Мертві душі
Chapter 4
Likewisenightingaleswerewarblingfromtherecessesofthefoliage,andsomewoodtulipswereglowingyellowinthegrass.Next(andalmostbeforeChichikovhadrealisedhowhecametobeinsuchabeautifulspotwhen,butamomentbefore,therehadbeenvisibleonlyopenfields)thereglimmeredamongthetreesthestonywhitenessofachurch,with,onthefurthersideofit,theintermittent,foliage-buriedlineofafence;whilefromtheupperendofavillagestreettherewasadvancingtomeetthevehicleagentlemanwithacaponhishead,aknottedcudgelinhishands,andaslender-limbedEnglishdogbyhisside.
“Thisismybrother,”saidPlaton.“Stop,coachman.”Andhedescendedfromthekoliaska,whileChichikovfollowedhisexample.Yarbandthestrangedogsalutedoneanother,andthentheactive,thin-legged,slender-tonguedAzorrelinquishedhislickingofYarb’sbluntjowl,lickedPlaton’shandsinstead,and,leapinguponChichikov,slobberedrightintohisear.
Thetwobrothersembraced.
“Really,Platon,”saidthegentleman(whosenamewasVassili),“whatdoyoumeanbytreatingmelikethis?”
“Howso?”saidPlatonindifferently.
“What?ForthreedayspastIhaveseenandheardnothingofyou!AgroomfromPietukh’sbroughtyourcobhome,andtoldmeyouhaddepartedonanexpeditionwithsomebarin.Atleastyoumighthavesentmewordastoyourdestinationandtheprobablelengthofyourabsence.Whatmadeyouactso?GodknowswhatIhavenotbeenwondering!”
“Doesitmatter?”rejoinedPlaton.
