Мертві душі

           ClearlythefoundationaffordedbythesoilofthosepartswasbetterthanthatwheretheGovernmentbuildingwasstillengagedinhangingfire!LikewisethemembersoftheCommissionbegantolookexceedinglyprosperous,andtoblossomoutintofamilylife;and,forthefirsttimeinhisexistence,evenChichikovalsodepartedfromtheironlawsofhisself-imposedrestraintandinexorableself-denial,andsofarmitigatedhisheretoforeasceticismastoshowhimselfamannotaversetothoseamenitieswhich,duringhisyouth,hehadbeencapableofrenouncing.Thatistosay,certainsuperfluitiesbegantomaketheirappearanceinhisestablishment.Heengagedagoodcook,tooktowearinglinenshirts,boughtforhimselfclothofapatternwornbynooneelseintheprovince,figuredinchecksshotwiththebrightestofredsandbrowns,fittedhimselfoutwithtwosplendidhorses(whichhedrovewithasinglepairofreins,addedtoaringattachmentforthetracehorse),developedahabitofwashingwithaspongedippedineau-de-Cologne,andinvestedinsoapsofthemostexpensivequality,inordertocommunicatetohisskinamoreelegantpolish.

           ButsuddenlythereappeareduponthesceneanewDirector—amilitaryman,andamartinetasregardedhishostilitytobribe-takersandanythingwhichmightbecalledirregular.Ontheverydayafterhisarrivalhestruckfearintoeverybreastbycallingforaccounts,discoveringhostsofdeficitsandmissingsums,anddirectinghisattentiontotheaforesaidfinehousesofcivilianarchitecture.Uponthatthereensuedacompletereshuffling.