Мертві душі
Chapter 4
Iamguilty—yes,Iamguilty;butIamnotsoguiltyasyouthink,forIwasledawaybyrascals.”
“Thatanyonecanhaveledyouawayisimpossible,”retortedthePrince.“Recordedagainstyournametherestandmorefeloniesthaneventhemosthardenedliarcouldhaveinvented.Ibelievethatneverinyourlifehaveyoudoneadeednotinnatelydishonourable—thatnotakopeckhaveyoueverobtainedbyaughtbutshamefulmethodsoftrickeryandtheft,thepenaltyforwhichisSiberiaandtheknut.Butenoughofthis!Fromthisroomyouwillbeconveyedtoprison,where,withotherroguesandthieves,youwillbeconfineduntilyourtrialmaycomeon.Andthisislenienttreatmentonmypart,foryouareworse,farworse,thanthefelonswhowillbeyourcompanions.THEYarebutpoormeninsmocksandsheepskins,whereasYOU—”Withoutconcludinghiswords,thePrinceshotaglanceatChichikov’ssmoked-grey-shot-with-flame-colourapparel.
Thenhetouchedabell.
“YourHighness,”criedChichikov,“havemercyuponme!Youarethefatherofafamily!Sparemeforthesakeofmyagedmother!”
“Rubbish!”exclaimedthePrince.
