Page:Dead Souls - A Poem by Nikolay Gogol - vol2.djvu/260

250 But without answering his question, his Excellency said:

'I have to speak to you about something important.' His face looked troubled. The worthy dealer with the German accent was at once dismissed, and they were left alone.

'Do you know, something unpleasant has happened. Another will has been found which the old lady made ten years ago. Half the property is left to a monastery and the other half to her two protégées, to be equally divided between them and nothing else to any one.'

Tchitchikov was aghast.

'But that will is all nonsense. It means nothing, it is cancelled by the second.'

'But it is not stated in that second will that it cancels the first.'

'That's a matter of course: the second cancels the first. It's nonsense. That first will is of no consequence. I know the deceased's intentions perfectly. I was with her. Who signed this will? Who were the witnesses?'

'It was witnessed in the regular way at the court. The witnesses were Havanov and Burmilov, the former judge.'

'That's bad,' thought Tchitchikov, 'Havanov's said to be honest. Burmilov is a canting old hypocrite, he reads the lessons in church.'

'Come, it is nonsense, nonsense,' he said aloud, and all at once he felt that he had determination enough to deal with any emergency. 'I know better; I was present at the deceased lady's