Мертвые души
Chapter 4
Tellhimfrommethatheistodeparthenceasquicklyaspossible,andthatthefurtherheshouldremovehimself,thebetteritwillbeforhim.Also,tellhimthatitisonlyowingtoyoureffortsthathehasreceivedapardonatmyhands.”
Murazovbowed,andproceededfromthePrince’spresencetothatofChichikov.Hefoundtheprisonercheerfullyenjoyingaheartydinnerwhich,underhotcovers,hadbeenbroughthimfromanexceedinglyexcellentkitchen.ButalmostthefirstwordswhichheutteredshowedMurazovthattheprisonerhadbeenhavingdealingswiththearmyofbribe-takers;asalsothatinthosetransactionshislawyerhadplayedtheprincipalpart.
“Listen,PaulIvanovitch,”theoldmansaid.“Ibringyouyourfreedom,butonlyonthiscondition—thatyoudepartoutofthetownforthwith.Thereforegathertogetheryoureffects,andwastenotamoment,lestworsebefallyou.Also,ofallthatacertainpersonhascontrivedtodoonyourbehalfIamaware;whereforeletmetellyou,asbetweenourselves,thatshouldtheconspiracycometolight,nothingonearthcansavehim,andinhisfallhewillinvolveothersratherthenbeleftunaccompaniedinthelurch,andnotseetheguiltshared.HowisitthatwhenIleftyourecentlyyouwereinabetterframeofmindthanyouarenow?Ibegofyounottotriflewiththematter.
