Мертвые души
Chapter 3
Fallingslantwise,itbeatupononesideofthebasketworkofthetiltuntilthesplashingsbegantospurtintohisface,andhefoundhimselfforcedtodrawthecurtains(fittedwithcircularopeningsthroughwhichtoobtainaglimpseofthewaysideview),andtoshouttoSelifantoquickenhispace.Uponthatthecoachman,interruptedinthemiddleofhisharangue,bethoughthimthatnotimewastobelost;wherefore,extractingfromunderthebox-seatapieceofoldblanket,hecoveredoverhissleeves,resumedthereins,andcheeredonhisthreefoldteam(which,itmaybesaid,hadsocompletelysuccumbedtotheinfluenceofthepleasantlassitudeinducedbySelifan’sdiscoursethatithadtakentoscarcelyplacingonelegbeforetheother).Unfortunately,Selifancouldnotclearlyrememberwhethertwoturningshadbeenpassedorthree.Indeed,oncollectinghisfaculties,anddimlyrecallingthelieoftheroad,hebecamefilledwithashrewdsuspicionthatAVERYLARGENUMBERofturningshadbeenpassed.Butsince,atmomentswhichcallforahastydecision,aRussianisquicktodiscoverwhatmayconceivablybethebestcoursetotake,ourcoachmanputawayfromhimallulteriorreasoning,and,turningtotherightatthenextcross-road,shouted,“Hi,mybeauties!”andsetoffatagallop.Neverforamomentdidhestoptothinkwhithertheroadmightleadhim!
Itwaslongbeforethecloudshaddischargedtheirburden,and,meanwhile,thedustontheroadbecamekneadedintomire,andthehorses’taskofpullingthebritchkaheavierandheavier.
