Мертві душі
Chapter 6
“Anddoyouhappentoknowanyonetowhomafewrunawayserfswouldbeofuse?”heaskedassubsequentlyhefoldedtheletter.
“What?Youhavesomerunawaysaswell?”exclaimedChichikov,againgreatlyinterested.
“CertainlyIhave.Myson-in-lawhaslaidthenecessaryinformationagainstthem,butsaysthattheirtrackshavegrowncold.However,heisonlyamilitaryman—thatistosay,goodatclinkingapairofspurs,butofnouseforlayingapleabeforeacourt.”
“Andhowmanyrunawayshaveyou?”
“Aboutseventy.”
“Surelynot?”
“Alas,yes.Neverdoesayearpasswithoutacertainnumberofthemmakingoff.Yetsogluttonousandidlearemyserfsthattheyaresimplyburstingwithfood,whereasIscarcelygetenoughtoeat.Iwilltakeanypriceforthemthatyoumaycaretooffer.Tellyourfriendsaboutit,and,shouldtheyfindevenascoreoftherunaways,itwillrepaythemhandsomely,seeingthatalivingserfonthecensuslistisatpresentworthfivehundredroubles.”
“Perhapsso,butIamnotgoingtoletanyonebutmyselfhaveafingerinthis,”thoughtChichikovtohimself;afterwhichheexplainedtoPlushkinthatafriendofthekindmentionedwouldbeimpossibletodiscover,sincethelegalexpensesoftheenterprisewouldleadtothesaidfriendhavingtocuttheverytailfromhiscoatbeforehewouldgetclearofthelawyers.
“Nevertheless,”addedChichikov,“seeingthatyouaresohardpressedformoney,andthatIamsointerestedinthematter,Ifeelmovedtoadvanceyou—well,toadvanceyousuchatrifleaswouldscarcelybeworthmentioning.
