Мертвые души
Chapter 3
Tothistheladyrepliedthatshehadneversomuchasheardthename,sincenogentlemanofthenameresidedinthelocality.
“ButatleastyouareacquaintedwithlandownerManilov?”continuedChichikov.
“No.Whoishe?”
“Anotherlandedproprietor,madam.”
“Well,neitherhaveIheardofhim.Nosuchlandownerliveshereabouts.”
“ThenwhoAREyourlocallandowners?”
“Bobrov,Svinin,Kanapatiev,Khapakin,Trepakin,andPlieshakov.”
“Aretheyrichmen?”
“No,noneofthem.Oneofthemmayowntwentysouls,andanotherthirty,butofgentrywhoownahundredtherearenone.”
Chichikovreflectedthathehadindeedfallenintoanaristocraticwilderness!
“Atallevents,isthetownfaraway?”heinquired.
“Aboutsixtyversts.HowsorryIamthatIhavenothingforyoutoeat!Shouldyoucaretodrinksometea?”
“Ithankyou,goodmother,butIrequirenothingbeyondabed.”
“Well,aftersuchajourneyyoumustindeedbeneedingrest,soyoushalllieuponthissofa.Fetinia,bringaquiltandsomepillowsandsheets.WhatweatherGodhassentus!Andwhatdreadfulthunder!EversincesunsetIhavehadacandleburningbeforetheikoninmybedroom.MyGod!Why,yourbackandsidesareasmuddyasaboar’s!Howeverhaveyoumanagedtogetintosuchastate?”
“ThatIamnothingworsethanmuddyisindeedfortunate,since,butfortheAlmighty,Ishouldhavehadmyribsbroken.”
“Dear,dear!Tothinkofallthatyoumusthavebeenthrough.HadInotbetterwipeyourback?”
“Ithankyou,Ithankyou,butyouneednottrouble.
