Мертві душі
Chapter 5
Hetriedtosayingsomethingabout“familyanddomesticcircumstances,”butSobakevitchcuthimshortwith:
“Idon’twanttoknowyourprivateaffairs,forIneverpokemynoseintosuchthings.Youneedthesouls,andIamreadytosellthem.Shouldyounotbuythem,Ithinkyouwillrepentit.”
“Tworoublesismyprice,”repeatedChichikov.
“Come,come!Asyouhavenamedthatsum,Icanunderstandyournotlikingtogobackuponit;butquotemeabonafidefigure.”
“Thedevilflyawaywithhim!”musedChichikov.“However,Iwilladdanotherhalf-rouble.”Andhedidso.
“Indeed!”saidSobakevitch.“Well,mylastworduponitis—fiftyroublesinassignats.Thatwillmeanasheerlosstome,fornowhereelseintheworldcouldyoubuybettersoulsthanmine.”
“Theoldskinflint!”mutteredChichikov.Thenheaddedaloud,withirritationinhistone:“Seehere.Thisisaseriousmatter.Anyonebutyouwouldbethankfultogetridofthesouls.Onlyafoolwouldsticktothem,andcontinuetopaythetax.”
“Yes,butremember(andIsayitwhollyinafriendlyway)thattransactionsofthiskindarenotgenerallyallowed,andthatanyonewouldsaythatamanwhoengagesinthemmusthavesomeratherdoubtfuladvantageinview.”
“Haveityourownaway,”saidChichikov,withassumedindifference.“Asamatteroffact,Iamnotpurchasingforprofit,asyousuppose,buttohumouracertainwhimofmine.TwoandahalfroublesisthemostthatIcanoffer.”
“Blessyourheart!”retortedthehost.“Atleastgivemethirtyroublesinassignats,andtakethelot.
