Chapter 27

           

           “IfI’donlythehearttothrowupwhat’sbeensetgoing...suchalotoftroublewasted...I’dturnmybackonthewholebusiness,sellup,goofflikeNikolayIvanovitch...tohearLaBelleHélène,”saidthelandowner,apleasantsmilelightinguphisshrewdoldface.

           “Butyouseeyoudon’tthrowitup,”saidNikolayIvanovitchSviazhsky;“sotheremustbesomethinggained.”

           “TheonlygainisthatIliveinmyownhouse,neitherboughtnorhired.Besides,onekeepshopingthepeoplewilllearnsense.Though,insteadofthat,you’dneverbelieveitthedrunkenness,theimmorality!Theykeepchoppingandchangingtheirbitsofland.Notasightofahorseoracow.Thepeasant’sdyingofhunger,butjustgoandtakehimonasalaborer,he’lldohisbesttodoyouamischief,andthenbringyouupbeforethejusticeofthepeace.”

           “Butthenyoumakecomplaintstothejusticetoo,”saidSviazhsky.

           “Ilodgecomplaints?Notforanythingintheworld!Suchatalking,andsuchato-do,thatonewouldhavecausetoregretit.Attheworks,forinstance,theypocketedtheadvance-moneyandmadeoff.Whatdidthejusticedo?Why,acquittedthem.Nothingkeepstheminorderbuttheirowncommunalcourtandtheirvillageelder.He’llflogtheminthegoodoldstyle!Butforthatthere’dbenothingforitbuttogiveitallupandrunaway.”

           ObviouslythelandownerwaschaffingSviazhsky,who,farfromresentingit,wasapparentlyamusedbyit.

           “Butyouseewemanageourlandwithoutsuchextrememeasures,”saidhe,smiling:“LevinandIandthisgentleman.

Содержание книги
Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 564 из 1375