Мертві душі

           Onecutwithahatchet,andthereresultsanose;anothersuchcutwithahatchet,andtherematerialisesapairoflips;twothrustswithadrill,andthereissuesapairofeyes.Lastly,scorningtoplanedowntheroughness,shesendsoutthatpersonintotheworld,saying:“Thereisanotherlivecreature.”Sobakevitchwasjustsucharagged,curiouslyputtogetherfigure—thoughtheabovemodelwouldseemtohavebeenfollowedmoreinhisupperportionthaninhislower.Oneresultwasthatheseldomturnedhisheadtolookatthepersonwithwhomhewasspeaking,but,rather,directedhiseyestowards,say,thestovecornerorthedoorway.Ashostandguestcrossedthedining-roomChichikovdirectedasecondglanceathiscompanion.“Heisabear,andnothingbutabear,”hethoughttohimself.And,indeed,thestrangecomparisonwasinevitable.Incidentally,Sobakevitch’sChristiannameandpatronymicwereMichaelSemenovitch.Ofhishabitoftreadinguponotherpeople’stoesChichikovhadbecomefullyaware;whereforehesteppedcautiously,and,throughout,allowedhishosttotakethelead.Asamatteroffact,Sobakevitchhimselfseemedconsciousofhisfailing,foratintervalshewouldinquire:“IhopeIhavenothurtyou?”andChichikov,withawordofthanks,wouldreplythatasyethehadsustainednoinjury.

           Atlengththeyreachedthedrawing-room,whereSobakevitchpointedtoanarmchair,andinvitedhisguesttobeseated.Chichikovgazedwithinterestatthewallsandthepictures.