Мертві душі
Chapter 5
”
“Pardonme,buthowamItowriteoutthereceiptbeforeIhaveseenthecash?”
ChichikovplacedthenotesinSobakevitch’shand;whereuponthehostmovednearertothetable,andaddedtothelistofserfsanotethathehadreceivedforthepeasants,therewithsold,thesumoftwenty-fiveroubles,asearnestmoney.Thisdone,hecountedthenotesoncemore.
“ThisisaveryOLDnote,”heremarked,holdingoneuptothelight.“Also,itisatrifletorn.However,inafriendlytransactiononemustnotbetooparticular.”
“Whatakulak!”thoughtChichikovtohimself.“Andwhatabrutebeast!”
“ThenyoudonotwantanyWOMENsouls?”queriedSobakevitch.
“Ithankyou,no.”
“Icouldletyouhavesomecheap—say,asbetweenfriends,ataroubleahead?”
“No,Ishouldhavenouseforthem.”
“Then,thatbeingso,thereisnomoretobesaid.Thereisnoaccountingfortastes.‘Onemanlovesthepriest,andanotherthepriest’swife,’saystheproverb.”
Chichikovrosetotakehisleave.“OncemoreIwouldrequestofyou,”hesaid,“thatthebargainbeleftasitis.”
“Ofcourse,ofcourse.Whatisdonebetweenfriendsholdsgoodbecauseoftheirmutualfriendship.Good-bye,andthankyouforyourvisit.InadvanceIwouldbegthat,wheneveryoushouldhaveanhourortwotospare,youwillcomeandlunchwithusagain.Perhapswemightbeabletodooneanotherfurtherservice?”
“NotifIknowit!”reflectedChichikovashemountedhisbritchka.
