Мертві душі

           Within,onthegroundfloor,therestoodanumberofbenchesheapedwithhorse-collars,rope,andsheepskins;whilethewindow-seataccommodatedasbitentshik4,cheekbyjowlwithasamovar5—thelattersocloselyresemblingtheformerinappearancethat,butforthefactofthesamovarpossessingapitch-blacklip,thesamovarandthesbitentshikmighthavebeentwoofapair.

           Duringthetraveller’sinspectionofhisroomhisluggagewasbroughtintotheapartment.Firstcameaportmanteauofwhiteleatherwhoseraggednessindicatedthatthereceptaclehadmadeseveralpreviousjourneys.Thebearersofthesamewerethegentleman’scoachman,Selifan(alittlemaninalargeovercoat),andthegentleman’svalet,Petrushka—thelatterafellowofaboutthirty,cladinaworn,over-amplejacketwhichformerlyhadgracedhismaster’sshoulders,andpossessedofanoseandapairoflipswhosecoarsenesscommunicatedtohisfaceratherasullenexpression.Behindtheportmanteaucameasmalldispatch-boxofredwood,linedwithbirchbark,aboot-case,and(wrappedinbluepaper)aroastfowl;allofwhichhavingbeendeposited,thecoachmandepartedtolookafterhishorses,andthevalettoestablishhimselfinthelittledarkanteroomorkennelwherealreadyhehadstoredacloak,abagfuloflivery,andhisownpeculiarsmell.Pressingthenarrowbedsteadbackagainstthewall,hecovereditwiththetinyremnantofmattress—aremnantasthinandflat(perhapsalsoasgreasy)asapancake—whichhehadmanagedtobegofthelandlordoftheestablishment.