Мертві душі
Chapter 4
SoonChichikovbegantofeelweary,fortheterrainwassolow-lyingthatinmanyspotswatercouldbeheardsquelchingunderfoot,andthoughforawhilethevisitorswatchedtheirfeet,andsteppedcarefully,theysoonperceivedthatsuchacourseavailedthemnothing,andtooktofollowingtheirnoses,withouteitherselectingoravoidingthespotswherethemirehappenedtobedeeperorthereverse.Atlength,whenaconsiderabledistancehadbeencovered,theycaughtsightofaboundary-postandanarrowditch.
“Thatistheboundary,”saidNozdrev.“Everythingthatyouseeonthissideofthepostismine,aswellastheforestontheothersideofit,andwhatliesbeyondtheforest.”
“WHENdidthatforestbecomeyours?”askedthebrother-in-law.“Itcannotbelongsinceyoupurchasedit,foritneverUSEDtobeyours.”
“Yes,itisn’tlongsinceIpurchasedit,”saidNozdrev.
“Howlong?”
“Howlong?Why,Ipurchaseditthreedaysago,andgaveaprettysumforit,asthedevilknows!”
“Indeed!Why,threedaysagoyouwereatthefair?”
“Wiseacre!Cannotonebeatafairandbuylandatthesametime?Yes,IWASatthefair,andmystewardboughtthelandinmyabsence.”
“Oh,yourSTEWARDboughtit.”Thebrother-in-lawseemeddoubtful,andshookhishead.
Theguestsreturnedbythesamerouteasthatbywhichtheyhadcome;whereafter,onreachingthehouse,Nozdrevconductedthemtohisstudy,whichcontainednotatraceofthethingsusuallytobefoundinsuchapartments—suchthingsasbooksandpapers.
