Мертвые души

           Whither,Iwonder,haveyourfugitivefeetcarriedyou?DidyoufarehardlyatPlushkin’s,orwasitthatyournaturalinclinationsledyoutopreferroamingthewildsandplunderingtravellers?Areyou,bythistime,ingaol,orhaveyoutakenservicewithothermastersforthetillageoftheirlands?‘EremeiKariakin,NikitaVolokitaandAntonVolokita(sonoftheforegoing).’Tojudgefromyoursurnames,youwouldseemtohavebeenborngadabouts29.‘Popov,householdserf.’Probablyyouareaneducatedman,goodPopov,andgoinforpolitethieving,asdistinguishedfromthemorevulgarcut-throatsort.Inmymind’seyeIseemtoseeaCaptainofRuralPolicechallengingyouforbeingwithoutapassport;whereuponyoustakeyouralluponasinglethrow.‘Towhomdoyoubelong?’askstheCaptain,probablyaddingtohisquestionaforcibleexpletive.‘Tosuchandsuchalandowner,’stoutlyyoureply.‘Andwhatareyoudoinghere?’continuestheCaptain.‘Ihavejustreceivedpermissiontogoandearnmyobrok,’isyourfluentexplanation.‘Thenwhereisyourpassport?’‘AtMiestchanin30Pimenov’s.’‘Pimenov’s?ThenareyouPimenovhimself?’‘Yes,IamPimenovhimself.’‘Hehasgivenyouhispassport?’‘No,hehasnotgivenmehispassport.’‘Come,come!’shoutstheCaptainwithanotherforcibleexpletive.‘Youarelying!’‘No,Iamnot,’isyourdoggedreply.‘ItisonlythatlastnightIcouldnotreturnhimhispassport,becauseIcamehomelate;soIhandedittoAntipProchorov,thebell-ringer,forhimtotakecareof.