Мертвые души
Chapter 3
“Yethowunfortunateitisthattheharvestshouldhaveprovedsopoorastohavepreventedmefromearninganythingonmy—Butwhyshouldyoubeinsuchahurrytodepart,goodsir?”ShebrokeoffonseeingChichikovreachforhiscap.“Thebritchkaisnotyetready.”
“Thenitisbeinggotso,madam,itisbeinggotso,andIshallneedamomentortwotopackmythings.”
“Asyouplease,dearsir;butdonotforgetmeinconnectionwiththoseGovernmentcontracts.”
“No,IhavesaidthatNEVERshallIforgetyou,”repliedChichikovashehurriedintothehall.
“Andwouldyouliketobuysomelard?”continuedhishostess,pursuinghim.
“Lard?Ohcertainly.Whynot?Only,only—IwilldosoANOTHERtime.”
“IshallhavesomereadyataboutChristmas.”
“Quiteso,madam.THENIwillbuyanythingandeverything—thelardincluded.”
“Andperhapsyouwillbewantingalsosomefeathers?IshallbehavingsomeforsaleaboutSt.Philip’sDay.”
“Verywell,verywell,madam.”
“Thereyousee!”sheremarkedastheysteppedoutontotheverandah.“ThebritchkaisNOTyetready.”
“Butitsoonwillbe,itsoonwillbe.Onlydirectmetothemainroad.”
“HowamItodothat?”saidMadame.“‘Twouldpuzzleawisemantodoso,forinthesepartstherearesomanyturnings.However,Iwillsendagirltoguideyou.Youcouldfindroomforheronthebox-seat,couldyounot?”
“Yes,ofcourse.”
“ThenIwillsendher.Sheknowsthewaythoroughly.Onlydonotcarryheroffforgood.Alreadysometradershavedeprivedmeofoneofmygirls.
