Мертвые души
Chapter 3
MayIenquireyourname?ThrougharrivingsolateatnightIhavequitelostmywits.”
“Korobotchka,thewidowofaCollegiateSecretary.”
“Ihumblythankyou.AndyourChristiannameandpatronymic?”
“NastasiaPetrovna.”
“NastasiaPetrovna!Thoseareexcellentnames.Ihaveamaternalauntnamedlikeyourself.”
“AndYOURname?”queriedthelady.“MayItakeitthatyouareaGovernmentAssessor?”
“No,madam,”repliedChichikovwithasmile.“IamnotanAssessor,butatravelleronprivatebusiness.”
“Thenyoumustbeabuyerofproduce?HowIregretthatIhavesoldmyhoneysocheaplytootherbuyers!OtherwiseYOUmighthaveboughtit,dearsir.”
“Ineverbuyhoney.”
“ThenWHATdoyoubuy,pray?Hemp?Ihavealittleofthatbyme,butnotmorethanhalfapood16orso.”
“No,madam.ItisinotherwaresthatIdeal.Tellme,haveyou,oflateyears,lostmanyofyourpeasantsbydeath?”
“Yes;nofewerthaneighteen,”respondedtheoldladywithasigh.“Suchafinelot,too—allgoodworkers!True,othershavesincegrownup,butofwhatuseareTHEY?Merestriplings.WhentheAssessorlastcalleduponmeIcouldhavewept;for,thoughthoseworkmenofminearedead,Ihavetokeeponpayingforthemasthoughtheywerestillalive!Andonlylastweekmyblacksmithgotburnttodeath!Suchacleverhandathistradehewas!”
“What?Afireoccurredatyourplace?”
“No,no,Godpreserveusall!Itwasnotsobadasthat.YoumustunderstandthattheblacksmithSETHIMSELFonfire—hegotsetonfireinhisbowelsthroughoverdrinking.
