Мертвые души
Chapter 4
Thatistosay,faminehadmadeitsappearanceinoneportionoftheprovince,andthetchinovnikssenttodistributefoodtothepeoplehaddonetheirworkbadly;inanotherportionoftheprovincecertainRaskolniki51wereinastateofferment,owingtothespreadingofareportthananAntichristhadarisenwhowouldnotevenletthedeadrest,butwaspurchasingthemwholesale—whereforethesaidRaskolnikiweresummoningfolktoprayerandrepentance,and,undercoverofcapturingtheAntichristinquestion,werebludgeoningnon-Antichristsinbatches;lastly,thepeasantsofathirdportionoftheprovincehadrisenagainstthelocallandownersandsuperintendentsofpolice,forthereasonthatcertainrascalshadstartedarumourthatthetimewascomewhenthepeasantsthemselvesweretobecomelandowners,andtowearfrockcoats,whilethelandownersinbeingwereabouttoreverttothepeasantstate,andtotaketheirownwarestomarket;whereforeoneofthelocalvolosts52,obliviousofthefactthatanorderofthingsofthatkindwouldleadtoasuperfluityalikeoflandownersandofsuperintendentsofpolice,hadrefusedtopayitstaxes,andnecessitatedrecoursetoforciblemeasures.HenceitwasinamoodofthegreatestpossibledespondencythatthepoorPrincewassittingplungedwhenwordwasbroughttohimthattheoldmanwhohadgonebailforChichikovwaswaitingtoseehim.
“Showhimin,”saidthePrince;andtheoldmanentered.
“AfinefellowyourChichikov!”beganthePrinceangrily.
