Мертві душі
Chapter 5
”
“Yes,onthatoccasionIwasnotthere,”repliedSobakevitch.
“Whatanicemanheis!”
“Whois?”inquiredSobakevitch,gazingintothecornerbythestove.
“ThePresidentoftheLocalCouncil.”
“Didheseemsotoyou?True,heisamason,butheisalsothegreatestfoolthattheworldeversaw.”
Chichikovstartedalittleatthismordantcriticism,butsoonpulledhimselftogetheragain,andcontinued:
“Ofcourse,everymanhashisweakness.YetthePresidentseemstobeanexcellentfellow.”
“AnddoyouthinkthesameoftheGovernor?”
“Yes.Whynot?”
“Becausethereexistsnogreaterroguethanhe.”
“What?TheGovernorarogue?”ejaculatedChichikov,atalosstounderstandhowtheofficialinquestioncouldcometobenumberedwiththieves.“LetmesaythatIshouldneverhaveguessedit.Permitmealsotoremarkthathisconductwouldhardlyseemtobearoutyouropinion—heseemssogentleaman.”AndinproofofthisChichikovcitedthepurseswhichtheGovernorknitted,andalsoexpatiatedonthemildnessofhisfeatures.
“Hehasthefaceofarobber,”saidSobakevitch.“Wereyoutogivehimaknife,andtoturnhimlooseonaturnpike,hewouldcutyourthroatfortwokopecks.AndthesamewiththeVice-Governor.ThepairarejustGogandMagog.”
“Evidentlyheisnotongoodtermswiththem,”thoughtChichikovtohimself.“IhadbetterpasstotheChiefofPolice,whichwhomheDOESseemtobefriendly.”Accordinglyheaddedaloud:“Formyownpart,IshouldgivethepreferencetotheHeadoftheGendarmery.
