Мертвые души
Chapter 2
InsufferingIhavebeenswathedandwrappeduntilIhavecometobe,asitwere,sufferingpersonified;whileoftheextenttowhichmylifehasbeensoughtbyfoes,nowords,nocolouring,no(ifImaysoexpressit?)painter’sbrushcouldeverconveytoyouanadequateidea.Andnow,atlength,inmydecliningyears,Iamseekingacornerinwhichtoekeouttheremainderofmymiserableexistence,whileatthepresentmomentIamenjoyingthehospitalityofaneighbourofyouracquaintance.”
“Andwhoisthat?”
“YourneighbourTientietnikov,yourExcellency.”
UponthattheGeneralfrowned.
“Ledmeadd,”putinChichikovhastily,“thathegreatlyregretsthatonaformeroccasionheshouldhavefailedtoshowaproperrespectfor—for—”
“Forwhat?”askedtheGeneral.
“FortheservicestothepublicwhichyourExcellencyhasrendered.Indeed,hecannotfindwordstoexpresshissorrow,butkeepsrepeatingtohimself:‘WouldthatIhadvaluedattheirtrueworththemenwhohavesavedourfatherland!’”
“Andwhyshouldhesaythat?”askedthemollifiedGeneral.“Ibearhimnogrudge.Infact,Ihavenevercherishedaughtbutasincerelikingforhim,asincereesteem,anddonotdoubtbutthat,intime,hemaybecomeausefulmemberofsociety.”
“Inthewordswhichyouhavebeengoodenoughtoutter,”saidChichikovwithabow,“thereisembodiedmuchjustice.Yes,Tientietnikovisinverytruthamanofworth.Notonlydoeshepossessthegiftofeloquence,butalsoheisamasterofthepen.
