Мертвые души
Chapter 3
Thatistosay,throughencounteringtheroughandthetumbleoflife,andthroughlearningthateverykopeckhastobebeatenoutwithathree-kopecknail,andthroughworstingknaveafterknave,hewillacquiresuchadegreeofperspicuityandwarinessthathewillerrinnothingwhichhemaytackle,andnevercometoruin.Believeme,itisso.Thebeginning,andnotthemiddle,istherightstartingpoint.Noonewhocomestomeandsays,‘Givemeahundredthousandroubles,andIwillgrowrichinnotime,’doIbelieve,forheislikelytomeetwithfailureratherthanwiththesuccessofwhichheissoassured.‘Tiswithakopeck,andwithakopeckonly,thatamanmustbegin.”
“Ifthatisso,Ishallgrowrich,”saidChichikov,involuntarilyrememberingthedeadsouls.“ForofasuretyIbeganwithnothing.”
“Constantine,prayallowPaulIvanovitchtoretiretorest,”putintheladyofthehouse.“Itishightime,andIamsureyouhavetalkedenough.”
“Yes,beyondadoubtyouwillgrowrich,”continuedKostanzhoglo,withoutheedinghiswife.“Fortowardsyoutherewillrunriversandriversofgold,untilyouwillnotknowwhattodowithallyourgains.”
Asthoughspellbound,Chichikovsatinanaureateworldofever-growingdreamsandfantasies.Allhisthoughtswereinawhirl,andonacarpetoffuturewealthhistumultuousimaginationwasweavinggoldenpatterns,whileeverinhisearswereringingthewords,“towardsyoutherewillrunriversandriversofgold.”
“Really,Constantine,DOallowPaulIvanovitchtogotobed.
