Мертві душі
Chapter 4
WhereasPlatonhadceasedtothinkofKhlobuevnomorethanhehadceasedtothinkofhimself,Chichikov’smindhadstrayedelsewhere,forthereasonthatithadbecometakenupwithgravemeditationonthesubjectofthepurchasejustmade.Suddenlyfindinghimselfnolongerafictitiousproprietor,buttheownerofareal,anactuallyexisting,estate,hebecamecontemplative,andhisplansandideasassumedsuchaseriousveinasimpartedtohisfeaturesanunconsciouslyimportantair.
“Patienceandhardwork!”hemutteredtohimself.“Thethingwillnotbedifficult,forwiththosetworequisitesIhavebeenfamiliarfromthedaysofmyswaddlingclothes.Yes,nonoveltywilltheybetome.Yet,inmiddleage,shallIbeabletocompassthepatiencewhereofIwascapableinmyyouth?”
However,nomatterhowheregardedthefuture,andnomatterfromwhatpointofviewheconsideredhisrecentacquisition,hecouldseenothingbutadvantagelikelytoaccruefromthebargain.Foronething,hemightbeabletoproceedsothat,firstthewholeoftheestateshouldbemortgaged,andthenthebetterportionsoflandsoldoutright.Orhemightsocontrivemattersastomanagethepropertyforawhile(andthusbecomealandownerlikeKostanzhoglo,whoseadvice,ashisneighbourandhisbenefactor,heintendedalwaystofollow),andthentodisposeofthepropertybyprivatetreaty(providedhedidnotwishtocontinuehisownership),andstilltoretaininhishandsthedeadandabandonedsouls.Andanotherpossiblecoupoccurredtohismind.
