Мертвые души
Chapter 4
Peeringthroughthewindow,hesawdrawuptothetaverndooralightbritchkadrawnbythreefinehorses.Fromittheredescendedtwomen—oneflaxen-hairedandtall,andtheotherdark-hairedandofslighterbuild.Whiletheflaxen-hairedmanwascladinadark-bluecoat,theotheronewaswrappedinacoatofstripedpattern.Behindthebritchkastoodasecond,butanempty,turn-out,drawnbyfourlong-coatedsteedsinraggedcollarsandropeharnesses.Theflaxen-hairedmanlostnotimeinascendingthestaircase,whilehisdarkerfriendremainedbelowtofumbleatsomethinginthebritchka,talking,ashedidso,tothedriverofthevehiclewhichstoodhitchedbehind.Somehow,thedark-hairedman’svoicestruckChichikovasfamiliar;andashewastakinganotherlookathimtheflaxen-hairedgentlemanenteredtheroom.Thenewcomerwasamanofloftystature,withasmallredmoustacheandalean,hard-bittenfacewhoserednessmadeitevidentthatitsacquaintance,ifnotwiththesmokeofgunpowder,atalleventswiththatoftobacco,wasintimateandextensive.NeverthelesshegreetedChichikovcivilly,andthelatterreturnedhisbow.Indeed,thepairwouldhaveenteredintoconversation,andhavemadeoneanother’sacquaintance(sinceabeginningwasmadewiththeirsimultaneouslyexpressingsatisfactionatthecircumstancethatthepreviousnight’srainhadlaidthedustontheroads,andtherebymadedrivingcoolandpleasant)whenthegentleman’sdarker-favouredfriendalsoenteredtheroom,and,throwinghiscapuponthetable,pushedbackamassofdishevelledblacklocksfromhisbrow.
