Мертві душі
Chapter 4
Chichikovhasnothingtodowithme,orIwithhim,yethereishecomefromGodknowswhere,andlandedintheveryspotwhereIhappentobeliving!Imaytellyouthat,nomatterhowmanycarriagesIpossessed,Ishouldgamblethelotaway.RecentlyIwentinforaturnatbilliards,andlosttwojarsofpomade,achinateapot,andaguitar.ThenIstakedsomemorethings,and,likeafool,lostthemall,andsixroublesinaddition.WhatadogisthatKuvshinnikov!HeandIattendednearlyeveryballintheplace.Inparticular,therewasawoman—decolletee,andsuchaswell!Imerelythoughttomyself,‘Thedeviltakeher!’butKuvshinnikovissuchawagthathesatdownbesideher,andbeganpayingherstringsofcomplimentsinFrench.However,Ididnotneglectthedamselsaltogether—althoughHEcallsthatsortofthing‘goinginforstrawberries.’Bytheway,Ihaveasplendidpieceoffishandsomecaviarewithme.‘TisallIHAVEbroughtback!InfactitisaluckychancethatIhappenedtobuythestuffbeforemymoneywasgone.Whereareyoufor?”
“Iamabouttocallonafriend.”
“Onwhatfriend?Lethimgotothedevil,andcometomyplaceinstead.”
“Icannot,Icannot.Ihavebusinesstodo.”
“Oh,businessagain!Ithoughtso!”
“ButIHAVEbusinesstodo—andpressingbusinessatthat.”
“Iwagerthatyou’relying.Ifnot,tellmewhomyou’regoingtocallupon.”
“UponSobakevitch.”
InstantlyNozdrevburstintoalaughcompassableonlybyahealthymaninwhoseheadeverytoothstillremainsaswhiteassugar.
