Мертві душі
Chapter 3
Nevertheless,wipingawaytheperspiration,Chichikovresolvedtotrywhetherhecouldnotbringherbacktotheroadbyanotherpath.
“Madam,”hesaid,“eitheryouaredecliningtounderstandwhatIsayoryouaretalkingforthemeresakeoftalking.IfIhandyouoversomemoney—fifteenroublesforeachsoul,doyouunderstand?—itisMONEY,notsomethingwhichcanbepickeduphaphazardonthestreet.Forinstance,tellmehowmuchyousoldyourhoneyfor?”
“Fortwelveroublesperpood.”
“Ah!Thenbythosewords,madam,youhavelaidatriflingsinuponyoursoul;foryoudidNOTsellthehoneyfortwelveroubles.”
“BytheLordGodIdid!”
“Well,well!Nevermind.Honeyisonlyhoney.Now,youhadcollectedthatstuff,itmaybe,forayear,andwithinfinitecareandlabour.Youhadfussedafterit,youhadtrottedtoandfro,youhaddulyfrozenoutthebees,andyouhadfedtheminthecellarthroughoutthewinter.ButthesedeadsoulsofwhichIspeakarequiteanothermatter,forinthiscaseyouhaveputforthnoexertions—itwasmerelyGod’swillthattheyshouldleavetheworld,andthusdecreasethepersonnelofyourestablishment.Intheformercaseyoureceived(soyouallege)twelveroublesperpoodforyourlabour;butinthiscaseyouwillreceivemoneyforhavingdonenothingatall.Norwillyoureceivetwelveroublesperitem,butFIFTEEN—androublesnotinsilver,butroublesingoodpapercurrency.”
ThatthesepowerfulinducementswouldcertainlycausetheoldwomantoyieldChichikovhadnotadoubt.
“True,”hishostessreplied.
