Мертві душі
Chapter 1
OnthisoccasionChichikovmadetheacquaintanceof,amongothers,alandownernamedNozdrev—adissipatedlittlefellowofthirtywhohadnosoonerexchangedthreeorfourwordswithhisnewacquaintancethanhebegantoaddresshiminthesecondpersonsingular.YetalthoughhedidthesametotheChiefofPoliceandthePublicProsecutor,thecompanyhadnosoonerseatedthemselvesatthecard-tablethanboththeoneandtheotherofthesefunctionariesstartedtokeepacarefuleyeuponNozdrev’stricks,andtowatchpracticallyeverycardwhichheplayed.ThefollowingeveningChichikovspentwiththePresidentoftheLocalCouncil,whoreceivedhisguests—eventhoughthelatterincludedtwoladies—inagreasydressing-gown.UponthatfollowedaneveningattheVice-Governor’s,alargedinnerpartyatthehouseoftheCommissionerofTaxes,asmallerdinner-partyatthehouseofthePublicProsecutor(averywealthyman),andasubsequentreceptiongivenbytheMayor.Inshort,notanhourofthedaydidChichikovfindhimselfforcedtospendathome,andhisreturntotheinnbecamenecessaryonlyforthepurposesofsleeping.Somehoworotherhehadlandedonhisfeet,andeverywherehefiguredasanexperiencedmanoftheworld.Nomatterwhattheconversationchancedtobeabout,healwayscontrivedtomaintainhispartinthesame.Didthediscourseturnuponhorse-breeding,uponhorse-breedinghehappenedtobepeculiarlywell-qualifiedtospeak.Didthecompanyfalltodiscussingwell-breddogs,atoncehehadremarksofthemostpertinentkindpossibletooffer.
