Мертві душі
Chapter 5
Whatafrank,outspokennaturehehas!Andwhatanelementofsimplicitydoeshisexpressioncontain!”
“Heismeantothecore,”remarkedSobakevitchcoldly.“Hewillsellyouandcheatyou,andthendineatyourtable.Yes,Iknowthemall,andeveryoneofthemisaswindler,andthetownanestofrascalsengagedinrobbingoneanother.NotamanofthelotistherebutwouldsellChrist.Yetstay:ONEdecentfellowthereis—thePublicProsecutor;thoughevenHE,ifthetruthbetold,islittlebetterthanapig.”
AftertheseeulogiaChichikovsawthatitwouldbeuselesstocontinuerunningthroughthelistofofficials—moreespeciallysincesuddenlyhehadrememberedthatSobakevitchwasnotatanytimegiventocommendinghisfellowman.
“Letusgotoluncheon,mydear,”putinTheoduliaIvanovnatoherspouse.
“Yes;praycometotable,”saidSobakevitchtohisguest;whereupontheyconsumedthecustomaryglassofvodka(accompaniedbysundrysnacksofsaltedcucumberandotherdainties)withwhichRussians,bothintownandcountry,prefaceameal.Thentheyfiledintothedining-roominthewakeofthehostess,whosailedonaheadlikeagooseswimmingacrossapond.Thesmalldining-tablewasfoundtobelaidforfourpersons—thefourthplacebeingoccupiedbyaladyorayounggirl(itwouldhavebeendifficulttosaywhichexactly)whomighthavebeeneitherarelative,thehousekeeper,oracasualvisitor.Certainpersonsintheworldexist,notaspersonalitiesinthemselves,butasspotsorspecksonthepersonalitiesofothers.
