Мертві душі

           Armedwiththeseresources,henextobtainedpromotiontowhatisknownas“afatpost,”andusedittothebestadvantage;andeventhough,atthatperiod,strictinquiryhadbeguntobemadeintothewholesubjectofbribes,suchinquiryfailedtoalarmhim—nay,heactuallyturnedittoaccountandtherebymanifestedtheRussianresourcefulnesswhichneverfailstoattainitszenithwhereextortionisconcerned.Hismethodofworkingwasthefollowing.Assoonasapetitionerorasuitorputhishandintohispocket,toextractthencethenecessarylettersofrecommendationforsignature,Chichikovwouldsmilinglyexclaimashedetainedhisinterlocutor’shand:“No,no!SurelyyoudonotthinkthatI—?Butno,no!Itisourduty,itisourobligation,andwedonotrequirerewardsfordoingourworkproperly.SofarasYOURmatterisconcerned,youmayresteasy.Everythingshallbecarriedthroughto-morrow.ButmayIhaveyouraddress?Thereisnoneedtotroubleyourself,seeingthatthedocumentscaneasilybebroughttoyouatyourresidence.”Uponwhichthedelightedsuitorwouldreturnhomeinraptures,thinking:“Here,atlonglast,isthesortofmansobadlyneeded.Amanofthatkindisajewelbeyondprice.”Yetforaday,fortwodays—nay,evenforthree—thesuitorwouldwaitinvainsofarasanymessengerswithdocumentswereconcerned.Thenhewouldrepairtotheoffice—tofindthathisbusinesshadnotsomuchasbeenenteredupon!Lastly,hewouldconfrontthe“jewelbeyondprice.