Мертвые души
Chapter 2
Inatriceitcouldbeseenthathehadplayedhispartinlifeasallsuchbailiffsdo—that,originallyayoungserfofelementaryeducation,hehadmarriedsomeAgashkaofahousekeeperoramistress’sfavourite,andthenhimselfbecomehousekeeper,and,subsequently,bailiff;afterwhichhehadproceededaccordingtotherulesofhistribe—thatistosay,hehadconsortedwithandstoodinwiththemorewell-to-doserfsontheestate,andaddedthepooreronestothelistofforcedpayersofobrok,whilehimselfleavinghisbedatnineo’clockinthemorning,and,whenthesamovarhadbeenbrought,drinkinghisteaatleisure.
“Lookhere,mygoodman,”saidManilov.“Howmanyofourserfshavediedsincethelastcensusrevision?”
“Howmanyofthemhavedied?Why,agreatmany.”Thebailiffhiccoughed,andslappedhismouthlightlyafterdoingso.
“Yes,Iimaginedthattobethecase,”corroboratedManilov.“Infact,aVERYgreatmanyserfshavedied.”HeturnedtoChichikovandrepeatedthewords.
“Howmany,forinstance?”askedChichikov.
“Yes;howmany?”re-echoedManilov.
“HOWmany?”re-echoedthebailiff.“Well,nooneknowstheexactnumber,fornoonehaskeptanyaccount.”
“Quiteso,”remarkedManilov.“Isupposedthedeath-ratetohavebeenhigh,butwasignorantofitspreciseextent.”
“Thenwouldyoubesogoodastohaveitcomputedforme?”saidChichikov.“Andalsotohaveadetailedlistofthedeathsmadeout?”
“Yes,Iwill—adetailedlist,”agreedManilov.
“Verywell.”
Thebailiffdeparted.
