Мертві душі
Chapter 8
NomatterhowhighChichikovmightstandinsociety,andnomatterhowmuchhemightbeamillionaireandincludeinhisexpressionofcountenanceanindefinableelementofgrandnessandmartialardour,therearecertainthingswhichnoladywillpardon,whosoeverbethepersonconcerned.WeknowthatatGovernor’sballsitiscustomaryfortheonlookerstocomposeversesattheexpenseofthedancers;andinthiscasetheversesweredirectedtoChichikov’saddress.Briefly,theprevailingdissatisfactiongrewuntilatacitedictofproscriptionhadbeenissuedagainstbothhimandthepooryoungmaiden.
Butanevenmoreunpleasantsurprisewasinstoreforourhero;forwhilsttheyoungladywasstillyawningasChichikovrecountedtohercertainofhispastadventuresandalsotouchedlightlyuponthesubjectofGreekphilosophy,thereappearedfromanadjoiningroomthefigureofNozdrev.Whetherhehadcomefromthebuffet,orwhetherhehadissuedfromalittlegreenretreatwhereagamemorestrenuousthanwhisthadbeeninprogress,orwhetherhehadleftthelatterresortunaided,orwhetherhehadbeenexpelledtherefrom,isunknown;butatalleventswhenheenteredtheballroom,hewasinanelevatedcondition,andleadingbythearmthePublicProsecutor,whomheseemedtohavebeendraggingaboutforalongwhilepast,seeingthatthepoormanwasglancingfromsidetosideasthoughseekingameansofputtinganendtothispersonallyconductedtour.
