Мертвые души
Chapter 8
Nevertheless,somethingstrange,somethingwhichhecouldnotaltogetherexplain,hadcomeuponhim.Itseemedasthoughtheball,withitstalkanditsclatter,hadsuddenlybecomeathingremote—thattheorchestrahadwithdrawnbehindahill,andthescenegrownmisty,likethecarelesslypainted-inbackgroundofapicture.Andfromthatmistyvoidtherecouldbeseenglimmeringonlythedelicateoutlinesofthebewitchingmaiden.Somehowherexquisiteshaperemindedhimofanivorytoy,insuchfair,white,transparentreliefdiditstandoutagainstthedullblurofthesurroundingthrong.
Hereinweseeaphenomenonnotinfrequentlyobserved—thephenomenonoftheChichikovsofthisworldbecomingtemporarilypoets.Atallevents,foramomentortwoourChichikovfeltthathewasayoungmanagain,ifnotexactlyamilitaryofficer.Onperceivinganemptychairbesidethemotheranddaughter,hehastenedtooccupyit,andthoughconversationatfirsthungfire,thingsgraduallyimproved,andheacquiredmoreconfidence.
AtthispointImustreluctantlydeviatetosaythatmenofweightandhighofficearealwaysatrifleponderouswhenconversingwithladies.Younglieutenants—or,atallevents,officersnotabovetherankofcaptain—arefarmoresuccessfulatthegame.HowtheycontrivetobesoGodonlyknows.
