Мертві душі
Chapter 4
ButsinceChichikovnoticedthat,afterdoingso,headdedonlyascantymodicumofthemixturetohisowntumbler,ourherodeterminedtobecautious,andthereforetookadvantageofamomentwhenNozdrevhadagainplungedintoconversationandwasyetathirdtimeengagedinrefillinghisbrother-in-law’sglass,tocontrivetoupsethis(Chichikov’s)glassoverhisplate.Intimetherecamealsototableatartofmountain-ashberries—berrieswhichthehostdeclaredtoequal,intaste,ripeplums,butwhich,curiouslyenough,smackedmoreofcornbrandy.Next,thecompanyconsumedasortofpastyofwhichtheprecisenamehasescapedme,butwhichthehostrendereddifferentlyevenonthesecondoccasionofitsbeingmentioned.Themealover,andthewholetaleofwinestried,theguestsstillretainedtheirseats—acircumstancewhichembarrassedChichikov,seeingthathehadnomindtopropoundhispetschemeinthepresenceofNozdrev’sbrother-in-law,whowasacompletestrangertohim.No,thatsubjectcalledforamicableandPRIVATEconversation.Nevertheless,thebrother-in-lawappearedtobodelittledanger,seeingthathehadtakenonboardafullcargo,andwasnowengagedindoingnothingofamoremenacingnaturethanpickinghisnose.Atlengthhehimselfnoticedthathewasnotaltogetherinaresponsiblecondition;whereforeheroseandbegantomakeexcusesfordepartinghomewards,thoughinatonesodrowsyandlethargicthat,toquotetheRussianproverb,hemightalmosthavebeen“pullingacollarontoahorsebytheclasps.”
“No,no!”criedNozdrev.“IamNOTgoingtoletyougo.
