Мертвые души
Chapter 7
“Vorobei?WhoisVorobei?”
“Thewoman‘Elizabet’Vorobei—‘Elizabet,’not‘Elizabeta?’”
“Iaddednosuchname,”repliedSobakevitch,andstraightwayjoinedtheotherguests.
AtlengththepartyarrivedattheresidenceoftheChiefofPolice.Thelatterprovedindeedamanofspells,fornosoonerhadhelearntwhatwasafootthanhesummonedabriskyoungconstable,whisperedinhisear,addinglaconically,“Youunderstand,doyounot?”andbroughtitaboutthat,duringthetimethattheguestswerecuttingforpartnersatwhistinanadjoiningroom,thedining-tablebecameladenwithsturgeon,caviare,salmon,herrings,cheese,smokedtongue,freshroe,andapottedvarietyofthesame—allprocuredfromthelocalfishmarket,andreinforcedwithadditionsfromthehost’sownkitchen.ThefactwasthattheworthyChiefofPolicefilledtheofficeofasortoffatherandgeneralbenefactortothetown,andthathemovedamongthecitizensasthoughtheyconstitutedpartandparcelofhisownfamily,andwatchedovertheirshopsandmarketsasthoughthoseestablishmentsweremerelyhisownprivatelarder.Indeed,itwouldbedifficulttosay—sothoroughlydidheperformhisdutiesinthisrespect—whetherthepostmostfittedhim,orhethepost.Matterswerealsosoarrangedthatthoughhisincomemorethandoubledthatofhispredecessors,hehadneverlosttheaffectionofhisfellowtownsmen.Inparticulardidthetradesmenlovehim,sincehewasneverabovestandinggodfathertotheirchildrenordiningattheirtables.
