Мертвые души
Chapter 4
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“Emotionhasbecomeadiseasewithyou,”saidPlaton.“Youseekyourowntroubles,andmakeyourownanxieties.”
“Howcanyousaythatwhenready-madeanxietiesgreetoneateverystep?”exclaimedVassili.“Forexample,haveyouheardofthetrickwhichLienitsinhasjustplayedus—ofhisseizingthepieceofvacantlandwhitherourpeasantsresortfortheirsports?ThatpieceIwouldnotsellforallthemoneyintheworld.Ithaslongbeenourpeasants’play-ground,andallthetraditionsofourvillageareboundupwithit.Moreover,forme,oldcustomisasacredthingforwhichIwouldgladlysacrificeeverythingelse.”
“Lienitsincannothaveknownofthis,orhewouldnothaveseizedtheland,”saidPlaton.“Heisanewcomer,justarrivedfromSt.Petersburg.Afewwordsofexplanationoughttomeetthecase.”
“ButheDOESknowofwhatIhavestated;heDOESknowofit.PurposelyIsenthimwordtothataffect,yethehasreturnedmetherudestofanswers.”
“Thengoyourselfandexplainmatterstohim.”
“No,Iwillnotdothat;hehastriedtocarryoffthingswithtoohighahand.ButYOUcangoifyoulike.”
“IwouldcertainlygowereitnotthatIscarcelyliketointerfere.Also,Iamamanwhomhecouldeasilyhoodwinkandoutwit.”
“WouldithelpyouifIweretogo?”putinChichikov.“Prayenlightenmeastothematter.”
Vassiliglancedatthespeaker,andthoughttohimself:“Whatapassionthemanhasfortravelling!”
“Yes,praygivemeanideaofthekindoffellow,”repeatedChichikov,“andalsooutlinetometheaffair.
