Мертві душі
Chapter 6
“MaytheLordblessyou!HandthatlettertothePresidentoftheCouncil,andlethimreadit.Yes,heisanoldfriendofmine.Weknewoneanotherasschoolfellows.”
Withthatthisstrangephenomenon,thiswitheredoldman,escortedhisguesttothegatesofthecourtyard,and,aftertheguesthaddeparted,orderedthegatestobeclosed,madetheroundoftheoutbuildingsforthepurposeofascertainingwhetherthenumerouswatchmenwereattheirposts,peeredintothekitchen(where,underthepretenceofseeingwhetherhisservantswerebeingproperlyfed,hemadealightmealofcabbagesoupandgruel),ratedthesaidservantssoundlyfortheirthievishnessandgeneralbadbehaviour,andthenreturnedtohisroom.Meditatinginsolitude,hefelltothinkinghowbesthecouldcontrivetorecompensehisguestforthelatter’smeasurelessbenevolence.“Iwillpresenthim,”hethoughttohimself,“withawatch.Itisagoodsilverarticle—notoneofthosecheapmetalaffairs;andthoughithassufferedsomedamage,hecaneasilygetthatputright.Ayoungmanalwaysneedstogiveawatchtohisbetrothed.”
“No,”headdedafterfurtherthought.“Iwillleavehimthewatchinmywill,asakeepsake.”
Meanwhileourherowasbowlingalonginhighspirit.Suchanunexpectedacquisitionbothofdeadsoulsandofrunawayserfshadcomeasawindfall.EvenbeforereachingPlushkin’svillagehehadhadapresentimentthathewoulddosuccessfulbusinessthere,butnotbusinessofsuchpre-eminentprofitablenessashadactuallyresulted.
