Мертві душі
Chapter 9
Consequentlyshefeltthemorethatsheneededtendercomfortandadvice.
“ThenTHISiswhatIthinkaboutthedeadsouls,”saidthehostess.Instantlytheguestprickedupherears(or,rather,theyprickedthemselvesup)andstraightenedherselfandbecame,somehow,moremodish,and,despitehernotinconsiderableweight,posedherselftolooklikeapieceofthistledownfloatingonthebreeze.
“Thedeadsouls,”beganthehostess.
“Arewhat,arewhat?”inquiredtheguestingreatexcitement.
“Are,are—”
“Tellme,tellme,forheaven’ssake!”
“Theyareaninventiontoconcealsomethingelse.Theman’srealobjectis,is—TOABDUCTTHEGOVERNOR’SDAUGHTER.”
Sostartlingandunexpectedwasthisconclusionthattheguestsatreducedtoastateofpale,petrified,genuineamazement.
“MyGod!”shecried,clappingherhands,“IshouldNEVERhaveguessedit!”
“Well,totellyouthetruth,Iguesseditassoonaseveryouopenedyourmouth.”
“Somuch,then,foreducatinggirlsliketheGovernor’sdaughteratschool!Justseewhatcomesofit!”
“Yes,indeed!AndtheytellmethatshesaysthingswhichIhesitateeventorepeat.”
“Trulyitwringsone’shearttoseetowhatlengthsimmoralityhascome.”
“Someofthemenhavequitelosttheirheadsabouther,butformypartIthinkhernotworthnoticing.”
“Ofcourse.Andhermannersareunbearable.ButwhatpuzzlesmemostishowatravelledmanlikeChichikovcouldcometolethimselfinforsuchanaffair.Surelyhemusthaveaccomplices?”
“Yes;andIshouldsaythatoneofthoseaccomplicesisNozdrev.
