Мертвые души
Chapter 2
Presentlytherecameintoviewalsostringsofcountryvillaswhich,withtheircarvedsupportsandgreyroofs(thelatterlookinglikependent,embroideredtablecloths),resembled,rather,bundlesofoldfaggots.Likewisethecustomarypeasants,dressedinsheepskinjackets,couldbeseenyawningonbenchesbeforetheirhuts,whiletheirwomenfolk,fatoffeatureandswathedofbosom,gazedoutofupperwindows,andthewindowsbelowdisplayed,hereapeeringcalf,andtheretheunsightlyjawsofapig.Inshort,theviewwasoneofthefamiliartype.Afterpassingthefifteenthverst-stoneChichikovsuddenlyrecollectedthat,accordingtoManilov,fifteenverstswastheexactdistancebetweenhiscountryhouseandthetown;butthesixteenthverststoneflewby,andthesaidcountryhousewasstillnowheretobeseen.Infact,butforthecircumstancethatthetravellershappenedtoencounteracoupleofpeasants,theywouldhavecomeontheirerrandinvain.ToaqueryastowhetherthecountryhouseknownasZamanilovkawasanywhereintheneighbourhoodthepeasantsrepliedbydoffingtheircaps;afterwhichoneofthemwhoseemedtoboastofalittlemoreintelligencethanhiscompanion,andwhoworeawedge-shapedbeard,madeanswer:
“PerhapsyoumeanManilovka—notZAmanilovka?”
“Yes,yes—Manilovka.”
“Manilovka,eh?Well,youmustcontinueforanotherverst,andthenyouwillseeitstraightbeforeyou,ontheright.”
“Ontheright?”re-echoedthecoachman.
“Yes,ontheright,”affirmedthepeasant.“YouareontheproperroadforManilovka,butZAmanilovka—well,thereisnosuchplace.
