Мертві душі
Chapter 1
Indeed,fewcompletedthecourseofwhichIhavespokenwithoutissuingtherefromreliable,seasonedfighterswhocouldkeeptheirheadsinthemostembarrassingofofficialpositions,andattimeswhenolderandwisermen,distractedwiththeannoyancesoflife,hadeitherabandonedeverythingor,grownslackandindifferent,hadsurrenderedtothebribe-takersandtherascals.Inshort,noex-pupilofAlexanderPetrovitcheverwaveredfromtherightroad,but,familiarwithlifeandwithmen,armedwiththeweaponsofprudence,exertedapowerfulinfluenceuponwrongdoers.
ForalongtimepasttheardentyoungTientietnikov’sexcitablehearthadalsobeatatthethoughtthatonedayhemightattaintheseniorclassdescribed.And,indeed,whatbetterteachercouldhehavehadbefallhimthanitspreceptor?Yetjustatthemomentwhenhehadbeentransferredthereto,justatthemomentwhenhehadreachedthecovetedposition,didhisinstructorcomesuddenlybyhisdeath!Thiswasindeedablowfortheboy—indeedaterribleinitialloss!Inhiseyeseverythingconnectedwiththeschoolseemedtoundergoachange—thechiefreasonbeingthefactthattotheplaceofthedeceasedheadmastertheresucceededacertainThedorIvanovitch,whoatoncebegantoinsistuponcertainexternalrules,andtodemandoftheboyswhatoughtrightlytohavebeendemandedonlyofadults.
