Мертвые души
Chapter 3
“Yes,butwiththelivingwehavenothingtodo,damnit!IamaskingyouonlyaboutDEADfolk.”
“Yes,yes,ofcourse.ButatfirstsightIfeltafraidlestIshouldbeincurringaloss—lestyoushouldbewishingtooutwitme,goodsir.Yousee,thedeadsoulsareworthrathermorethanyouhaveofferedforthem.”
“Seehere,madam.(Whatawomanitis!)HOWcouldtheybeworthmore?Thinkforyourself.Theyaresomuchlosstoyou—somuchloss,doyouunderstand?Takeanyworthless,rubbishyarticleyoulike—apieceofoldrag,forexample.Thatragwillyetfetchitsprice,foritcanbeboughtforpaper-making.ButthesedeadsoulsaregoodforNOTHINGATALL.CanyounameanythingthattheyAREgoodfor?”
“True,true—theyAREgoodfornothing.Butwhattroublesmeisthefactthattheyaredead.”
“Whatablockheadofacreature!”saidChichikovtohimself,forhewasbeginningtolosepatience.“Blessherheart,Imayaswellbegoing.Shehasthrownmeintoaperfectsweat,thecursedoldshrew!”
Hetookahandkerchieffromhispocket,andwipedtheperspirationfromhisbrow.Yetheneednothaveflownintosuchapassion.Morethanonerespectedstatesmanrevealshimself,whenconfrontedwithabusinessmatter,tobejustsuchanotherasMadamKorobotchka,inthat,oncehehasgotanideaintohishead,thereisnogettingitoutofhim—youmayplyhimwithdaylight-cleararguments,yettheywillreboundfromhisbrainasanindia-rubberballreboundsfromaflagstone.
