Мертві душі
Chapter 9
”
“Surelynot?”
“CERTAINLYIshouldsayso.Why,Ihaveknownhimeventrytosellhisownfather!Atalleventshestakedhimatcards.”
“Indeed!Youinterestme.Ishouldneverhadthoughthimcapableofsuchthings.”
“Ialwaysguessedhimtobeso.”
ThetwoladieswerestilldiscussingthematterwithacumenandsuccesswhentherewalkedintotheroomthePublicProsecutor—bushyeyebrows,motionlessfeatures,blinkingeyes,andall.Atoncetheladieshastenedtoinformhimoftheeventsrelated,adducingtherewithfulldetailsbothastothepurchaseofdeadsoulsandastotheschemetoabducttheGovernor’sdaughter;afterwhichtheydepartedindifferentdirections,forthepurposeofraisingtherestofthetown.Fortheexecutionofthisundertakingnotmorethanhalfanhourwasrequired.Sothoroughlydidtheysucceedinthrowingdustinthepublic’seyesthatforawhileeveryone—moreespeciallythearmyofpublicofficials—wasplacedinthepositionofaschoolboywho,whilestillasleep,hashadabagofpepperthrowninhisfacebyapartyofmoreearly-risingcomrades.Thequestionsnowtobedebatedresolvedthemselvesintotwo—namely,thequestionofthedeadsoulsandthequestionoftheGovernor’sdaughter.Tothisendtwopartieswereformed—themen’spartyandthefemininesection.Themen’sparty—themoreabsolutelysenselessofthetwo—devoteditsattentiontothedeadsouls:thewomen’spartyoccupieditselfexclusivelywiththeallegedabductionoftheGovernor’sdaughter.
