Мертві душі

           Everyonepresentcameforwardtomeethim,somewithcardsintheirhands,andonemanevenbreakingoffaconversationatthemostinterestingpoint—namely,thepointthat“theInferiorLandCourtmustbemaderesponsibleforeverything.”Yes,inspiteoftheresponsibilityoftheInferiorLandCourt,thespeakercastallthoughtsofittothewindsashehurriedtogreetourhero.Fromeverysideresoundedacclamationsofwelcome,andChichikovfelthimselfengulfedinaseaofembraces.Thus,scarcelyhadheextricatedhimselffromthearmsofthePresidentoftheLocalCouncilwhenhefoundhimselfjustasfirmlyclaspedinthearmsoftheChiefofPolice,who,inturn,surrenderedhimtotheInspectoroftheMedicalDepartment,who,inturn,handedhimovertotheCommissionerofTaxes,who,again,committedhimtothechargeoftheTownArchitect.EventheGovernor,whohithertohadbeenstandingamonghiswomenfolkwithaboxofsweetsinonehandandalap-dogintheother,nowthrewdownbothsweetsandlap-dog(thelap-doggivingventtoayelpashedidso)andaddedhisgreetingtothoseoftherestofthecompany.Indeed,notafacewastheretobeseenonwhichecstaticdelight—or,atallevents,thereflectionofotherpeople’secstaticdelight—wasnotpainted.Thesameexpressionmaybediscernedonthefacesofsubordinateofficialswhen,thenewlyarrivedDirectorhavingmadehisinspection,thesaidofficialsarebeginningtogetovertheirfirstsenseofaweonperceivingthathehasfoundmuchtocommend,andthathecanevengosofarastojestandutterafewwordsofsmilingapproval.