Мертві душі
Chapter 4
“Indeed!”exclaimedChichikovashereflected:“Sohealsolendsmoney!”
IntheendChichikov’sdispatch-boxwasbroughtfromthekoliaska,andKhlobuevreceivedthencetenthousandroubles,togetherwithapromisethattheremainingfivethousandshouldbeforthcomingonthemorrow;thoughthepromisewasgivenonlyafterChichikovhadfirstproposedthatTHREEthousandshouldbebroughtonthedaynamed,andtherestbeleftoverfortwoorthreedayslonger,ifnotforastillmoreprotractedperiod.ThetruthwasthatPaulIvanovitchhatedpartingwithmoney.Nomatterhowurgentasituationmighthavebeen,hewouldstillhavepreferredtopayasumto-morrowratherthanto-day.Inotherwords,heactedaswealldo,forwealllikekeepingapetitionerwaiting.“Lethimrubhisbackinthehallforawhile,”wesay.“Surelyhecanbidehistimealittle?”Yetofthefactthateveryhourmaybeprecioustothepoorwretch,andthathisbusinessmaysufferfromthedelay,wetakenoaccount.“Goodsir,”wesay,“praycomeagainto-morrow.To-dayIhavenotimetospareyou.”
“Wheredoyouintendhenceforthtolive?”inquiredPlaton.“Haveyouanyotherpropertytowhichyoucanretire?”
“No,”repliedKhlobuev.“Ishallremovetothetown,whereIpossessasmallvilla.Thatwouldhavebeennecessary,inanycase,forthechildren’ssake.Yousee,theymusthaveinstructioninGod’sword,andalsolessonsinmusicanddancing;andnotforloveormoneycanthesethingsbeprocuredinthecountry.
“Nothingtoeat,yetdancinglessonsforhischildren!”reflectedChichikov.
