Мертві душі

           Chichikov,liketherest,hadneverbeforefeltsogay,and,imagininghimselfreallyandtrulytobealandownerofKherson,spokeofvariousimprovementsinagriculture,ofthethree-fieldsystemoftillage33,andofthebeatificfelicityofaunionbetweentwokindredsouls.Also,hestartedtorecitepoetrytoSobakevitch,whoblinkedashelistened,forhegreatlydesiredtogotosleep.Atlengththeguestoftheeveningrealisedthatmattershadgonefarenough,sobeggedtobegivenalifthome,andwasaccommodatedwiththePublicProsecutor’sdrozhki.Luckilythedriverofthevehiclewasapractisedmanathiswork,for,whiledrivingwithonehand,hesucceededinleaningbackwardsand,withtheother,holdingChichikovsecurelyinhisplace.Arrivedattheinn,ourherocontinuedbabblingawhileaboutaflaxen-haireddamselwithrosylipsandadimpleinherrightcheek,aboutvillagesofhisinKherson,andabouttheamountofhiscapital.Nay,heevenissuedseignorialinstructionsthatSelifanshouldgoandmusterthepeasantsabouttobetransferred,andmakeacompleteanddetailedinventoryofthem.ForawhileSelifanlistenedinsilence;thenhelefttheroom,andinstructedPetrushkatohelpthebarintoundress.Asithappened,Chichikov’sbootshadnosoonerbeenremovedthanhemanagedtoperformtherestofhistoiletwithoutassistance,torollontothebed(whichcreakedterriblyashedidso),andtosinkintoasleepineverywayworthyofalandownerofKherson.