Мертві душі

           Next,ChichikovbidPetrushkagetoutthedustyportmanteaufromunderthebed,andthensettoworktocramintoit,pell-mell,socks,shirts,collars(bothcleananddirty),boottrees,acalendar,andavarietyofotherarticles.Everythingwentintothereceptaclejustasitcametohand,sincehisoneobjectwastoobviateanypossibledelayinthemorning’sdeparture.MeanwhilethereluctantSelifanslowly,veryslowly,lefttheroom,asslowlydescendedthestaircase(oneachseparatestepofwhichheleftamuddyfoot-print),and,finally,haltedtoscratchhishead.Whatthatscratchingmayhavemeantnoonecouldsay;for,withtheRussianpopulace,suchascratchingmaymeananyoneofahundredthings.