Мертві душі
Chapter 3
”
“Ah!Ihaveheardofhimbefore,”remarkedChichikov.
“Heisamanwho,werehenotthedirectorofanestate,mightwellbeadirectoroftheEmpire.AndweretheEmpireundermydirection,IshouldatonceappointhimmyMinisterofFinance.”
“Ihaveheardtalesbeyondbeliefconcerninghim—forinstance,thathehasacquiredtenmillionroubles.”
“Ten?Morethanforty.SoonhalfRussiawillbeinhishands.”
“Youdon’tsayso?”criedChichikovinamazement.
“Yes,certainly.Themanwhohasonlyahundredthousandroublestoworkwithgrowsrichbutslowly,whereashewhohasmillionsathisdisposalcanoperateoveragreaterradius,andsobackwhatsoeverheundertakeswithtwiceorthricethemoneywhichcanbebroughtagainsthim.Consequentlyhisfieldbecomessospaciousthatheendsbyhavingnorivals.Yes,noonecancompetewithhim,and,whatsoeverpricehemayfixforagivencommodity,atthatpriceitwillhavetoremain,norwillanymanbeabletooutbidit.”
“MyGod!”mutteredChichikov,crossinghimself,andstaringatKostanzhoglowithhisbreathcatchinginhisthroat.“Themindcannotgraspit—itpetrifiesone’sthoughtswithawe.YouseefolkmarvellingatwhatSciencehasachievedinthematterofinvestigatingthehabitsofcowbugs,buttomeitisafarmoremarvellousthingthatinthehandsofasinglemortaltherecanbecomeaccumulatedsuchgiganticsumsofmoney.
