Мертві душі
Chapter 4
“Prayshakehandswithme,PaulIvanovitch.”
Chichikovofferedonehand,butnotboth.
“Icanshowyouapropertyworthyourattention,”wentonthemasteroftheestate.“MayIaskifyouhaveyetdined?”
“Yes,wehave,”putinConstantine,desirousofescapingassoonaspossible.“Tosaveyoufurthertrouble,letusgoandviewtheestateatonce.”
“Verywell,”repliedKhlobuev.“Praycomeandinspectmyirregularitiesandfutilities.Youhavedonewelltodinebeforehand,fornotsomuchasafowlisleftintheplace,sodirearetheextremitiestowhichyouseemereduced.”
Sighingdeeply,hetookPlatonbythearm(itwasclearthathedidnotlookforanysympathyfromConstantine)andwalkedahead,whileConstantineandChichikovfollowed.
“Thingsaregoinghardwithme,PlatonMikhalitch,”continuedKhlobuev.“Howhardyoucannotimagine.NomoneyhaveI,nofood,noboots.WereIstillyoungandabachelor,itwouldhavecomeeasytometoliveonbreadandcheese;butwhenamanisgrowingold,andhasgotawifeandfivechildren,suchtrialspressheavilyuponhim,and,inspiteofhimself,hisspiritssink.”
“But,shouldyousucceedinsellingtheestate,thatwouldhelptoputyouright,woulditnot?”saidPlaton.
“Howcoulditdoso?”repliedKhlobuevwithadespairinggesture.“WhatImightgetforthepropertywouldhavetogotowardsdischargingmydebts,andIshouldfindmyselfleftwithlessthanathousandroublesbesides.”
“Thenwhatdoyouintendtodo?”
“Godknows.
