Мертві душі
Chapter 7
Chichikovagainattemptedtoshowittohim,but,withamovementofhishead,IvanAntonovitchsignifiedthatthatwasunnecessary.
“Aclerk,”headded,“willnowconductyoutoIvanGrigorievitch’sroom.”
UponthatoneofthetoilersintheserviceofThemis—azealotwhohadofferedhersuchheartfeltsacrificethathiscoathadburstattheelbowsandlackedalining—escortedourfriends(evenasVirgilhadonceescortedDante)totheapartmentofthePresence.Inthissanctumweresomemassivearmchairs,atableladenwithtwoorthreefatbooks,andalargelooking-glass.Lastly,in(apparently)sunlikeisolation,therewasseatedatthetablethePresident.Onarrivingatthedooroftheapartment,ourmodernVirgilseemedtohavebecomesooverwhelmedwithawethat,withoutdaringeventointrudeafoot,heturnedback,and,insodoing,oncemoreexhibitedabackasshinyasamat,andhavingadheringtoit,inonespot,achicken’sfeather.AssoonasthetwofriendshadenteredthehallofthePresencetheyperceivedthatthePresidentwasNOTalone,but,onthecontrary,hadseatedbyhissideSobakevitch,whoseformhadhithertobeenconcealedbytheinterveningmirror.Thenewcomers’entryevokedsundryexclamationsandthepushingbackofapairofGovernmentchairsasthevoluminous-sleevedSobakevitchroseintoviewfrombehindthelooking-glass.ChichikovthePresidentreceivedwithanembrace,andforawhilethehallofthePresenceresoundedwithosculatorysalutationsasmutuallythepairinquiredafteroneanother’shealth.
