Мертві душі
Chapter 3
Andyouwilladmitthathehasasufficientlyincisivepen?
“‘(2)OnthisEstatethereexistnoUnmortgagedSoulswhatsoever,whetherApproachingDeathorOtherwise;forthereasonthatallSoulsthereonhavebeenpledgednotonlyunderaFirstDeedofMortgage,butalso(forthesumofOneHundredandFiftyRoublesperSoul)underaSecond,—thevillageofGurmailovkaaloneexcepted,inthat,inconsequenceofaSuithavingbeenbroughtagainstLandownerPriadistchev,andofacaveathavingbeenpronouncedbytheLandCourt,andofsuchcaveathavingbeenpublishedinNo.42oftheGazetteofMoscow,thesaidVillagehascomewithintheJurisdictionoftheCourtAbove-Mentioned.”
“Whydidyounottellmeallthisbefore?”criedChichikovfuriously.“Whyyouhavekeptmedancingaboutfornothing?”
“Becauseitwasabsolutelynecessarythatyoushouldviewthematterthroughformsofdocumentaryprocess.Thisisnojestonmypart.Theinexperiencedmayseethingssubconsciously,yetitisimperativethatheshouldalsoseethemCONSCIOUSLY.”
ButtoChichikov’spatienceanendhadcome.Seizinghiscap,andcastingallceremonytothewinds,hefledfromthehouse,andrushedthroughthecourtyard.Asithappened,themanwhohaddrivenhimthitherhad,warnedbyexperience,nottroubledeventotakeoutthehorses,sinceheknewthatsuchaproceedingwouldhaveentailednotonlythepresentationofaStatementofPleaforfodder,butalsoadelayoftwenty-fourhoursuntiltheResolutiongrantingthesameshouldhavebeenpassed.
