Мертві душі

           Ontheotherhand,if,inthemeanwhile,youdesiretoindulgeincutletsandtheatre-going,pleaseunderstandthatwecannothelpyou,butyoumustmakeyourownresources,andtryasbestyoucantohelpyourself.’YoucanimaginethatthiswentinatoneofKopeikin’sears,andoutattheother;thatitwaslikeshootingpeasatastonewall.Accordinglyheraisedaturmoilwhichsentthestaffflying.Onebyone,hegavethemobofsecretariesandclerksarealgoodhammering.‘You,andyou,andyou,’hesaid,‘donotevenknowyourduties.Youarelaw-breakers.’Yes,hetrodeverymanofthemunderfoot.AtlengththeGeneralhimselfarrivedfromanotheroffice,andsoundedthealarm.WhatwastobedonewithafellowlikeKopeikin?ThePresidentsawthatstrongmeasureswereimperative.‘Verywell,’hesaid.‘Sinceyoudeclinetorestsatisfiedwithwhathasbeengivenyou,andquietlytoawaitthedecisionofyourcaseinSt.Petersburg,Imustfindyoualodging.Here,constable,removethemantogaol.’Thenaconstablewhohadbeencalledtothedoor—aconstablethreeellsinheight,andarmedwithacarbine—amanwellfittedtoguardabank—placedourfriendinapolicewaggon.‘Well,’reflectedKopeikin,‘atleastIshan’thavetopaymyfareforTHISride.That’sonecomfort.’Again,afterhehadriddenalittleway,hesaidtohimself:‘theytoldmeattheCommissiontogoandmakemyownmeansofenjoyingmyself.Verygood.I’lldoso.’However,whatbecameofKopeikin,andwhitherhewent,isknowntonoone.