Мертвые души
Chapter 3
EverypeasantbelongingtoConstantineThedorovitchiswelloff,andhasn’ttoworkfornothing.Thepriestsofhisvillage,too,aremenofgoodheart,whereasourshavebeentakenaway,andthereisnoonetoburyus.’”
“Nevertheless,doyougoandtalkthematteroveragain.”
“Wewill,barin.”
Herethefactorwhohadbeenwalkingonthebarin’sothersideputinaword.
“ConstantineThedorovitch,”hesaid,“IbegofyoutodoasIhaverequested.”
“Ihavetoldyoubefore,”repliedthebarin,“thatIdonotcaretoplaythehuckster.Iamnotoneofthoselandownerswhomfellowsofyoursortvisitontheverydaythattheinterestonamortgageisdue.Ah,Iknowyourfraternitythoroughly,andknowthatyoukeeplistsofallwhohavemortgagestorepay.Butwhatistheresocleveraboutthat?Anyman,ifyoupinchhimsufficiently,willsurrenderyouamortgageathalf-price,—anyman,thatistosay,exceptmyself,whocarenothingforyourmoney.Werealoanofminetoremainoutthreeyears,Ishouldneverdemandakopeckofinterestonit.”
“Quiteso,ConstantineThedorovitch,”repliedthefactor.“ButIamaskingthisofyoumoreforthepurposeofestablishingusonabusinessfootingthanbecauseIdesiretowinyourfavour.Prey,therefore,acceptthisearnestmoneyofthreethousandroubles.”Andthemandrewfromhisbreastpocketadirtyrollofbank-notes,which,carelesslyreceiving,Kostanzhoglothrust,uncounted,intothebackpocketofhisovercoat.
“Hm!”thoughtChichikov.“Forallhecares,thenotesmighthavebeenahandkerchief.
