Мертві душі
Chapter 4
AclothofthatkindIDOpossess,sir,andthoughexcessiveinprice,itisofaqualitytomatch.”
Carryingtherollofstufftothelight—evensteppingintothestreetforthepurpose—theshopmanunfoldedhisprizewiththewords,“Atrulybeautifulshade!Aclothofsmokedgrey,shotwithflamecolour!”
Thematerialmetwiththecustomer’sapproval,apricewasagreedupon,andwithincredibleceleritythevendormadeupthepurchaseintoabrown-paperparcel,andstoweditawayinChichikov’skoliaska.
Atthismomentavoiceaskedtobeshownablackfrockcoat.
“Thedeviltakemeifitisn’tKhlobuev!”mutteredourhero,turninghisbackuponthenewcomer.Unfortunatelytheotherhadseenhim.
“Come,come,PaulIvanovitch!”heexpostulated.“Surelyyoudonotintendtooverlookme?Ihavebeensearchingforyoueverywhere,forIhavesomethingimportanttosaytoyou.”
“Mydearsir,myverydearsir,”saidChichikovashepressedKhlobuev’shand,“Icanassureyouthat,hadIthenecessaryleisure,Ishouldatalltimesbecharmedtoconversewithyou.”Andmentallyheadded:“WouldthattheEvilOnewouldflyawaywithyou!”
AlmostatthesametimeMurazov,thegreatlandowner,enteredtheshop.Ashedidsoourherohastenedtoexclaim:“Why,itisAthanasiVassilievitch!HowAREyou,myverydearsir?”
“Wellenough,”repliedMurazov,removinghiscap(Khlobuevandtheshopmanhadalreadydonethesame).“How,mayIask,areYOU?”
“Butpoorly,”repliedChichikov,“foroflateIhavebeentroubledwithindigestion,andmysleepisbad.
