Мертвые души
Chapter 11
“Doyoumeantoruinme,andtobreakallourbonesontheroad,youcursedidiot?Forthesethreeweekspastyouhavebeendoingnothingatall;yetnow,atthelastmoment,youcomeherestammeringandplayingthefool!DoyouthinkIkeepyoujusttoeatandtodriveyourselfabout?Youmusthaveknownofthisbefore?Didyou,ordidyounot,knowit?Answermeatonce.”
“Yes,Ididknowit,”repliedSelifan,hanginghishead.
“Thenwhydidn’tyoutellmeaboutit?”
Selifanhadnoreplyimmediatelyready,socontinuedtohanghisheadwhilequietlysayingtohimself:“SeehowwellIhavemanagedthings!Iknewwhatwasthematter,yetIdidnotsay.”
“Andnow,”continuedChichikov,“goyouatonceandfetchablacksmith.Tellhimthateverythingmustbeputrightwithintwohoursatthemost.Doyouhear?Ifthatshouldnotbedone,I,I—Iwillgiveyouthebestfloggingthateveryouhadinyourlife.”TrulyChichikovwasalmostbesidehimselfwithfury.
Turningtowardsthedoor,asthoughforthepurposeofgoingandcarryingouthisorders,Selifanhaltedandadded:
“Thatskewbald,barin—youmightthinkitwelltosellhim,seeingthatheisnothingbutarascal?Ahorselikethatismoreofahindrancethanahelp.”
“What?DoyouexpectmetogoNOWtothemarket-placeandsellhim?”
“Well,PaulIvanovitch,heisgoodfornothingbutshow,sincebynatureheisamostcunningbeast.NeverinmylifehaveIseensuchahorse.”
“Fool!WheneverImaywishtosellhimISHALLsellhim.
