Мертві душі
Chapter 4
HenceforthIwillhavenothingtodowithyou,youcobbler,youdirtyblacksmith!Porphyri,goandtelltheostlertogivethegentleman’shorsesnooats,butonlyhay.”
ThisdevelopmentChichikovhadhardlyexpected.
“Anddoyou,”addedNozdrevtohisguest,“getoutofmysight.”
Yetinspiteofthis,hostandguesttooksuppertogether—eventhoughonthisoccasionthetablewasadornedwithnowinesoffictitiousnomenclature,butonlywithabottlewhichreareditssolitaryheadbesideajugofwhatisusuallyknownasvinordinaire.WhensupperwasoverNozdrevsaidtoChichikovasheconductedhimtoasideroomwhereabedhadbeenmadeup:
“Thisiswhereyouaretosleep.Icannotverywellwishyougood-night.”
LefttohimselfonNozdrev’sdeparture,Chichikovfeltinamostunenviableframeofmind.Fullofinwardvexation,heblamedhimselfbitterlyforhavingcometoseethismanandsowastedvaluabletime;butevenmoredidheblamehimselfforhavingtoldhimofhisscheme—forhavingactedascarelesslyasachildoramadman.OfasuretytheschemewasnotonewhichoughttohavebeenconfidedtoamanlikeNozdrev,forhewasaworthlessfellowwhomightlieaboutit,andappendadditionstoit,andspreadsuchstoriesaswouldgiverisetoGodknowswhatscandals.“Thisisindeedbad!”Chichikovsaidtohimself.“Ihavebeenanabsolutefool.
