefirsttogoandtakeleaveofmysisterandmybrother-in-law.”
“Withpleasure,”saidChichikov.
“Mybrother-in-lawistheleadinglandownerhereabouts.Atthepresentmomentheisdrawinganincomeoftwohundredthousandroublesfromapropertywhich,eightyearsago,wasproducingabaretwentythousand.”
“Trulyamanworthyoftheutmostrespect!Ishallbemostinterestedtomakehisacquaintance.Tothinkofit!Andwhatmayhisfamilynamebe?”
“Kostanzhoglo.”
“AndhisChristiannameandpatronymic?”
“ConstantineThedorovitch.”
“ConstantineThedorovitchKostanzhoglo.Yes,itwillbeamostinterestingeventtomakehisacquaintance.Toknowsuchamanmustbeawholeeducation.
