Мертві душі
Chapter 7
TheyconsistedoftheconstantlyblinkingPublicProsecutor,theInspectoroftheMedicalDepartment,andothers—all,toquoteSobakevitch,“menwhocumberedthegroundfornothing.”Withsomeofthem,however,Chichikovwasaltogetherunacquainted,sincecertainsubstitutesandsupernumerarieshadtobepressedintotheservicefromamongtheranksofthesubordinatestaff.Therealsoarrived,inanswertothesummons,notonlythesonofFatherCyrilbeforementioned,butalsoFatherCyrilhimself.Eachsuchwitnessappendedtohissignatureafulllistofhisdignitiesandqualifications:onemaninprintedcharacters,anotherinaflowinghand,athirdintopsy-turvycharactersofakindneverbeforeseenintheRussianalphabet,andsoforth.MeanwhileourfriendIvanAntonovitchcomportedhimselfwithnotalittleaddress;andaftertheindentureshadbeensigned,docketed,andregistered,ChichikovfoundhimselfcalledupontopayonlythemeresttrifleinthewayofGovernmentpercentageandfeesforpublishingthetransactionintheOfficialGazette.ThereasonofthiswasthatthePresidenthadgivenordersthatonlyhalftheusualchargesweretobeexactedfromthepresentpurchaser—theremaininghalfbeingsomehowdebitedtotheaccountofanotherapplicantforserfregistration.
“Andnow,”saidIvanGrigorievitchwhenallwascompleted,“weneedonlytowetthebargain.”
“ForthattooIamready,”saidChichikov.“Doyoubutnamethehour.If,inreturnforyourmostagreeablecompany,Iwerenottosetafewchampagnecorksflying,Ishouldbeindeedindefault.
