Мертві душі
Chapter 3
Surelyonecanspeakonsuchsubjectswithoutlosingone’stemper?”
“AsIlistentoyou,mostworthyConstantineThedorovitch,”Chichikovhastenedtoremark,“itbecomesplaintomethatyouhavepenetratedintothemeaningoflife,andlaidyourfingerupontheessentialrootofthematter.Yetsupposing,foramoment,weleavetheaffairsofhumanityingeneral,andturnourattentiontoapurelyindividualaffair,mightIaskyouhow,inthecaseofamanbecomingalandowner,andhavingamindtogrowwealthyasquicklyaspossible(inorderthathemayfulfilhisboundenobligationsasacitizen),hecanbestsetaboutit?”
“Howhecanbestsetaboutgrowingwealthy?”repeatedKostanzhoglo.“Why,—”
“Letusgotosupper,”interruptedtheladyofthehouse,risingfromherchair,andmovingtowardsthecentreoftheroom,whereshewrappedhershiveringyoungforminashawl.Chichikovsprangupwiththealacrityofamilitaryman,offeredherhisarm,andescortedher,asonparade,tothedining-room,whereawaitingthemtherewasthesoup-toureen.Fromitthelidhadjustbeenremoved,andtheroomwasredolentofthefragrantodourofearlyspringrootsandherbs.Thecompanytooktheirseats,andatoncetheservantsplacedtheremainderofthedishes(undercovers)uponthetableandwithdrew,forKostanzhoglohatedtohaveservantslisteningtotheiremployers’conversation,andobjectedstillmoretotheirstaringathimallthewhilethathewaseating.
