Мертві душі
Chapter 4
GodknowswhetherIshallsucceedincalmingthem,butatleastnotchinovnikcoulddoso,forofficialsofthekindmerelydrawupreportsandlosetheirwayamongtheirowndocuments—withtheresultthatnothingcomesofit.NorwillIacceptfromyouanymoneyforthesepurposes,sinceIamashamedtodevoteasmuchasathoughttomyownpocketatatimewhenmenaredyingofhunger.Ihavealargestockofgrainlyinginmygranaries;inadditiontowhich,IhavesentorderstoSiberiathatanewconsignmentshallbeforwardedmebeforethecomingsummer.”
“OfasuretywillGodrewardyouforyourservices,AthanasiVassilievitch!NotanotherwordwillIsaytoyouonthesubject,foryouyourselffeelthatanywordsfrommewouldbeinadequate.Yettellmeonething:Irefertothecaseofwhichyouknow.HaveItherighttopassoverthecase?Also,woulditbejustandhonourableonmyparttolettheoffendingtchinovniksgounpunished?”
“YourHighness,itisimpossibletoreturnadefiniteanswertothosetwoquestions:andthemoresobecausemanyrascalsareatheartmenofrectitude.Humanproblemsaredifficultthingstosolve.Sometimesamanmaybedrawnintoaviciouscircle,sothat,havingonceenteredit,heceasestobehimself.
