Мертві душі
Chapter 3
Withonehandshadinghiseyesfromthesun,andtheotherthrownbackwards,helooked,inpointofpose,liketheMediciVenusemergingfromherbath.
“No,”repliedChichikov,raisinghiscap,andexecutingaseriesofbows.
“ThenthankGodforthat,”rejoinedthegentleman.
“Why?”askedChichikovwithnolittlecuriosity,andstillholdinghiscapoverhishead.
“BecauseofTHIS.Castoffthenet,ThomaMenshov,andpickupthatsturgeonforthegentlemantosee.Goandhelphim,TelepenKuzma.”
Withthatthepeasantsindicatedpickedupbytheheadwhatwasaveritablemonsterofafish.
“Isn’titabeauty—asturgeonfreshrunfromtheriver?”exclaimedthestoutbarin.“Andnowletusbeoffhome.Coachman,youcantakethelowerroadthroughthekitchengarden.Run,youloutofaThomaBolshoy,andopenthegateforhim.Hewillguideyoutothehouse,andImyselfshallbealongpresently.”
ThereuponthebareleggedThomaBolshoy,cladinnothingbutashirt,ranaheadofthekoliaskathroughthevillage,everyhutofwhichhadhanginginfrontofitavarietyofnets,forthereasonthateveryinhabitantoftheplacewasafisherman.Next,heopenedagateintoalargevegetableenclosure,andthencethekoliaskaemergedintoasquarenearawoodenchurch,with,showingbeyondthelatter,theroofsofthemanorialhomestead.
“Aqueerfellow,thatKoshkarev!”saidChichikovtohimself.
“Well,whateverImaybe,atleastI’mhere,”saidavoicebyhisside.Chichikovlookedround,andperceivedthat,inthemeanwhile,thebarinhaddressedhimselfandovertakenthecarriage.
