Мертві душі
Chapter 3
Yes,allofasuddenthereburstfromhimablueflame,andhesmoulderedandsmouldereduntilhehadturnedasblackasapieceofcharcoal!Yetwhatacleverblacksmithhewas!AndnowIhavenohorsestodriveoutwith,forthereisnoonetoshoethem.”
“IneverythingthewillofGod,madam,”saidChichikovwithasigh.“Againstthedivinewisdomitisnotforustorebel.Prayhandthemovertome,NastasiaPetrovna.”
“Handoverwhom?”
“Thedeadpeasants.”
“ButhowcouldIdothat?”
“Quitesimply.Sellthemtome,andIwillgiveyousomemoneyinexchange.”
“ButhowamItosellthemtoyou?Iscarcelyunderstandwhatyoumean.AmItodigthemupagainfromtheground?”
Chichikovperceivedthattheoldladywasaltogetheratsea,andthathemustexplainthematter;whereforeinafewwordsheinformedherthatthetransferorpurchaseofthesoulsinquestionwouldtakeplacemerelyonpaper—thatthesaidsoulswouldbelistedasstillalive.
“Andwhatgoodwouldtheybetoyou?”askedhishostess,staringathimwithhereyesdistended.
“ThatisMYaffair.”
“ButtheyareDEADsouls.”
“Whosaidtheywerenot?Themerefactoftheirbeingdeadentailsuponyoualossasdeadasthesouls,foryouhavetocontinuepayingtaxuponthem,whereasMYplanistorelieveyoubothofthetaxandoftheresultanttrouble.NOWdoyouunderstand?AndIwillnotonlydoasIsay,butalsohandyouoverfifteenroublespersoul.Isthatclearenough?”
“Yes—butIdonotknow,”saidhishostessdiffidently.“Yousee,neverbeforehaveIsolddeadsouls.”
“Quiteso.
