Мертві душі
Chapter 11
Indeed,suchactivity,perspicuity,andubiquityashishadneverbeenseenorthoughtof.WithinfourweeksatthemosthehadsothoroughlygothishandinthathewasconversantwithCustomsprocedureineverydetail.Notonlycouldheweighandmeasure,butalsohecoulddivinefromaninvoicehowmanyarshinsofclothorothermaterialagivenpiececontained,andthen,takingarollofthelatterinhishand,couldspecifyatoncethenumberofpoundsatwhichitwouldtipthescale.Asforsearchings,well,evenhiscolleagueshadtoadmitthathepossessedthenoseofaveritablebloodhound,andthatitwasimpossiblenottomarvelatthepatiencewherewithhewouldtryeverybuttonofthesuspectedperson,yetpreserve,throughout,adeadlypolitenessandanicysang-froidwhichsurpassbelief.Andwhilethesearchedwereraging,andfoamingatthemouth,andfeelingthattheywouldgiveworldstoalterhissmilingexteriorwithagood,resoundingslap,hewouldmovenotamuscleofhisface,norabatebyajottheurbanityofhisdemeanour,ashemurmured,“Doyoumindsofarincommodingyourselfastostandup?”or“Praystepintothenextroom,madam,wherethewifeofoneofourstaffwillattendyou,”or“Prayallowmetoslipthispenknifeofmineintotheliningofyourcoat”(afterwhichhewouldextractthenceshawlsandtowelswithasmuchnonchalanceashewouldhavedonefromhisowntravelling-trunk).
