Мертві душі

           Ofthetriflewhichhisfatherhadgivenhimonpartinghespentnotakopeck,but,thesameyear,actuallyaddedtohislittlestorebyfashioningabullfinchofwax,paintingit,andsellingthesameatahandsomeprofit.Next,astimewenton,heengagedinotherspeculations—inparticular,intheschemeofbuyingupeatables,takinghisseatinclassbesideboyswhohadplentyofpocket-money,and,assoonassuchopulentindividualsshowedsignsoffailingattention(and,therefore,ofgrowingappetite),tenderingthem,frombeneaththedesk,arollofpuddingorapieceofgingerbread,andchargingaccordingtodegreeofappetiteandsizeofportion.Healsospentacoupleofmonthsintrainingamouse,whichhekeptconfinedinalittlewoodencageinhisbedroom.Atlength,whenthetraininghadreachedthepointthat,attheseveralwordsofcommand,themousewouldstanduponitshindlegs,liedown,andgetupagain,hesoldthecreatureforarespectablesum.Thus,intime,hisgainsattainedtheamountoffiveroubles;whereuponhemadehimselfapurseandthenstartedtofillasecondreceptacleofthekind.Stillmorestudiedwashisattitudetowardstheauthorities.Noonecouldsitmorequietlyinhisplaceonthebenchthanhe.Inthesameconnectionitmayberemarkedthathisteacherwasamanwho,aboveallthings,lovedpeaceandgoodbehaviour,andsimplycouldnotabideclever,wittyboys,sincehesuspectedthemoflaughingathim.