Мертві душі
Chapter 8
Amillionairesuffersfromthedisadvantageofeverywherehavingtobeholdmeanness,includingthesortofmeannesswhich,thoughnotactuallybaseduponcalculationsofself-interest,yetrunsafterthewealthymanwithsmiles,anddoffshishat,andbegsforinvitationstohouseswherethemillionaireisknowntobegoingtodine.ThatasimilarinclinationtomeannessseizedupontheladiesofN.goeswithoutsaying;withtheresultthatmanyadrawing-roomhearditwhisperedthat,ifChichikovwasnotexactlyabeauty,atleasthewassufficientlygood-lookingtoserveforahusband,thoughhecouldhavebornetohavebeenalittlemorerotundandstout.Tothattherewouldbeaddedscornfulreferencestoleanhusbands,andhintsthattheyresembledtooth-brushesratherthanmen—withmanyotherfeminineadditions.Also,suchcrowdsoffeminineshoppersbegantorepairtotheBazaarasalmosttoconstituteacrush,andsomethinglikeaprocessionofcarriagesensued,solonggrewtherankofvehicles.Fortheirpart,thetradesmenhadthejoyofseeinghighlypriceddressmaterialswhichtheyhadboughtatfairs,andthenbeenunabletodisposeof,nowsuddenlybecometradeable,andgooffwitharush.Forinstance,ononeoccasionaladyappearedatMassinabustlewhichfilledthechurchtoanextentwhichledthevergerondutytobidthecommonerfolkwithdrawtotheporch,lestthelady’stoiletshouldbesoiledinthecrush.EvenChichikovcouldnothelpprivatelyremarkingtheattentionwhichhearoused.Ononeoccasion,whenhereturnedtotheinn,hefoundonhistableanoteaddressedtohimself.
