Мертві душі

           Twiceheblunderedinhisplay,andthePresidentoftheCouncilwasatalosstounderstandhowhisfriend,PaulIvanovitch,latelysogoodandsocircumspectaplayer,couldperpetratesuchamauvaispasastothrowawayaparticularkingofspadeswhichthePresidenthasbeen“trusting”as(toquotehisownexpression)“hewouldhavetrustedGod.”Atsupper,too,mattersfeltuncomfortable,eventhoughthesocietyatChichikov’stablewasexceedinglyagreeableandNozdrevhadbeenremoved,owingtothefactthattheladieshadfoundhisconducttooscandaloustobeborne,nowthatthedelinquenthadtakentoseatinghimselfonthefloorandpluckingattheskirtsofpassingladydancers.AsIsay,therefore,Chichikovfoundthesituationnotalittleawkward,andeventuallyputanendtoitbyleavingthesupperroombeforethemealwasover,andlongbeforethehourwhenusuallyhereturnedtotheinn.

           Inhislittleroom,withitsdoorofcommunicationblockedwithawardrobe,hisframeofmindremainedasuncomfortableasthechairinwhichhewasseated.Hisheartachedwithadull,unpleasantsensation,withasortofoppressiveemptiness.

           “Thedeviltakethosewhofirstinventedballs!”washisreflection.“Whoderivesanyrealpleasurefromthem?Inthisprovincethereexistwantandscarcityeverywhere:yetfolkgoinforballs!Howabsurd,too,werethoseoverdressedwomen!Oneofthemmusthavehadathousandroublesonherback,andallacquiredattheexpenseoftheovertaxedpeasant,or,worsestill,atthatoftheconscienceofherneighbour.