Мертві душі

           OfthismentoryoungChichikovspeedilyappraisedthementality;whereforehefashionedhisbehaviourtocorrespondwithit.Notaneyelid,notaneyebrow,wouldhestirduringschoolhours,howsoevermanypincheshemightreceivefrombehind;andonlywhenthebellrangwouldheruntoanticipatehisfellowsinhandingthemasterthethree-corneredcapwhichthatdignitarycustomarilysported,andthentobethefirsttoleavetheclass-room,andcontrivetomeetthemasternotlessthantwoorthreetimesasthelatterwalkedhomeward,inorderthat,oneachoccasion,hemightdoffhiscap.Andtheschemeprovedentirelysuccessful.Throughouttheperiodofhisattendanceatschoolhewasheldinhighfavour,and,onleavingtheestablishment,receivedfullmarksforeverysubject,aswellasadiplomaandabookinscribed(ingiltletters)“ForExemplaryDiligenceandthePerfectionofGoodConduct.”Bythistimehehadgrownintoafairlygood-lookingyouthoftheagewhenthechinfirstcallsforarazor;andataboutthesameperiodhisfatherdied,leavingbehindhim,ashisestate,fourwaistcoatscompletelywornout,twoancientfrockcoats,andasmallsumofmoney.ApparentlyhehadbeenskilledonlyinRECOMMENDINGthesavingofkopecks—notinACTUALLYPRACTISINGtheart.UponthatChichikovsoldtheoldhouseanditslittleparceloflandforathousandroubles,andremoved,withhisoneserfandtheserf’sfamily,tothecapital,wherehesetaboutorganisinganewestablishmentandenteringtheCivilService.