Мертві душі

           Asafirststep,hetooktoconsultingtheother’sconvenienceinallmannerofinsignificanttrifles—tocleaninghispenscarefully,and,whentheyhadbeenpreparedexactlytotheChiefClerk’sliking,layingthemreadyathiselbow;todustingandsweepingfromhistableallsuperfluoussandandtobaccoash;toprocuringanewmatforhisinkstand;tolookingforhishat—themeanest-lookinghatthatevertheworldbeheld—andhavingitreadyforhimattheexactmomentwhenbusinesscametoanend;tobrushinghisbackifithappenedtobecomesmearedwithwhitewashfromawall.Yetallthispassedasunnoticedasthoughithadneverbeendone.Finally,Chichikovsniffedintohissuperior’sfamilyanddomesticlife,andlearntthathepossessedagrown-updaughteronwhosefacealsotherehadtakenplaceanocturnal,diabolicalgrindingofpeas.HEREwasaquarterwhenceafreshattackmightbedelivered!AfterascertainingwhatchurchthedaughterattendedonSundays,ourherotooktocontrivingtomeetherinaneatsuitandawell-starcheddickey:andsoontheschemebegantowork.ThesurlyChiefClerkwaveredforawhile;thenendedbyinvitingChichikovtotea.NorcouldanymanintheofficehavetoldyouhowitcameaboutthatbeforelongChichikovhadremovedtotheChiefClerk’shouse,andbecomeapersonnecessary—indeedindispensable—tothehousehold,seeingthatheboughttheflourandthesugar,treatedthedaughterashisbetrothed,calledtheChiefClerk“Papenka,”andoccasionallykissed“Papenka’s”hand.