Мертвые души
Chapter 9
Onereasonwhythemen’spartywassocertainthatthedeadsoulsconnotedsomethingcontrarytogoodorderanddiscipline,wasthattherehadjustbeenappointedtotheprovinceanewGovernor-General—aneventwhich,ofcourse,hadthrownthewholearmyofprovincialtchinovniksintoastateofgreatexcitement,seeingthattheyknewthatbeforelongtherewouldensuetransfermentsandsentencesofcensure,aswellastheseriesofofficialdinnerswithwhichaGovernor-Generalisaccustomedtoentertainhissubordinates.“Alas,”thoughtthearmyoftchinovniks,“itisprobablethat,shouldhelearnofthegrossreportsatpresentafloatinourtown,hewillmakesuchafussthatweshallneverhearthelastofthem.”InparticulardidtheDirectoroftheMedicalDepartmentturnpaleatthethoughtthatpossiblythenewGovernor-Generalwouldsurmisetheterm“deadfolk”toconnotepatientsinthelocalhospitalswho,forwantofproperpreventativemeasures,haddiedofsporadicfever.Indeed,mightitnotbethatChichikovwasneithermorenorlessthananemissaryofthesaidGovernor-General,senttoconductasecretinquiry?Accordinglyhe(theDirectoroftheMedicalDepartment)communicatedthislastsuppositiontothePresidentoftheCouncil,who,thoughatfirstinclinedtoejaculate“Rubbish!”suddenlyturnedpaleonpropoundingtohimselfthetheory.
