Мертві душі
Chapter 6
Amongthelatterwasalongengravingofabattlescene,whereinsoldiersinthree-corneredhatswerebrandishinghugedrumsandslenderlances.Itlackedaglass,andwassetinaframeornamentedwithbronzefretworkandbronzecornerrings.Besideithungahuge,grimyoilpaintingrepresentativeofsomeflowersandfruit,halfawatermelon,aboar’shead,andthependentformofadeadwildduck.Attachedtotheceilingtherewasachandelierinahollandcovering—thecoveringsodustyascloselytoresembleahugecocoonenclosingacaterpillar.Lastly,inonecorneroftheroomlayapileofarticleswhichhadevidentlybeenadjudgedunworthyofaplaceonthetable.Yetwhatthepileconsistedofitwouldhavebeendifficulttosay,seeingthatthedustonthesamewassothickthatanyhandwhichtoucheditwouldhaveatonceresembledaglove.Prominentlyprotrudingfromthepilewastheshaftofawoodenspadeandtheantiquatedsoleofashoe.Neverwouldonehavesupposedthatalivingcreaturehadtenantedtheroom,wereitnotthatthepresenceofsuchacreaturewasbetrayedbythespectacleofanoldnightcaprestingonthetable.
WhilstChichikovwasgazingatthisextraordinarymess,asidedooropenedandthereenteredthehousekeeperwhohadmethimneartheoutbuildings.ButnowChichikovperceivedthispersontobeamanratherthanawoman,sinceafemalehousekeeperwouldhavehadnobeardtoshave,whereasthechinofthenewcomer,withthelowerportionofhischeeks,stronglyresembledthecurry-combwhichisusedforgroominghorses.
