Мертві душі
Chapter 2
“Forwhatpurposedoyouwantit?”inquiredManilovwhenthebailiffhadgone.
Thequestionseemedtoembarrasstheguest,forinChichikov’sfacetheredawnedasortoftenseexpression,anditreddenedasthoughitsownerwerestrivingtoexpresssomethingnoteasytoputintowords.Trueenough,Manilovwasnowdestinedtohearsuchstrangeandunexpectedthingsasneverbeforehadgreetedhumanears.
“Youaskme,”saidChichikov,“forwhatpurposeIwantthelist.Well,mypurposeinwantingitisthis—thatIdesiretopurchaseafewpeasants.”Andhebrokeoffinagulp.
“ButmayIaskHOWyoudesiretopurchasethosepeasants?”askedManilov.“Withland,ormerelyassoulsfortransferment—thatistosay,bythemselves,andwithoutanyland?”
“Iwantthepeasantsthemselvesonly,”repliedChichikov.“AndIwantdeadonesatthat.”
“What?—Excuseme,butIamatrifledeaf.Really,yourwordssoundmoststrange!”
“AllthatIamproposingtodo,”repliedChichikov,“istopurchasethedeadpeasantswho,atthelastcensus,werereturnedbyyouasalive.”
Manilovdroppedhispipeonthefloor,andsatgaping.Yes,thetwofriendswhohadjustbeendiscussingthejoysofcamaraderiesatstaringatoneanotherliketheportraitswhich,ofold,usedtohangonoppositesidesofamirror.AtlengthManilovpickeduphispipe,and,whiledoingso,glancedcovertlyatChichikovtoseewhethertherewasanytraceofasmiletobedetectedonhislips—whether,inshort,hewasjoking.Butnothingofthesortcouldbediscerned.
