Мертві душі

           Atfirstheremainedunconsciousofanythingwhatsoever,forhewastoomuchengagedinmakingsurethathewasreallyclearofthetown;butassoonashesawthatithadcompletelydisappeared,withitsmillsandfactoriesandotherurbanappurtenances,andthateventhesteeplesofthewhitestonechurcheshadsunkbelowthehorizon,heturnedhisattentiontotheroad,andthetownofN.vanishedfromhisthoughtsascompletelyasthoughhehadnotseenitsincechildhood.Again,initsturn,theroadceasedtointeresthim,andhebegantoclosehiseyesandtolollhisheadagainstthecushions.Ofthislettheauthortakeadvantage,inordertospeakatlengthconcerninghishero;sincehithertohe(theauthor)hasbeenpreventedfromsodoingbyNozdrevandballsandladiesandlocalintrigues—bythosethousandtrifleswhichseemtriflesonlywhentheyareintroducedintoabook,butwhich,inlife,figureasaffairsofimportance.Letuslaythemaside,andbetakeourselvestobusiness.

           WhetherthecharacterwhomIhaveselectedformyherohaspleasedmyreadersis,ofcourse,exceedinglydoubtful.Atalleventstheladieswillhavefailedtoapprovehimforthefairsexdemandsinaheroperfection,and,shouldtherebetheleastmentalorphysicalstainonhim—well,woebetide!Yes,nomatterhowprofoundlytheauthormayprobethathero’ssoul,nomatterhowclearlyhemayportrayhisfigureasinamirror,hewillbegivennocreditfortheachievement.