Мертві душі
Chapter 9
“TherehasbeenSUCHabusiness!Infact,doyouknowwhyIamhereatall?”Andthevisitor’sbreathingbecamemorehurried,andfurtherwordsseemedtobehoveringbetweenherlipslikehawkspreparingtostoopupontheirprey.Onlyapersonoftheunhumanityofa“truefriend”wouldhavehadthehearttointerrupther;butthehostesswasjustsuchafriend,andatonceinterposedwith:
“Iwonderhowanyonecanseeanythinginthemantopraiseortoadmire.Formyownpart,Ithink—andIwouldsaythesamethingstraighttohisface—thatheisaperfectrascal.”
“Yes,butdolistentowhatIhavegottotellyou.”
“Oh,Iknowthatsomepeoplethinkhimhandsome,”continuedthehostess,unmoved;“butIsaythatheisnothingofthekind—that,inparticular,hisnoseisperfectlyodious.”
“Yes,butletmefinishwhatIwassaying.”Theguest’stonewasalmostpiteousinitsappeal.
“Whatisit,then?”
“Youcannotimaginemystateofmind!Yousee,thismorningIreceivedavisitfromFatherCyril’swife—theArchpriest’swife—youknowher,don’tyou?Well,whomdoyousupposethatfinegentlemanvisitorofourshasturnedouttobe?”
“ThemanwhohasbuilttheArchpriestapoultry-run?”
“Ohdearno!Hadthatbeenall,itwouldhavebeennothing.No.ListentowhatFatherCyril’swifehadtotellme.Shesaidthat,lastnight,aladylandownernamedMadameKorobotchkaarrivedattheArchpriest’shouse—arrivedallpaleandtrembling—andtoldher,oh,suchthings!Theysoundlikeapieceoutofabook.
