Мертві душі
Chapter 4
Thatistosay,hemightcontrivetowithdrawfromthedistrictwithouthavingrepaidKostanzhogloatall!Trulyasplendididea!YetitisonlyfairtosaythattheideawasnotoneofChichikov’sownconception.Rather,ithadpresenteditself—mocking,laughing,andwinking—unbidden.Yettheimpudent,thewantonthing!Whoistheprocreatorofsuddenlybornideasofthekind?Thethoughtthathewasnowareal,anactual,proprietorinsteadofafictitious—thathewasnowaproprietorofrealland,realrightsoftimberandpasture,andrealserfswhoexistednotonlyintheimagination,butalsoinveritableactuality—greatlyelatedourhero.Sohetooktodancingupanddowninhisseat,torubbinghishandstogether,towinkingathimself,toholdinghisfist,trumpet-wise,tohismouth(whilemakingbelievetoexecuteamarch),andeventoutteringaloudsuchencouragingnicknamesandphrasesas“bulldog”and“littlefatcapon.”Thensuddenlyrecollectingthathewasnotalone,hehastenedtomoderatehisbehaviourandendeavouredtostifletheendlessflowofhisgoodspirits;withtheresultthatwhenPlaton,mistakingcertainsoundsforutterancesaddressedtohimself,inquiredwhathiscompanionhadsaid,thelatterretainedthepresenceofmindtoreply“Nothing.”
Presently,asChichikovgazedabouthim,hesawthatforsometimepastthekoliaskahadbeenskirtingabeautifulwood,andthatoneithersidetheroadwasborderedwithanedgingofbirchtrees,thetenderly-green,recently-openedleavesofwhichcausedtheirtall,slendertrunkstoshowupwiththewhitenessofasnowdrift.
