Мертві душі
Chapter 3
Thenyouwillseeforyourselfthatnogreatwisdomisrequiredforthepurpose.”
“Yes,certainlyyoumuststayhere,”putintheladyofthehouse.Then,turningtoherbrother,sheadded:“Andyoutoomuststay.Whyshouldyoubeinsuchahurry?”
“Verywell,”hereplied.“ButwhatsayYOU,PaulIvanovitch?”
“Isaythesameasyou,andwithmuchpleasure,”repliedChichikov.“ButalsoIoughttotellyouthis:thatthereisarelativeofGeneralBetristchev’s,acertainColonelKoshkarev—”
“Yes,weknowhim;butheisquitemad.”
“Asyousay,heismad,andIshouldnothavebeenintendingtovisithim,wereitnotthatGeneralBetristchevisanintimatefriendofmine,aswellas,Imightadd,mymostgenerousbenefactor.”
“Then,”saidKostanzhoglo,“doyougoandseeColonelKoshkarevNOW.Heliveslessthantenverstsfromhere,andIhaveagigalreadyharnessed.Gotohimatonce,andreturnherefortea.”
“Anexcellentidea!”criedChichikov,andwiththatheseizedhiscap.
Halfanhour’sdrivesufficedtobringhimtotheColonel’sestablishment.Thevillageattachedtothemanorwasinastateofutterconfusion,sinceineverydirectionbuildingandrepairingoperationswereinprogress,andthealleyswerechokedwithheapsoflime,bricks,andbeamsofwood.Also,someofthehutswerearrangedtoresembleoffices,andsuperscribedingiltletters“DepotforAgriculturalImplements,”“ChiefOfficeofAccounts,”“EstateWorksCommittee,”“NormalSchoolfortheEducationofColonists,”andsoforth.
