Мертві душі
Chapter 4
’Shouldluckbeonyourside,youmaywinthedevilknowswhatahaul.Oh,luck,luck!”hewenton,beginningtodeal,inthehopeofraisingaquarrel.“Hereisthecursednineuponwhich,theothernight,Ilosteverything.AllalongIknewthatIshouldlosemymoney.SaidItomyself:‘Thedeviltakeyou,youfalse,accursedcard!’”
JustasNozdrevutteredthewordsPorphyrienteredwithafreshbottleofliquor;butChichikovdeclinedeithertoplayortodrink.
“Whydoyourefusetoplay?”askedNozdrev.
“BecauseIfeelindisposedtodoso.Moreover,ImustconfessthatIamnogreathandatcards.”
“WHYareyounogreathandatthem?”
Chichikovshruggedhisshoulders.“BecauseIamnot,”hereplied.
“YouarenogreathandatANYTHING,Ithink.”
“Whatdoesthatmatter?Godhasmademeso.”
“ThetruthisthatyouareaThetuk,andnothingelse.OnceuponatimeIbelievedyoutobeagoodfellow,butnowIseethatyoudon’tunderstandcivility.Onecannotspeaktoyouasonewouldtoanintimate,forthereisnofranknessorsincerityaboutyou.YouarearegularSobakevitch—justsuchanotherashe.”
“Forwhatreasonareyouabusingme?AmIinanywayatfaultfordecliningtoplaycards?Sellmethosesoulsifyouarethemantohesitateoversuchrubbish.”
“Thefoulfiendtakeyou!Iwasabouttohavegiventhemtoyoufornothing,butnowyoushan’thavethematall—notifyouoffermethreekingdomsinexchange.
