Мертві душі
Chapter 4
“Atyourrespectedbrother-in-law’sItastedthefinestsyrupwhichhasevercomemyway,buthereIhavetastedtheveryfinestkvass.”
“Yettherecipeforthesyrupalsocamefromhere,”saidVassili,“seeingthatmysistertookitwithher.Bytheway,towhatpartofthecountry,andtowhatplaces,areyouthinkingoftravelling?”
“Totellthetruth,”repliedChichikov,rockinghimselftoandfroonthebench,andsmoothinghiskneewithhishand,andgentlyinclininghishead,“Iamtravellinglessonmyownaffairsthanontheaffairsofothers.Thatistosay,GeneralBetristchev,anintimatefriend,and,Imightadd,agenerousbenefactorofmine,haschargedmewithcommissionstosomeofhisrelatives.Nevertheless,thoughrelativesarerelatives,ImaysaythatIamtravellingonmyownaccountaswell,inthat,inadditiontopossiblebenefittomyhealth,Idesiretoseetheworldandthewhirligigofhumanity,whichconstitute,tosospeak,alivingbook,asecondcourseofeducation.”
Vassilitookthought.“Themanspeaksfloridly,”hereflected,“yethiswordscontainacertainelementoftruth.”Afteramoment’ssilenceheaddedtoPlaton:“Iambeginningtothinkthatthetourmighthelpyoutobestiryourself.Atpresentyouareinaconditionofmentalslumber.Youhavefallenasleep,notsomuchfromwearinessorsatiety,asthroughalackofvividperceptionsandimpressions.Formyself,Iamyourcompleteantithesis.IshouldbeonlytoogladifIcouldfeellessacutely,ifIcouldtakethingslesstoheart.
