Мертві душі
Chapter 4
InthedayswhenImyselfactedasachiefofgendarmeryIcameincontactwithagreatnumberofaccused—someofthembad,someofthemgood;andineachcaseIfounditwellalsotoconsideraman’spastcareer,forthereasonthat,unlessoneviewsthingscalmly,insteadofatoncedecryingaman,heisapttotakealarm,andtomakeitimpossiblethereaftertogetanyrealconfessionfromhim.If,ontheotherhand,youquestionamanasfriendmightquestionfriend,theresultwillbethatstraightwayhewilltellyoueverything,noraskformitigationofhispenalty,norbearyoutheleastmalice,inthathewillunderstandthatitisnotyouwhohavepunishedhim,butthelaw.”
ThePrincerelapsedintothought;untilpresentlythereenteredayoungtchinovnik.Portfolioinhand,thisofficialstoodwaitingrespectfully.Careandhardworkhadalreadyimprintedtheirinsigniauponhisfreshyoungface;forevidentlyhehadnotbeenintheServicefornothing.Asamatteroffact,hisgreatestjoywastolabouratatangledcase,andsuccessfullytounravelit.
[Atthispointalonghiatusoccursintheoriginal.]
“Iwillsendcorntothelocalitieswherefamineisworst,”saidMurazov,“forIunderstandthatsortofworkbetterthandothetchinovniks,andwillpersonallyseetotheneedsofeachperson.Also,ifyouwillallowme,yourHighness,IwillgoandhaveatalkwiththeRaskolniki.Theyaremorelikelytolistentoaplainmanthantoanofficial.
