Мертві душі
Chapter 1
DidthecompanytouchuponaprosecutionwhichhadrecentlybeencarriedoutbytheExciseDepartment,instantlyheshowedthathetoowasnotwhollyunacquaintedwithlegalaffairs.Didanopinionchancetobeexpressedconcerningbilliards,onthatsubjecttoohewasatleastabletoavoidcommittingablunder.Didareferenceoccurtovirtue,concerningvirtuehehastenedtodeliverhimselfinawaywhichbroughttearstoeveryeye.Didthesubjectinhandhappentobethedistillingofbrandy—well,thatwasamatterconcerningwhichhehadthesoundestofknowledge.DidanyonehappentomentionCustomsofficialsandinspectors,fromthatmomentheexpatiatedasthoughhetoohadbeenbothaminorfunctionaryandamajor.Yetaremarkablefactwasthecircumstancethathealwayscontrivedtotemperhisomnisciencewithacertainreadinesstogiveway,acertainabilitysotokeepareinuponhimselfthatneverdidhisutterancesbecometooloudortoosoft,ortranscendwhatwasperfectlybefitting.Inaword,hewasalwaysagentlemanofexcellentmanners,andeveryofficialintheplacefeltpleasedwhenhesawhimenterthedoor.ThustheGovernorgaveitashisopinionthatChichikovwasamanofexcellentintentions;thePublicProsecutor,thathewasagoodmanofbusiness;theChiefofGendarmery,thathewasamanofeducation;thePresidentoftheLocalCouncil,thathewasamanofbreedingandrefinement;andthewifeoftheChiefofGendarmery,thathispolitenessofbehaviourwasequalledonlybyhisaffabilityofbearing
