Мертві душі
Chapter 1
True,thetaskofrememberingeverybig-wiginthisworldofoursisnotaveryeasyone;butatleastourvisitordisplayedthegreatestactivityinhisworkofpayingcalls,seeingthathewentsofarastopayhisrespectsalsototheInspectoroftheMunicipalDepartmentofMedicineandtotheCityArchitect.Thereafterhesatthoughtfullyinhisbritchka—plungedinmeditationonthesubjectofwhomelseitmightbewelltovisit.However,notasinglemagnatehadbeenneglected,andinconversationwithhishostshehadcontrivedtoflattereachseparateone.ForinstancetotheGovernorhehadhintedthatastranger,onarrivinginhis,theGovernor’sprovince,wouldconceivethathehadreachedParadise,sovelvetyweretheroads.“Governorswhoappointcapablesubordinates,”hadsaidChichikov,“aredeservingofthemostamplemeedofpraise.”Again,totheChiefofPoliceourherohadpassedamostgratifyingremarkonthesubjectofthelocalgendarmery;whileinhisconversationwiththeVice-GovernorandthePresidentoftheLocalCouncil(neitherofwhomhad,asyet,risenabovetherankofStateCouncillor)hehadtwicebeenguiltyofthegaucherieofaddressinghisinterlocutorswiththetitleof“YourExcellency”—ablunderwhichhadnotfailedtodelightthem.IntheresulttheGovernorhadinvitedhimtoareceptionthesameevening,andcertainotherofficialshadfollowedsuitbyinvitinghim,oneofthemtodinner,asecondtoatea-party,andsoforth,andsoforth.
