Мертвые души
Chapter 4
Thirtythousandroublesisourprice—nomore.”
“Indeed!”saidChichikov.“And,forthat,shallIbecompletelyexonerated?”
“Yes,completely,andalsogivensomecompensationforyourlossoftime.”
“AndhowmuchamItopayinreturn,yousay?”
“Thirtythousandroubles,tobedividedamongourselves,theGovernor-General’sstaff,andtheGovernor-General’ssecretary.”
“Buthowiseventhattobemanaged,forallmyeffects,includingmydispatch-box,willhavebeensealedupandtakenawayforexamination?”
“Inanhour’stimetheywillbewithinyourhandsagain,”saidSamosvitov.“Shallweshakehandsoverthebargain?”
Chichikovdidsowithabeatingheart,forhecouldscarcelybelievehisears.
“Forthepresent,then,farewell,”concludedSamosvitov.“Ihaveinstructedacertainmutualfriendthattheimportantpointsaresilenceandpresenceofmind.”
“Hm!”thoughtChichikov.“Itistomylawyerthatheisreferring.”
EvenwhenSamosvitovhaddepartedtheprisonerfounditdifficulttocreditallthathadbeensaid.Yetnotanhourhadelapsedbeforeamessengerarrivedwithhisdispatch-boxandthepapersandmoneythereinpracticallyundisturbedandintact!LateritcameoutthatSamosvitovhadassumedcompleteauthorityinthematter.
