Мертві душі
Chapter 6
”Accordingly,thespeechmentallycomposed,hesaidaloudthat,havingheardofPlushkin’stalentsforthriftyandsystematicmanagement,hehadconsideredhimselfboundtomaketheacquaintanceofhishost,andtopresenthimwithhispersonalcompliments(IneedhardlysaythatChichikovcouldeasilyhaveallegedabetterreason,hadanybetteronehappened,atthemoment,tohavecomeintohishead).
WithtoothlessgumsPlushkinmurmuredsomethinginreply,butnothingisknownastoitsprecisetermsbeyondthatitincludedastatementthatthedevilwasatlibertytoflyawaywithChichikov’ssentiments.However,thelawsofRussianhospitalitydonotpermitevenofamiserinfringingtheirrules;whereforePlushkinaddedtotheforegoingamorecivilinvitationtobeseated.
“ItislongsinceIlastreceivedavisitor,”hewenton.“Also,IfeelboundtosaythatIcanseelittlegoodintheircoming.Onceintroducetheabominablecustomoffolkpayingcalls,andforthwiththerewillensuesuchruintothemanagementofestatesthatlandownerswillbeforcedtofeedtheirhorsesonhay.Notforalong,longtimehaveIeatenamealawayfromhome—althoughmyownkitchenisapoorone,andhasitschimneyinsuchastatethat,wereittobecomeoverheated,itwouldinstantlycatchfire.”
“Whatabrute!”thoughtChichikov.“IamluckytohavegotthroughsomuchpastryandstuffedshoulderofmuttonatSobakevitch’s!”
“Also,”wentonPlushkin,“Iamashamedtosaythathardlyawispoffodderdoestheplacecontain.
