Мертві душі
Chapter 8
Merelyinthecontemplationofhisfeaturesinthemirror,ashetriedtocommunicatetothemasuccessionofvaryingexpressions,wasanhourspent.Firstofallhestrovetomakehisfeaturesassumeanairofdignityandimportance,andthenanairofhumble,butfaintlysatirical,respect,andthenanairofrespectguiltlessofanyalloywhatsoever.Next,hepractisedperformingaseriesofbowstohisreflection,accompaniedwithcertainmurmursintendedtobeararesemblancetoaFrenchphrase(thoughChichikovknewnotasinglewordoftheGallictongue).LastlycametheperformingofaseriesofwhatImightcall“agreeablesurprises,”intheshapeoftwitchingsofthebrowandlipsandcertainmotionsofthetongue.Inshort,hedidallthatamanisapttodowhenheisnotonlyalone,butalsocertainthatheishandsomeandthatnooneisregardinghimthroughachink.Finallyhetappedhimselflightlyonthechin,andsaid,“Ah,goodoldface!”Inthesameway,whenhestartedtodresshimselffortheceremony,thelevelofhishighspiritsremainedunimpairedthroughouttheprocess.Thatistosay,whileadjustinghisbracesandtyinghistie,heshuffledhisfeetinwhatwasnotexactlyadance,butmightbecalledtheentr’acteofadance:whichperformancehadthenotveryseriousresultofsettingawardrobea-rattle,andcausingabrushtoslidefromthetabletothefloor.
Later,hisentryintotheballroomproducedanextraordinaryeffect.
