Мертві душі
Chapter 7
Inpassingitmayberemarkedthatneithercorridorsnorroomsevincedanyofthatcleanlinessandpuritywhichmarkedtheexteriorofthebuilding,forsuchattributeswerenottroubledaboutwithin,andanythingthatwasdirtyremainedso,anddonnednomeritricious,purelyexternal,disguise.ItwasasthoughThemisreceivedhervisitorsinnegligeandadressing-gown.Theauthorwouldalsogiveadescriptionofthevariousofficesthroughwhichourheropassed,wereitnotthathe(theauthor)standsinaweofsuchlegalhaunts.
Approachingthefirstdeskwhichhehappenedtoencounter,Chichikovinquiredofthetwoyoungofficialswhowereseatedatitwhethertheywouldkindlytellhimwherebusinessrelatingtoserf-indenturewastransacted.
“Ofwhatnature,precisely,ISyourbusiness?”counteredoneoftheyouthfulofficialsasheturnedhimselfround.
“Idesiretomakeanapplication.”
“Inconnectionwithapurchase?”
“Yes.But,asIsay,IshouldlikefirsttoknowwhereIcanfindthedeskdevotedtosuchbusiness.Isithereorelsewhere?”
“Youmuststatewhatitisyouhavebought,andforhowmuch.THENweshallbehappytogiveyoutheinformation.”
Chichikovperceivedthattheofficials’motivewasmerelyoneofcuriosity,asoftenhappenswhenyoungtchinovniksdesiretocutamoreimportantandimposingfigurethanisrightfullytheirs.
“Lookhere,youngsirs,”hesaid.“Iknowforafactthatallserfbusiness,nomattertowhatvalue,istransactedatonedeskalone.ConsequentlyIagainrequestyoutodirectmetothatdesk.
