Мертві душі
Chapter 4
Idonotgetsufficientexercise.”
However,insteadofprobingdeeperintothesubjectofChichikov’sailments,MurazovturnedtoKhlobuev.
“Isawyouentertheshop,”hesaid,“andthereforefollowedyou,forIhavesomethingimportantforyourear.Couldyousparemeaminuteortwo?”
“Certainly,certainly,”saidKhlobuev,andthepairlefttheshoptogether.
“Iwonderwhatisafootbetweenthem,”saidChichikovtohimself.
“Awiseandnoblegentleman,AthanasiVassilievitch!”remarkedthetradesman.Chichikovmadenoreplysaveagesture.
“PaulIvanovitch,Ihavebeenlookingforyoueverywhere,”Lienitsin’svoicesaidfrombehindhim,whileagainthetradesmanhastenedtoremovehiscap.“Praycomehomewithme,forIhavesomethingtosaytoyou.”
Chichikovscannedthespeaker’sface,butcouldmakenothingofit.Payingthetradesmanforthecloth,helefttheshop.
MeanwhileMurazovhadconveyedKhlobuevtohisrooms.
“Tellme,”hesaidtohisguest,“exactlyhowyouraffairsstand.Itakeitthat,afterall,yourauntleftyousomething?”
“Itwouldbedifficulttosaywhetherornotmyaffairsareimproved,”repliedKhlobuev.“True,fiftysoulsandthirtythousandroublescametomefromMadameKhanasarova,butIhadtopaythemawaytosatisfymydebts.ConsequentlyIamoncemoredestitute.Buttheimportantpointisthattherewastrickeryconnectedwiththelegacy,andshamefultrickeryatthat.
