Мертві душі
Chapter 3
Howevermuchfactoriesmaybeestablishedprivatelyorbythelaw,therewillstillliereadytoman’shandallthatheneeds—hewillstillrequirenoneofthoseamenitieswhicharesappingthevitalityofourpresent-dayfolk,noranyofthoseindustrialestablishmentswhichmaketheirprofit,andkeepthemselvesgoing,bycausingfoolishmeasurestobeadoptedwhich,intheend,areboundtodepraveandcorruptourunfortunatemasses.Imyselfamdeterminednevertoestablishanymanufacture,howeverprofitable,whichwillgiverisetoademandfor‘higherthings,’suchassugarandtobacco—nonotifIloseamillionbymyrefusingtodoso.IfcorruptionMUSTovertaketheMIR,itshallnotbethroughmyhands.AndIthinkthatGodwilljustifymeinmyresolve.TwentyyearshaveIlivedamongthecommonfolk,andIknowwhatwillinevitablycomeofsuchthings.”
“Butwhatsurprisesmemost,”persistedChichikov,“isthatfromrefuseitshouldbepossible,withgoodmanagement,tomakesuchanimmensityofprofit.”
“Andasforpoliticaleconomy,”continuedKostanzhoglo,withoutnoticinghim,andwithhisfacechargedwithbilioussarcasm,“—asforpoliticaleconomy,itisafinethingindeed.Justonefoolsittingonanotherfool’sback,andflogginghimalong,eventhoughtheridercanseenofurtherthanhisownnose!Yetintothesaddlewillthatfoolclimb—spectaclesandall!Oh,thefolly,thefollyofsuchthings!”Andthespeakerspatderisively.
“Thatmaybetrue,”saidhiswife.“Yetyoumustnotgetangryaboutit.
