Мертві душі
Chapter 4
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“Ishouldbeashamedtotroubleyouwithsuchanunpleasantcommission,”repliedVassili.“HeisamanwhomItaketobeanutterrascal.Originallyamemberofafamilyofplaindvorianeinthisprovince,heenteredtheCivilServiceinSt.Petersburg,thenmarriedsomeone’snaturaldaughterinthatcity,andhasreturnedtolorditwithahighhand.Icannotbearthetoneheadopts.Ourfolkarebynomeansfools.TheydonotlookuponthecurrentfashionastheTsar’sukazanymorethantheylookuponSt.PetersburgastheChurch.”
“Naturally,”saidChichikov.“Buttellmemoreoftheparticularsofthequarrel.”
“Theyarethese.Heneedsadditionallandand,hadhenotactedashehasdone,Iwouldhavegivenhimsomelandelsewherefornothing;but,asitis,thepestilentfellowhastakenitintohisheadto—”
“IthinkIhadbettergoandhaveatalkwithhim.Thatmightsettletheaffair.Severaltimeshavepeoplechargedmewithsimilarcommissions,andneverhavetheyrepentedofit.GeneralBetristchevisanexample.”
“NeverthelessIamashamedthatyoushouldbeputtotheannoyanceofhavingtoconversewithsuchafellow.”
[Atthispointthereoccursalonghiatus.]
“Andaboveallthings,suchatransactionwouldneedtobecarriedthroughinsecret,”saidChichikov.“True,thelawdoesnotforbidsuchthings,butthereisalwaystheriskofascandal.”
“Quiteso,quiteso,”saidLienitsinwithheadbentdown.
“Thenweagree!”exclaimedChichikov.“Howcharming!AsIsay,mybusinessisbothlegalandillegal.
