Мертвые души
Chapter 4
Itwillbedifficult,Iknow—yes,difficultindeed;butattheendofthattime,ifyouhavethoroughlystirredthesoil,thelandwillbegintohelpyouasnothingelsecando.Thatistosay,overandaboveyourseventyorsopairsofhands,therewillbegintoassistintheworksevenhundredpairsofhandswhichyoucannotsee.Thuseverythingwillbemultipliedtenfold.Imyselfhaveceasedeventohavetoliftafinger,forwhatsoeverneedstobedonegetsdoneofitself.Naturelovespatience:alwaysrememberthat.ItisalawgivenherofGodHimself,whohasblessedallthosewhoarestrongtoendure.”
“Tohearyourwordsistobebothencouragedandstrengthened,”saidChichikov.TothisKostanzhoglomadenoreply,butpresentlywenton:
“Andseehowthatpieceoflandhasbeenploughed!TostayherelongerismorethanIcando.Forme,tohavetolookuponsuchwantoforderlinessandforesightisdeath.FinishyourbusinesswithKhlobuevwithoutme,andwhatsoeveryoudo,getthistreasureoutofthatfool’shandsasquicklyaspossible,forheisdishonouringGod’sgifts.”
AndKostanzhoglo,hisfacedarkwiththeragethatwasseethinginhisexcitablesoul,leftChichikov,andcaughtuptheowneroftheestablishment.
“What,ConstantineThedorovitch?”criedKhlobuevinastonishment.“Justarrived,youaregoingalready?”
“Yes;Icannothelpit;urgentbusinessrequiresmeathome.”Andenteringhisgig,Kostanzhoglodroverapidlyaway.SomehowKhlobuevseemedtodivinethecauseofhissuddendeparture.
“Itwastoomuchforhim,”heremarked.
