Мертві душі
Chapter 3
Also,ChichikovhadtakenalarmathiscontinuedfailuretocatchsightofSobakevitch’scountryhouse.Accordingtohiscalculations,itoughttohavebeenreachedlongago.Hegazedabouthimoneveryside,butthedarknesswastoodensefortheeyetopierce.
“Selifan!”heexclaimed,leaningforwardinthebritchka.
“Whatisit,barin?”repliedthecoachman.
“Canyouseethecountryhouseanywhere?”
“No,barin.”Afterwhich,withaflourishofthewhip,themanbrokeintoasortofendless,drawlingsong.Inthatsongeverythinghadaplace.By“everything”ImeanboththevariousencouragingandstimulatingcrieswithwhichRussianfolkurgeontheirhorses,andarandom,unpremeditatedselectionofadjectives.
MeanwhileChichikovbegantonoticethatthebritchkawasswayingviolently,anddealinghimoccasionalbumps.Consequentlyhesuspectedthatithadlefttheroadandwasbeingdraggedoveraploughedfield.UponSelifan’smindthereappearedtohavedawnedasimilarinkling,forhehadceasedtoholdforth.
“Yourascal,whatroadareyoufollowing?”inquiredChichikov.
“Idon’tknow,”retortedthecoachman.“Whatcanamandoatatimeofnightwhenthedarknesswon’tlethimevenseehiswhip?”AndasSelifanspokethevehicletiltedtoananglewhichleftChichikovnochoicebuttohangonwithhandsandteeth.AtlengthherealisedthefactthatSelifanwasdrunk.
“Stop,stop,oryouwillupsetus!”heshoutedtothefellow.
“No,no,barin,”repliedSelifan.“HOWcouldIupsetyou?Toupsetpeopleiswrong.
