Oblomov / Обломов. Книга для чтения на английском языке

Zakhar came in, and Oblomov again sank into thought. Zakhar stood for a couple of minutes looking at his master disapprovingly and slightly sideways, and at last walked towards the door.

В«Where are you off to?В» Oblomov asked suddenly.

В«You say nothing, sir, so why should I stand here for nothing?В» Zakhar said in a hoarse whisper, having lost his voice, so he claimed, riding to hounds with the old master, when a strong gust of wind had blown into his throat.

He was standing in the middle of the room, half turned away from Oblomov, at whom he went on looking sideways.

«Have you lost the use of your legs, that you can’t stand a little longer? You see I am worried – so just wait! Haven’t you been lying down long enough in your room? Find the letter I received from the bailiff yesterday. Where did you put it?»

«What letter? I’ve seen no letter, sir», Zakhar said.

«But you took it from the postman yourself – such a dirty letter!»

В«How should I know where you put it?В» said Zakhar, tapping the papers and the various articles on the table.

«You never know anything! Look there – in the waste-paper basket! Or perhaps it has dropped behind the sofa? Look at the back of that sofa – hasn’t it been repaired yet? Why don’t you send for the carpenter and have it repaired? It was you who broke it, wasn’t it? You never think of anything!»

«It wasn’t me that broke it, sir», replied Zakhar.

Oblomov did not think it necessary to contest the point.

«Haven’t you found it yet?» he merely asked.

В«Here are some letters, sirВ».

«That’s not it».

«Well, sir, there ain’t no more», Zakhar said.

«Very well, you can go», Oblomov said impatiently. «I’ll look for it myself when I get up».

Zakhar went back to his room, but he was just about to lay his hands on the stove in order to jump on to it, when he again heard a hurried call:

В«Zakhar! Zakhar!В»

В«Oh Lord!В» Zakhar growled, as he went into the study again.