Мертвые души

           First,hehadrebukedthegendarmesguardingChichikov’seffectsforlackofvigilance,andthensentwordtotheSuperintendentthatadditionalmenwererequiredforthepurpose;afterwhichhehadtakenthedispatch-boxintohisowncharge,removedfromiteverypaperwhichcouldpossiblycompromiseChichikov,sealeduptherestinapacket,andorderedagendarmetoconveythewholetotheirowneronthepretenceofforwardinghimsundrygarmentsnecessaryforthenight.IntheresultChichikovreceivednotonlyhispapers,butalsosomewarmclothingforhishypersensitivelimbs.Suchaswiftrecoveryofhistreasuresdelightedhimbeyondexpression,and,gatheringnewhope,hebeganoncemoretodreamofsuchallurementsastheatre-goingandtheballetgirlafterwhomhehadforsometimepastbeendangling.Graduallydidthecountryestateandthesimplelifebegintorecedeintothedistance:graduallydidthetownhouseandthelifeofgaietybegintoloomlargerandlargerintheforeground.Oh,life,life!

           MeanwhileinGovernmentofficesandchancelloriestherehadbeensetonfootaboundlessvolumeofwork.Clericalpensslaved,andbrainsskilledinlegalcasustoiled;foreachofficialhadtheartist’slikingforthecurvedlineinpreferencetothestraight.Andallthewhile,likeahiddenmagician,Chichikov’slawyerimparteddrivingpowertothatmachinewhichcaughtupamanintoitsmechanismbeforehecouldevenlookround.Andthecomplexityofitincreasedandincreased,forSamosvitovsurpassedhimselfinimportanceanddaring.