Мертві душі

           Also,aroundhisnecktherewaswrappedsomethingwhichmighthavebeenastocking,agarter,orastomacher,butwascertainlynotatie.Inshort,hadChichikovchancedtoencounterhimatachurchdoor,hewouldhavebestoweduponhimacopperortwo(for,todoourherojustice,hehadasympatheticheartandneverrefrainedfrompresentingabeggarwithalms),butinthepresentcasetherewasstandingbeforehim,notamendicant,butalandowner—andalandownerpossessedoffullyathousandserfs,thesuperiorofallhisneighboursinwealthofflourandgrain,andtheownerofstorehouses,andsoforth,thatwerecrammedwithhomespunclothandlinen,tannedandundressedsheepskins,driedfish,andeveryconceivablespeciesofproduce.Nevertheless,suchaphenomenonisrareinRussia,wherethetendencyisrathertoprodigalitythantoparsimony.

           ForseveralminutesPlushkinstoodmute,whileChichikovremainedsodazedwiththeappearanceofthehostandeverythingelseintheroom,thathetoo,couldnotbeginaconversation,butstoodwonderinghowbesttofindwordsinwhichtoexplaintheobjectofhisvisit.Forawhilehethoughtofexpressinghimselftotheeffectthat,havingheardsomuchofhishost’sbenevolenceandotherrarequalitiesofspirit,hehadconsideredithisdutytocomeandpayatributeofrespect;butpresentlyevenHEcametotheconclusionthatthiswouldbeoverdoingthething,and,afteranotherglanceroundtheroom,decidedthatthephrase“benevolenceandotherrarequalitiesofspirit”mighttoadvantagegiveplaceto“economyandgeniusformethod.