Мертві душі
Chapter 8
InthesamewayChichikovsoughtascapegoatuponwhoseshouldershecouldlaytheblameforallthathadannoyedhim.HefoundoneinNozdrev,andyoumaybesurethatthescapegoatinquestionreceivedagooddrubbingfromeveryside,evenasanexperiencedcaptainorchiefofpolicewillgiveaknavishstarostaorpostboyaratingnotonlyinthetermsbecomeclassical,butalsoinsuchtermsasthesaidcaptainorchiefofpolicemayinventforhimself.Inshort,Nozdrev’swholelineagewaspassedinreview;andmanyofitsmembersintheascendinglinefaredbadlyintheprocess.
Meanwhile,attheotherendofthetowntherewasinprogressaneventwhichwasdestinedtoaugmentstillfurthertheunpleasantnessofourhero’sposition.Thatistosay,throughtheoutlyingstreetsandalleysofthetowntherewasclatteringavehicletowhichitwouldbedifficultpreciselytoassignaname,seeingthat,thoughitwasofaspeciespeculiartoitself,itmostnearlyresembledalarge,ricketywatermelononwheels.Eventuallythismonstrositydrewupatthegatesofahousewherethearchpriestofoneofthechurchesresided,andfromitsdoorsthereleaptadamselcladinajerkinandwearingascarfoverherhead.Forawhileshethumpedthegatessovigorouslyastosetallthedogsbarking;thenthegatesstifflyopened,andadmittedthisunwieldyphenomenonoftheroad
