Мертві душі
Chapter 5
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AnequallypooropinionofNozdrevseemedtobecherishedalsobythesteeds,fornotonlywerethebayandtheAssessorclearlyoutofspirits,buteventheskewbaldwaswearingadejectedair.True,athometheskewbaldgotnonebutthepoorersortsofoatstoeat,andSelifanneverfilledhistroughwithouthavingfirstcalledhimavillain;butatleasttheyWEREoats,andnothay—theywerestuffwhichcouldbechewedwithacertainamountofrelish.Also,therewasthefactthatatintervalshecouldintrudehislongnoseintohiscompanions’troughs(especiallywhenSelifanhappenedtobeabsentfromthestable)andascertainwhatTHEIRprovenderwaslike.ButatNozdrev’stherehadbeennothingbuthay!Thatwasnotright.Allthreehorsesfeltgreatlydiscontented.
Butpresentlythemalcontentshadtheirreflectionscutshortinaveryrudeandunexpectedmanner.Thatistosay,theywerebroughtbacktopracticalitiesbycomingintoviolentcollisionwithasix-horsedvehicle,whileupontheirheadsdescendedbothababelofcriesfromtheladiesinsideandastormofcursesandabusefromthecoachman.“Ah,youdamnedfool!”hevociferated.
