Мертві душі
Chapter 11
“ThankGod!”thoughtChichikovasthebritchkarolledoutofthegatesoftheinn,andthevehiclebegantojoltoverthecobblestones.Yetafeelingwhichhecouldnotaltogetherhavedefinedfilledhisbreastashegazeduponthehousesandthestreetsandthegardenwallswhichhemightneverseeagain.Presently,onturningacorner,thebritchkawasbroughttoahaltthroughthefactthatalongthestreettherewasfilingaseeminglyendlessfuneralprocession.Leaningforwardinhisbritchka,ChichikovaskedPetrushkawhoseobsequiestheprocessionrepresented,andwastoldthattheyrepresentedthoseofthePublicProsecutor.Disagreeablyshocked,ourherohastenedtoraisethehoodofthevehicle,todrawthecurtainsacrossthewindows,andtoleanbackintoacorner.WhilethebritchkaremainedthushaltedSelifanandPetrushka,theircapsdoffed,satwatchingtheprogressofthecortege,aftertheyhadreceivedstrictinstructionsnottogreetanyfellow-servantwhomtheymightrecognise.Behindthehearsewalkedthewholebodyoftchinovniks,bare-headed;andthough,foramomentortwo,Chichikovfearedthatsomeoftheirnumbermightdiscernhiminhisbritchka,heneednothavedisturbedhimself,sincetheirattentionwasotherwiseengaged.Infact,theywerenotevenexchangingthesmalltalkcustomaryamongmembersofsuchprocessions,butthinkingexclusivelyoftheirownaffairs,oftheadventofthenewGovernor-General,andoftheprobablemannerinwhichhewouldtakeupthereinsofadministration.Nextcameanumberofcarriages,fromthewindowsofwhichpeeredtheladiesinmourningtoilets.
