Мертві душі
Chapter 3
“Andsoforth,andsoforth.Yetwhatarethe‘higheramenitiesoflife’?Whatgoodcantheydotoanyone?Evenifalandownerofthedaysetsupalibrary,heneverlooksatasinglebookinit,butsoonrelapsesintocard-playing—theusualpursuit.YetfolkcallmenamessimplybecauseIdonotwastemymeansuponthegivingofdinners!OnereasonwhyIdonotgivesuchdinnersisthattheywearyme;andanotherreasonisthatIamnotusedtothem.Butcomeyoutomyhouseforthepurposeoftakingpotluck,andIshallbedelightedtoseeyou.Also,folkfoolishlysaythatIlendmoneyoninterest;whereasthetruthisthatifyoushouldcometomewhenyouarereallyinneed,andshouldexplaintomeopenlyhowyouproposetoemploymymoney,andIshouldperceivethatyouarepurposingtousethatmoneywisely,andthatyouarereallylikelytoprofitthereby—well,inthatcaseyouwouldfindmereadytolendyouallthatyoumightaskwithoutinterestatall.”
“Thatisathingwhichitiswelltoknow,”reflectedChichikov.
“Yes,”repeatedKostanzhoglo,“underthosecircumstancesIshouldneverrefuseyoumyassistance.ButIdoobjecttothrowingmymoneytothewinds.Pardonmeforexpressingmyselfsoplainly.Tothinkoflendingmoneytoamanwhoismerelydevisingadinnerforhismistress,orplanningtofurnishhishouselikealunatic,orthinkingoftakinghisparamourtoamaskedballorajubileeinhonourofsomeonewhohadbetterneverhavebeenborn!”
And,spitting,hecameneartoventingsomeexpressionwhichwouldscarcelyhavebeenbecominginthepresenceofhiswife.
