Oblomov / Обломов. Книга для чтения на английском языке

Do grown-up people study anything? Hear what he says! Would a Court Councillor want to study? You studied at school, but are you studying now? And does he», Tarantyev pointed to Alexeyev, «study? Does that relative of his study? Can you think of any decent man who is studying? Do you imagine he is sitting in a German school and doing his lessons? Rubbish! I’ve heard he’s gone to look at some machine and order one like it: I suppose it is a press for printing Russian money! I’d put him in jail. Some sort of shares – Oh, these shares – they make me sick!»

Oblomov burst out laughing.

«What are you laughing at?» said Tarantyev. «Isn’t it true what I say?»

«Let’s drop the subject», Oblomov interrupted him. «You’d better go about your business, and I’ll write the letters with Alexeyev and try to put down my plan on paper as quickly as possible – may as well do it all at once».

Tarantyev went out, but came back immediately.

«I’ve quite forgotten!» he began, not at all as brusquely as before.

В«I came to you on business this morning. I am invited to a wedding to-morrow: Rokotov is getting married. Lend me your frock-coat, old man. Mine, you can see, is rather shabbyВ».

«But», said Oblomov, frowning at this new demand, «how can I? My coat won’t fit you».

В«It will, of course it will!В» Tarantyev interrupted. В«You remember I tried it on once: it might have been made for me! Zakhar! Zakhar! Come here, you old brute!В»

Zakhar growled like a bear, but did not come.

В«Call him, old manВ», Tarantyev pleaded. В«What a funny chap he is!В»

В«Zakhar!В» Oblomov called.

В«Oh, the devil take you!В» Zakhar could be heard saying from his room as he jumped off the stove.

В«Well, what do you want?В» he asked, addressing Tarantyev.

В«Fetch my black frock-coatВ», Oblomov ordered. В«Mr Tarantyev wants to see if it fits him: he has to go to a wedding tomorrowВ».

«I won’t bring the coat, sir», Zakhar said firmly.

В«How dare you, when your master orders you to?В» Tarantyev shouted.

«Why don’t you send him to the house of correction, old man?»

«That would be a nice thing to do: send an old man to the house of correction!» said Oblomov. «Don’t be obstinate, Zakhar, bring the coat».

«I won’t!» Zakhar answered coldly. «Let him first return your waistcoat and shirt: he’s had them for five months. He borrowed them to go to a birthday party and we’ve never seen them since.