Мертві душі
Chapter 3
“IfIunderstandyouaright,”saidtheColonel,“youwishtopresentaStatementofPlea?”
“Yes,thatisso.”
“Thenkindlyputitintowriting,anditshallbeforwardedtotheOfficefortheReceptionofReportsandReturns.ThereafterthatOfficewillconsiderit,andreturnittome,whowill,inturn,dispatchittotheEstateWorksCommittee,whowill,inturn,reviseit,andpresentittotheAdministrator,who,jointlywiththeSecretary,will—”
“Pardonme,”expostulatedChichikov,“butthatprocedurewilltakeupagreatdealoftime.WhyneedIputthematterintowritingatall?Itissimplythis.Iwantafewsoulswhichare—well,whichare,sotospeak,dead.”
“Verygood,”commentedtheColonel.“DoyouwritedowninyourStatementofPleathatthesoulswhichyoudesireare,‘sotospeak,dead.’”
“Butwhatwouldbetheuseofmydoingso?Thoughthesoulsaredead,mypurposerequiresthattheyshouldberepresentedasalive.”
“Verygood,”againcommentedtheColonel.“DoyouwritedowninyourStatementthat‘itisnecessary’(or,shouldyoupreferanalternativephrase,‘itisrequested,’or‘itisdesiderated,’or‘itisprayed,’)‘thatthesoulsberepresentedasalive.’Atallevents,WITHOUTdocumentaryprocessofthatkind,themattercannotpossiblybecarriedthrough.Also,IwillappointaCommissionertoguideyouroundthevariousOffices.”
Andhesoundedabell;whereupontherepresentedhimselfamanwhom,addressingas“Secretary,”theColonelinstructedtosummonthe“Commissioner.
