Мертві душі
Chapter 4
“Ifeelasthoughnotasinglehonesttchinovnikwereavailable—asthougheveryoneofthemwerearogue.”
“YourHighness,whichofusisaltogetherbeyondreproach?Thetchinovniksofourtownarehumanbeings,andnomore.Someofthemaremenofworth,andnearlyallofthemmenskilledinbusiness—thoughalso,unfortunately,largelyinter-related.”
“Now,tellmethis,AthanasiVassilievitch,”saidthePrince,“foryouareabouttheonlyhonestmanofmyacquaintance.Whathasinspiredinyousuchapenchantfordefendingrascals?”
“This,”repliedMurazov.“Takeanymanyoulikeofthepersonswhomyouthustermrascals.Thatmannonethelessremainsahumanbeing.Thatbeingso,howcanonerefusetodefendhimwhenallthetimeoneknowsthathalfhiserrorshavebeencommittedthroughignoranceandstupidity?Eachofuscommitsfaultswitheverystepthatwetake;eachofusentailsunhappinessuponotherswitheverybreaththatwedraw—andthatalthoughwemayhavenoevilintentionwhateverinourminds.YourHighnesshimselfhas,beforenow,committedaninjusticeofthegravestnature.”
“Ihave?”criedthePrince,takenabackbythisunexpectedturngiventotheconversation.
Murazovremainedsilentforamoment,asthoughheweredebatingsomethinginhisthoughts.Thenhesaid:
“NeverthelessitisasIsay.YoucommittedtheinjusticeinthecaseoftheladDierpiennikov.
