Мертві душі
Chapter 4
“IfIcouldcatchyoualone,youlittledevil,”hemutteredtohimself,“I’dshootyou!”
Host,hostessandnurseallranforeau-de-Cologne,andfromthreesidessetthemselvestorubthespotaffected.
“Nevermind,nevermind;itisnothing,”saidChichikovashestrovetocommunicatetohisfeaturesascheerfulanexpressionaspossible.“Whatdoesitmatterwhatachildmayspoilduringthegoldenageofitsinfancy?”
Tohimselfheremarked:“Thelittlebrute!Woulditcouldbedevouredbywolves.Ithasmadeonlytoogoodashot,thecussedyoungragamuffin!”
How,afterthis—aftertheguesthadshownsuchinnocentaffectionforthelittleone,andmagnanimouslypaidforhissodoingwithabrand-newsuit—couldthefatherremainobdurate?Nevertheless,toavoidsettingabadexampletothecountryside,heandChichikovagreedtocarrythroughthetransactionPRIVATELY,lest,otherwise,ascandalshouldarise.
“Inreturn,”saidChichikov,“wouldyouminddoingmethefollowingfavour?IdesiretomediateinthematterofyourdifferencewiththeBrothersPlatonov.Ibelievethatyouwishtoacquiresomeadditionalland?Isnotthatso?”
[Herethereoccursahiatusintheoriginal.]
Everythinginlifefulfilsitsfunction,andChichikov’stourinsearchofafortunewascarriedoutsosuccessfullythatnotalittlemoneypassedintohispockets.Thesystememployedwasagoodone:hedidnotsteal,hemerelyused.
