Мертві душі
Chapter 7
Yes,thewholelotIhavesold.”
AndtothePresident’sinquirywhyhehadsoacted,seeingthattheserfsnamedwereallskilledworkersandindispensabletoahousehold,Sobakevitchrepliedthatamerewhimhadledhimtodoso,andthusthesalehadoweditsorigintoapieceoffolly.Thenhehunghisheadasthoughalreadyrepentingofhisrashact,andadded:
“Althoughamanofgreyhairs,Ihavenotyetlearnedwisdom.”
“But,”inquiredthePresidentfurther,“howcomesitabout,PaulIvanovitch,thatyouhavepurchasedpeasantsapartfromland?Isitfortransfermentelsewherethatyouneedthem?”
“Yes.”
“Verywell,then.Thatisquiteanothermatter.Towhatprovinceofthecountry?”
“TotheprovinceofKherson.”
“Indeed!Thatregioncontainssomesplendidland,”saidthePresident;whereuponheproceededtoexpatiateonthefertilityoftheKhersonpastures.
“AndhaveyouMUCHlandthere?”hecontinued.
“Yes;quitesufficienttoaccommodatetheserfswhomIhavepurchased.”
“Andisthereariverontheestateoralake?”
“Both.”
AfterthisreplyChichikovinvoluntarilythrewaglanceatSobakevitch;andthoughthatlandowner’sfacewasasmotionlessaseveryother,theotherseemedtodetectinit:“Youliar!Don’ttellMEthatyouownbothariverandalake,aswellasthelandwhichyousayyoudo.”
Whilsttheforegoingconversationhadbeeninprogress,variouswitnesseshadbeenarrivingonthescene.
