Мертві душі
Chapter 10
HisfirstdestinationwasintendedtobetheGovernor’smansion,and,ashewalkedalong,certainthoughtsconcerningtheGovernor’sdaughterwouldkeepwhirlingthroughhishead,sothatalmostheforgotwherehewas,andtooktosmilingandcrackingjokestohimself.
ArrivedattheGovernor’sentrance,hewasabouttodivesthimselfofhisscarfwhenaSwissfootmangreetedhimwiththewords,“Iamforbiddentoadmityou.”
“What?”heexclaimed.“Youdonotknowme?Lookatmeagain,andseeifyoudonotrecogniseme.”
“OfcourseIrecogniseyou,”thefootmanreplied.“Ihaveseenyoubefore,buthavebeenorderedtoadmitanyoneelseratherthanMonsieurChichikov.”
“Indeed!Andwhyso?”
“Thosearemyorders,andtheymustbeobeyed,”saidthefootman,confrontingChichikovwithnoneofthatpolitenesswithwhich,onformeroccasions,hehadhastenedtodivestourheroofhiswrappings.Evidentlyhewasofopinionthat,sincethegentrydeclinedtoreceivethevisitor,thelattermustcertainlybearogue.
“Icannotunderstandit,”saidChichikovtohimself.Thenhedeparted,andmadehiswaytothehouseofthePresidentoftheCouncil.ButsoputaboutwasthatofficialbyChichikov’sentrythathecouldnotuttertwoconsecutivewords—hecouldonlymurmursomerubbishwhichleftbothhisvisitorandhimselfoutofcountenance.Chichikovwondered,asheleftthehouse,whatthePresident’smutteredwordscouldhavemeant,butfailedtomakeheadortailofthem.
