Мертві душі
Chapter 3
Imightevencontrivethatheshouldhavetobearthewholeofourexpenses,andthathishorsesshouldbeusedwhilemyownshouldbeputouttograzeonhisfarm.”
“Well,whyshouldInotadoptthesuggestion?”wasPlaton’sthought.“Thereisnothingformetodoathome,sincethemanagementoftheestateisinmybrother’shands,andmygoingwouldcausehimnoinconvenience.Yes,whyshouldInotdoasChichikovhassuggested?”
Thenheaddedaloud:
“Wouldyoucomeandstaywithmybrotherforacoupleofdays?Otherwisehemightrefusemehisconsent.”
“Withgreatpleasure,”saidChichikov.“Orevenforthreedays.”
“Thenhereismyhandonit.Letusbeoffatonce.”Platonseemedsuddenlytohavecometolifeagain.
“Whereareyouoffto?”putintheirhostunexpectedlyasherousedhimselfandstaredinastonishmentatthepair.“No,no,mygoodsirs.Ihavehadthewheelsremovedfromyourkoliaska,MonsieurChichikov,andhavesentyourhorse,PlatonMikhalitch,toagrazinggroundfifteenverstsaway.Consequentlyyoumustspendthenighthere,anddepartto-morrowmorningafterbreakfast.”
WhatcouldbedonewithamanlikePietukh?Therewasnohelpforitbuttoremain.Inreturn,theguestswererewardedwithabeautifulspringevening,for,tospendthetime,thehostorganisedaboatingexpeditionontheriver,andadozenrowers,withadozenpairsofoars,conveyedtheparty(totheaccompanimentofsong)acrossthesmoothsurfaceofthelakeandupagreatriverwithtoweringbanks.
