Мертві душі
Chapter 5
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Theaffairendedintheirdecidingtodothisonthemorrow,andtoarrangeforthesigningofadeedofpurchase.Next,Chichikovrequestedalistofthepeasants;towhichSobakevitchreadilyagreed.Indeed,hewenttohiswriting-deskthenandthere,andstartedtoinditealistwhichgavenotonlythepeasants’names,butalsotheirlatequalifications.
MeanwhileChichikov,havingnothingelsetodo,stoodlookingatthespaciousformofhishost;andashegazedathisbackasbroadasthatofacarthorse,andatthelegsasmassiveastheironstandardswhichadornastreet,hecouldnothelpinwardlyejaculating:
“TrulyGodhasendowedyouwithmuch!Thoughnotadjustedwithnicety,atleastyouarestronglybuilt.Iwonderwhetheryouwerebornabearorwhetheryouhavecometoitthroughyourrusticlife,withitstillingofcropsanditstradingwithpeasants?Yetno;Ibelievethat,evenifyouhadreceivedafashionableeducation,andhadmixedwithsociety,andhadlivedinSt.Petersburg,youwouldstillhavebeenjustthekulak26thatyouare.Theonlydifferenceisthatcircumstances,astheystand,permitofyourpolishingoffastuffedshoulderofmuttonatameal;whereasinSt.Petersburgyouwouldhavebeenunabletodoso.Also,ascircumstancesstand,youhaveunderyouanumberofpeasants,whomyoutreatwellforthereasonthattheyareyourproperty;whereas,otherwise,youwouldhavehadunderyoutchinovniks27:whomyouwouldhavebulliedbecausetheywereNOTyourproperty.Also,youwouldhaverobbedtheTreasury,sinceakulakalwaysremainsamoney-grubber.
