Мертвые души
Chapter 4
“Come,come!SurelyyouwillacceptTWENTY-fivethousand?”
ThiswastoomuchforPlaton’sconscience.
“Now,now,PaulIvanovitch!”heexclaimed.“Takethepropertyatthepricenamed,andhavedonewithit.Theestateisworthatleastthatamount—somuchsothat,shouldyounotbewillingtogiveit,mybrother-in-lawandIwillclubtogethertoeffectthepurchase.”
“Thatbeingso,”saidChichikov,takenaback,“Ibegtoagreetothepriceinquestion.Atthesametime,Imustaskyoutoallowmetodeferpaymentofone-halfofthepurchasemoneyuntilayearfromnow.”
“No,no,PaulIvanovitch.UndernocircumstancescouldIdothat.Paymehalfnow,andtherestin...50Yousee,Ineedthemoneyfortheredemptionofthemortgage.”
“Thatplacesmeinadifficulty,”remarkedChichikov.“TenthousandroublesisallthatatthemomentIhaveavailable.”Asamatteroffact,thiswasnottrue,seeingthat,countingalsothemoneywhichhehadborrowedofKostanzhoglo,hehadathisdisposalTWENTYthousand.Hisrealreasonforhesitatingwasthathedislikedtheideaofmakingsolargeapaymentinalumpsum.
“Imustrepeatmyrequest,PaulIvanovitch,”saidKhlobuev,“—namely,thatyoupaymeatleastfifteenthousandimmediately.”
“TheoddfivethousandIwilllendyou,”putinPlatontoChichikov.
