Мертві душі
Chapter 2
Inadditiontohisloveofporingoverbooks,hecouldboastoftwohabitswhichconstitutedtwootheressentialfeaturesofhischaracter—namely,ahabitofretiringtorestinhisclothes(thatistosay,inthebrownjacketabove-mentioned)andahabitofeverywherebearingwithhimhisownpeculiaratmosphere,hisownpeculiarsmell—asmellwhichfilledanylodgingwithsuchsubtletythatheneededbuttomakeuphisbedanywhere,eveninaroomhithertountenanted,andtodragthitherhisgreatcoatandotherimpedimenta,forthatroomatoncetoassumeanairofhavingbeenlivedinduringthepasttenyears.Nevertheless,thoughafastidious,andevenanirritable,man,Chichikovwouldmerelyfrownwhenhisnosecaughtthissmellamidthefreshnessofthemorning,andexclaimwithatossofhishead:“Thedevilonlyknowswhatisupwithyou!Surelyyousweatagooddeal,doyounot?Thebestthingyoucandoistogoandtakeabath.”TothisPetrushkawouldmakenoreply,but,approaching,brushinhand,thespotwherehismaster’scoatwouldbependent,orstartingtoarrangeoneandanotherarticleinorder,wouldstrivetoseemwhollyimmersedinhiswork.Yetofwhatwashethinkingasheremainedthussilent?Perhapshewassayingtohimself:“Mymasterisagoodfellow,butforhimtokeeponsayingthesamethingfortytimesoverisalittlewearisome.”OnlyGodknowsandseesallthings;whereforeforamerehumanbeingtoknowwhatisinthemindofaservantwhilehismasterisscoldinghimiswhollyimpossible.However,nomoreneedbesaidaboutPetrushka.
