Мертві душі

           Beginningwithaheatedargument,thisquarrelreachedthepointofChichikov—whowas,possibly,atrifletipsy—callinghiscolleagueapriest’sson;andthoughthatdescriptionofthepersonsoaddressedwasperfectlyaccurate,hechosetotakeoffence,andtoanswerChichikovwiththewords(loudlyandincisivelyuttered),“ItisYOUwhohaveapriestforyourfather,”andtoaddtothat(themoretoincensehiscompanion),“Yes,markyou!THATishowitis.”Yet,thoughhehadthusturnedthetablesuponChichikovwithatuquoque,andthencappedthatexploitwiththewordslastquoted,theoffendedtchinovnikcouldnotremainsatisfied,butwentontosendinananonymousdocumenttotheauthorities.Ontheotherhand,someaverthatitwasoverawomanthatthepairfellout—overawomanwho,toquotethephrasethencurrentamongthestaffoftheCustomsDepartment,was“asfreshandasstrongasthepulpofaturnip,”andthatnight-birdswerehiredtoassaultourheroinadarkalley,andthattheschememiscarried,andthatinanycasebothChichikovandhisfriendhadbeendeceived,seeingthatthepersontowhomtheladyhadreallyaccordedherfavourswasacertainstaff-captainnamedShamsharev.However,onlyGodknowsthetruthofthematter.Lettheinquisitivereaderferretitoutforhimself.Thefactremainsthatacompleteexposureofthedealingswiththecontrabandistsfollowed,andthatthetwotchinovnikswereputtothequestion,deprivedoftheirproperty,andmadetoformulateinwritingallthattheyhaddone.