Мертві душі

           AgainstthisthunderboltoffortunetheStateCouncillorcouldmakenoheadway,andinsomeretiredspotoranothersankintooblivion;butChichikovputabravefaceuponthematter,for,inspiteoftheauthorities’besteffortstosmellouthisgains,hehadcontrivedtoconcealaportionofthem,andalsoresortedtoeverysubtletrickofintellectwhichcouldpossiblybeemployedbyanexperiencedmanoftheworldwhohasawideknowledgeofhisfellows.Nothingwhichcouldbeeffectedbypleasantnessofdemeanour,bymovingoratory,bycloudsofflattery,andbytheoccasionalinsertionofacoinintoapalmdidheleaveundone;withtheresultthathewasretiredwithlessignominythanwashiscompanion,andescapedactualtrialonacriminalcharge.Yetheissuedstrippedofallhiscapital,strippedofhisimportedeffects,strippedofeverything.Thatistosay,allthatremainedtohimconsistedoftenthousandroubleswhichhehadstoredagainstarainyday,twodozenlinenshirts,asmallbritchkaofthetypeusedbybachelors,andtwoserving-mennamedSelifanandPetrushka.Yes,andanimpulseofkindnessmovedthetchinovniksoftheCustomsalsotosetasideforhimafewcakesofthesoapwhichhehadfoundsoexcellentforthefreshnessofthecheeks.Thusoncemoreourherofoundhimselfstranded.Andwhatanaccumulationofmisfortuneshaddescendeduponhishead!—though,true,hetermedthem“sufferingintheServiceinthecauseofTruth.