Мертві душі
Chapter 6
Plushkintookitinbothhands,boreittoabureauwithasmuchcautionasthoughhewerecarryingaliquidwhichmightatanymomentsplashhimintheface,and,arrivedatthebureau,andglancingroundoncemore,carefullypackedthecashinoneofhismoneybags,where,doubtless,itwasdestinedtolieburieduntil,totheintensejoyofhisdaughtersandhisson-in-law(and,perhaps,ofthecaptainwhoclaimedkinshipwithhim),heshouldhimselfreceiveburialatthehandsofFathersCarpandPolycarp,thetwopriestsattachedtohisvillage.Lastly,themoneyconcealed,Plushkinre-seatedhimselfinthearmchair,andseemedatalossforfurthermaterialforconversation.
“Areyouthinkingofstarting?”atlengthheinquired,onseeingChichikovmakingatriflingmovement,thoughthemovementwasonlytoextractfromhispocketahandkerchief.NeverthelessthequestionremindedChichikovthattherewasnofurtherexcuseforlingering.
“Yes,Imustbegoing,”hesaidashetookhishat.
“Thenwhataboutthetea?”
“Thankyou,Iwillhavesomeonmynextvisit.”
“What?EventhoughIhavejustorderedthesamovartobegotready?Well,well!Imyselfdonotgreatlycarefortea,forIthinkitanexpensivebeverage.Moreover,thepriceofsugarhasrisenterribly.”
“Proshka!”hethenshouted.“Thesamovarwillnotbeneeded.ReturnthesugartoMavra,andtellhertoputitbackagain.Butno.Bringthesugarhere,andIwillputitback.”
“Good-bye,dearsir,”finallyheaddedtoChichikov.
