Мертві душі
Chapter 4
Fellowsofthekindareknownas“gayyoungsparks,”and,evenintheirboyhoodandschooldays,earnareputationforbeingbonscamarades(thoughwithitalltheycomeinforsomehardknocks)forthereasonthattheirfacesevinceanelementoffrankness,directness,andenterprisewhichenablesthemsoontomakefriends,and,almostbeforeyouhavehadtimetolookaround,tostartaddressingyouinthesecondpersonsingular.Yet,whilecementingsuchfriendshipsforalleternity,almostalwaystheybeginquarrellingthesameevening,since,throughout,theyarealoquacious,dissipated,high-spirited,over-showytribe.Indeed,atthirty-fiveNozdrevwasjustwhathehadbeenaneighteenandtwenty—hewasjustsuchaloveroffastliving.Norhadhismarriageinanywaychangedhim,andthelesssosincehiswifehadsoondepartedtoanotherworld,andleftbehindhertwochildren,whomhedidnotwant,andwhowerethereforeplacedinthechargeofagood-lookingnursemaid.Neveratanytimecouldheremainathomeformorethanasingleday,forhiskeenscentcouldrangeoverscoresandscoresofversts,anddetectanyfairwhichpromisedballsandcrowds.Consequentlyinatricehewouldbethere—quarrelling,andcreatingdisturbancesoverthegaming-table(likeallmenofhistype,hehadaperfectpassionforcards)yetplayingneitherafaultlessnoranover-cleangame,sincehewasbothablundererandabletoindulgeinalargenumberofillicitcutsandotherdevices.Theresultwasthatthegameoftenendedinanotherkindofsportaltogether.
