Мертві душі
Chapter 4
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“ButwhatwouldthetchinovnikssayifIallowedthecasetobepassedover?Wouldnotsomeofthemturnuptheirnosesatme,anddeclarethattheyhaveeffectedmyintimidation?Surelytheywouldbethelastpersonsintheworldtorespectmeformyaction?”
“YourHighness,Ithinkthis:thatyourbestcoursewouldbetocallthemtogether,andtoinformthemthatyouknoweverything,andtoexplaintothemyourpersonalattitude(exactlyasyouhaveexplainedittome),andtoendbyatoncerequestingtheiradviceandaskingthemwhateachofthemwouldhavedonehadhebeenplacedinsimilarcircumstances.”
“What?Youthinkthatthosetchinovnikswouldbesoaccessibletoloftymotivesthattheywouldceasethereaftertobevenalandmeticulous?Ishouldbelaughedatformypains.”
“Ithinknot,yourHighness.Eventhebasersectionofhumanitypossessesacertainsenseofequity.Yourwisestplan,yourHighness,wouldbetoconcealnothingandtospeaktothemasyouhavejustspokentome.If,atpresent,theyimagineyoutobeambitiousandproudandunapproachableandself-assured,youractionwouldaffordthemanopportunityofseeinghowthecasereallystands.Whyshouldyouhesitate?Youwouldbutbeexercisingyourundoubtedright.Speaktothemasthoughdeliveringnotamessageofyourown,butamessagefromGod.”
“Iwillthinkitover,”thePrincesaidmusingly,“andmeanwhileIthankyoufrommyheartforyourgoodadvice.”
“Also,IshouldorderChichikovtoleavethetown,”suggestedMurazov.
“Yes,Iwilldoso.
