Мертвые души
Chapter 4
Andatsuchtimeshisspiritwouldbecomesoftened,histhoughtsfullofgentleness,andhiseyeswetwithtears;hewouldfalltosayinghisprayers,andinvariablysomestrangecoincidencewouldbringananswertheretointheshapeofanunexpectedmeasureofassistance.Thatistosay,someformerfriendofhiswouldrememberhim,andsendhimatrifleinthewayofmoney;orelsesomefemalevisitorwouldbemovedbyhisstorytoletherimpulsive,generousheartprofferhimahandsomegift;orelseasuitwhereoftidingshadneverevenreachedhisearswouldendbybeingdecidedinhisfavour.AndwhenthathappenedhewouldreverentlyacknowledgetheimmensityofthemercyofProvidence,gratefullytenderthanksgivingforthesame,andbetakehimselfagaintohisirregularmodeofexistence.
“SomehowIfeelsorryfortheman,”saidPlatonwhenheandChichikovhadtakenleaveoftheirhost,andleftthehouse.
“Perhapsso,butheisahopelessprodigal,”repliedtheother.“PersonallyIfinditimpossibletocompassionatesuchfellows.”
AndwiththatthepairceasedtodevoteanotherthoughttoKhlobuev.InthecaseofPlaton,thiswasbecausehecontemplatedthefortunesofhisfellowswiththelethargic,half-somnolenteyewhichheturneduponalltherestoftheworld;forthoughthesightofdistressofotherswouldcausehishearttocontractandfeelfullofsympathy,theimpressionthusproducedneversankintothedepthsofhisbeing.Accordingly,beforemanyminuteswereoverhehadceasedtobestowasinglethoughtuponhislatehost.WithChichikov,however,thingsweredifferent.
