Мертвые души
Chapter 4
“PaulIvanovitch,PaulIvanovitch,”atlengthsaidMurazov,“whatcouldnoteachofusrisetobedidwebutdevotetogoodendsthesamemeasureofenergyandofpatiencewhichwebestowuponunworthyobjects!Howmuchgoodwouldnotyouyourselfhaveeffected!YetIdonotgrievesomuchforthefactthatyouhavesinnedagainstyourfellowasIgrieveforthefactthatyouhavesinnedagainstyourselfandtherichstoreofgiftsandopportunitieswhichhasbeencommittedtoyourcare.Thoughoriginallydestinedtorise,youhavewanderedfromthepathandfallen.”
“Ah,AthanasiVassilievitch,”criedpoorChichikov,claspinghisfriend’shands,“Isweartoyouthat,ifyouwouldbutrestorememyfreedom,andrecoverformemylostproperty,Iwouldleadadifferentlifefromthistimeforth.Saveme,youwhoalonecanworkmydeliverance!Saveme!”
“HowcanIdothat?SotodoIshouldneedtoprocurethesettingasideofalaw.Again,evenifIweretomaketheattempt,thePrinceisastrictadministrator,andwouldrefuseonanyconsiderationtoreleaseyou.”
“Yes,butforyouallthingsarepossible.Itisnotthelawthattroublesme:withthatIcouldfindameanstodeal.ItisthefactthatfornooffenceatallIhavebeencastintoprison,andtreatedlikeadog,anddeprivedofmypapersanddispatch-boxandallmyproperty.Savemeifyoucan.”
Againclaspingtheoldman’sknees,hebedewedthemwithhistears.
