Мертві душі
Chapter 2
Ontheotherhand,CoachmanSelifan—
ButhereletmeremarkthatIdonotlikeengagingthereader’sattentioninconnectionwithpersonsofalowerclassthanhimself;forexperiencehastaughtmethatwedonotwillinglyfamiliariseourselveswiththelowerorders—thatitisthecustomoftheaverageRussiantoyearnexclusivelyforinformationconcerningpersonsonthehigherrungsofthesocialladder.Infact,evenabowingacquaintancewithaprinceoralordcounts,inhiseyes,formorethandothemostintimateofrelationswithordinaryfolk.Forthesamereasontheauthorfeelsapprehensiveonhishero’saccount,seeingthathehasmadethatheroamereCollegiateCouncillor—amerepersonwithwhomAulicCouncillorsmightconsort,butuponwhompersonsofthegradeoffullGeneral8wouldprobablybestowoneofthoseglancespropertoamanwhoiscringingattheiraugustfeet.Worsestill,suchpersonsofthegradeofGeneralarelikelytotreatChichikovwithstudiednegligence—andtoanauthorstudiednegligencespellsdeath.
However,inspiteofthedistressfulnessoftheforegoingpossibilities,itistimethatIreturnedtomyhero.
