Мертві душі
Chapter 4
Buthehasaheadonhisshoulders,andthereforeImustgocarefullyifIamtotacklehimconcerningmyscheme.”
Withthatheaddedaloud:“Verywell,IWILLcomewithyou,butdonotletusbelong,formytimeisveryprecious.”
“That’sright,that’sright!”criedNozdrev.“Splendid,splendid!Letmeembraceyou!”AndhefelluponChichikov’sneck.“Allthreeofuswillgo.”
“No,no,”putintheflaxen-hairedman.“Youmustexcuseme,forImustbeoffhome.”
“Rubbish,rubbish!IamNOTgoingtoexcuseyou.”
“Butmywifewillbefuriouswithme.YouandMonsieurChichikovmustchangeintotheotherbritchka.”
“Come,come!Thethingisnottobethoughtof.”
Theflaxen-hairedmanwasoneofthosepeopleinwhosecharacter,atfirstsight,thereseemstolurkacertaingrainofstubbornness—somuchsothat,almostbeforeonehasbeguntospeak,theyarereadytodisputeone’swords,andtodisagreewithanythingthatmaybeopposedtotheirpeculiarformofopinion.Forinstance,theywilldeclinetohavefollycalledwisdom,oranytunedancedtobuttheirown.Always,however,willtherebecomemanifestintheircharacterasoftspot,andintheendtheywillacceptwhathithertotheyhavedenied,andcallwhatisfoolishsensible,andevendance—yes,betterthananyoneelsewilldo—toatunesetbysomeoneelse.Inshort,theygenerallybeginwell,butalwaysendbadly.
“Rubbish!”saidNozdrevinanswertoafurtherobjectiononhisbrother-in-law’spart.
