Мертві душі
Chapter 6
ButhowcanIgetfodder?Mylandsaresmall,andthepeasantrylazyfellowswhohateworkandthinkofnothingbutthetavern.Intheend,therefore,Ishallbeforcedtogoandspendmyoldageinroamingabouttheworld.”
“ButIhavebeentoldthatyoupossessoverathousandserfs?”saidChichikov.
“Whotoldyouthat?Nomatterwhoitwas,youwouldhavebeenjustifiedingivinghimthelie.Hemusthavebeenajesterwhowantedtomakeafoolofyou.Athousandsouls,indeed!Why,justreckonthetaxesonthem,andseewhattherewouldbeleft!Forthesethreeyearsthataccursedfeverhasbeenkillingoffmyserfswholesale.”
“Wholesale,yousay?”echoedChichikov,greatlyinterested.
“Yes,wholesale,”repliedtheoldman.
“ThenmightIaskyoutheexactnumber?”
“Fullyeighty.”
“Surelynot?”
“Butitisso.”
“ThenmightIalsoaskwhetheritisfromthedateofthelastcensusrevisionthatyouarereckoningthesesouls?”
“Yes,damnit!AndsincethatdateIhavebeenbledfortaxesuponahundredandtwentysoulsinall.”
“Indeed!Uponahundredandtwentysoulsinall!”AndChichikov’ssurpriseandelationweresuchthat,thissaid,heremainedsittingopen-mouthed.
“Yes,goodsir,”repliedPlushkin.“Iamtoooldtotellyoulies,forIhavepassedmyseventiethyear.”
SomehowheseemedtohavetakenoffenceatChichikov’salmostjoyousexclamation;whereforetheguesthastenedtoheaveaprofoundsigh,andtoobservethathesympathisedtothefullwithhishost’smisfortunes.
