Мертвые души
Chapter 4
Andeveninthehallofthatestablishmentnotimewasgivenhimtopullhimselftogether,foratonceanaide-de-campsaid:“Goinsideimmediately,forthePrinceisawaitingyou.”Andasinadreamdidourheroseeavestibulewherecourierswerebeinghandeddispatches,andthenasalonwhichhecrossedwiththethought,“IsupposeIamnottobeallowedatrial,butshallbesentstraighttoSiberia!”Andatthethoughthisheartstartedbeatinginamannerwhichthemostjealousofloverscouldnothaverivalled.Atlengththereopenedadoor,andbeforehimhesawastudyfullofportfolios,ledgers,anddispatch-boxes,with,standingbehindthem,thegravelymenacingfigureofthePrince.
“Therestandsmyexecutioner,”thoughtChichikovtohimself.“Heisabouttotearmetopiecesasawolftearsalamb.”
Indeed,thePrince’slipsweresimplyquiveringwithrage.
“OncebeforedidIspareyou,”hesaid,“andallowyoutoremaininthetownwhenyououghttohavebeeninprison:yetyouronlyreturnformyclemencyhasbeentoreverttoacareeroffraud—andoffraudasdishonourableaseveramanengagedin.”
“Towhatdishonourablefrauddoyourefer,yourHighness?”askedChichikov,tremblingfromheadtofoot.
ThePrinceapproached,andlookedhimstraightintheeyes.
“Letmetellyou,”hesaid,“thatthewomanwhomyouinducedtowitnessacertainwillhasbeenarrested,andthatyouwillbeconfrontedwithher.”
TheworldseemedsuddenlytogrowdimbeforeChichikov’ssight.
“YourHighness,”hegasped,“Iwilltellyouthewholetruth,andnothingbutthetruth.
