Мертві душі
Chapter 10
Next,hevisited,inturn,theChiefofPolice,theVice-Governor,thePostmaster,andothers;butineachcaseheeitherfailedtobeaccordedadmittanceorwasreceivedsostrangely,andwithsuchameasureofconstraintandconversationalawkwardnessandabsenceofmindandembarrassment,thathebegantofearforthesanityofhishosts.Againandagaindidhestrivetodivinethecause,butcouldnotdoso;sohewentwanderingaimlesslyaboutthetown,withoutsucceedinginmakinguphismindwhetherheortheofficialshadgonecrazy.Atlength,inastateborderinguponbewilderment,hereturnedtotheinn—totheestablishmentwhence,thateveryafternoon,hehadsetforthinsuchexuberanceofspirits.Feelingtheneedofsomethingtodo,heorderedtea,and,stillmarvellingatthestrangenessofhisposition,wasabouttopouroutthebeveragewhenthedooropenedandNozdrevmadehisappearance.
“Whatsaystheproverb?”hebegan.“‘Toseeafriend,sevenverstsisnottoolongaroundtomake.’Ihappenedtobepassingthehouse,sawalightinyourwindow,andthoughttomyself:‘Now,supposeIweretorunupandpayhimavisit?Itisunlikelythathewillbeasleep.’Ah,ha!Iseeteaonyourtable!Good!ThenIwilldrinkacupwithyou,forIhadwretchedstufffordinner,anditisbeginningtolieheavyonmystomach.Also,tellyourmantofillmeapipe.Whereisyourownpipe?”
“Ineversmoke,”rejoinedChichikovdrily.
“Rubbish!AsifIdidnotknowwhatachimney-potyouare!Whatisyourman’sname?Hi,Vakhramei!Comehere!”
“Petrushkaishisname,notVakhramei.
