Мертвые души
Chapter 6
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“Mydearsir!Mygoodbenefactor!”InhisdelightPlushkinlostsightofthefactthathisnosewascakedwithsnuffoftheconsistencyofthickcoffee,andthathiscoathadpartedinfrontandwasdisclosingsomeveryunseemlyunderclothing.“Whatcomfortyouhavebroughttoanoldman!Yes,asGodismywitness!”
Forthemomenthecouldsaynomore.Yetbarelyaminutehadelapsedbeforethisinstantaneouslyarousedemotionhad,asinstantaneously,disappearedfromhiswoodenfeatures.Oncemoretheyassumedacarewornexpression,andheevenwipedhisfacewithhishandkerchief,thenrolleditintoaball,andrubbedittoandfroagainsthisupperlip.
“Ifitwillnotannoyyouagaintostatetheproposal,”hewenton,“whatyouundertaketodoistopaytheannualtaxuponthesesouls,andtoremitthemoneyeithertomeortotheTreasury?”
“Yes,thatishowitshallbedone.Wewilldrawupadeedofpurchaseasthoughthesoulswerestillaliveandyouhadsoldthemtomyself.”
“Quiteso—adeedofpurchase,”echoedPlushkin,oncemorerelapsingintothoughtandthechewingmotionofthelips.“Butadeedofsuchakindwillentailcertainexpenses,andlawyersaresodevoidofconscience!Infact,soextortionateistheiravaricethattheywillchargeonehalfarouble,andthenasackofflour,andthenawholewaggon-loadofmeal.Iwonderthatnoonehasyetcalledattentiontothesystem.”
UponthatChichikovintimatedthat,outofrespectforhishost,hehimselfwouldbearthecostofthetransferofsouls.
