Мертві душі

           FromthatChichikovwentontoremarkthat,accordingtothestatutesofthesaidRussianEmpire(whichyieldedtononeinglory—somuchsothatforeignersmarvelledatit),peasantsonthecensuslistswhohadendedtheirearthlycareerswerenevertheless,ontherenderingofnewlists,returnedequallywiththeliving,totheendthatthecourtsmightberelievedofamultitudeoftrifling,uselessemendationswhichmightcomplicatethealreadysufficientlycomplexmechanismoftheState.Nevertheless,saidChichikov,thegeneralequityofthismeasuredidnotobviateacertainamountofannoyancetolandowners,sinceitforcedthemtopayuponanon-livingarticlethetaxdueuponaliving.Hence(ourheroconcluded)he(Chichikov)wasprepared,owingtothepersonalrespectwhichhefeltforSobakevitch,torelievehim,inpart,oftheirksomeobligationreferredto(inpassing,itmaybesaidthatChichikovreferredtohisprincipalpointonlyguardedly,forhecalledthesoulswhichhewasseekingnot“dead,”but“non-existent”).

           MeanwhileSobakevitchlistenedwithbenthead;thoughsomethinglikeatraceofexpressiondawnedinhisfaceashedidso.Ordinarilyhisbodylackedasoul—or,ifhedidpossessasoul,heseemedtokeepitelsewherethanwhereitoughttohavebeen;sothat,buriedbeneathmountains(asitwere)orenclosedwithinamassiveshell,itsmovementsproducednosortofagitationonthesurface.

           “Well?”saidChichikov—thoughnotwithoutacertaintremorofdiffidenceastothepossibleresponse.

           “Youareafterdeadsouls?”wereSobakevitch’sperfectlysimplewords.