Мертві душі
Chapter 1
NeverthelessTientietnikov,ayouthofretiringdisposition,experiencednoleaningstowardsthenocturnalorgiesofhiscompanions,orgiesduringwhichthelatterusedtoflirtwithdamselsbeforetheverywindowsoftheheadmaster’srooms,noryettowardstheirmockeryofallthatwassacred,simplybecausefatehadcastintheirwayaninjudiciouspriest.No,despiteitsdreaminess,hissouleverremembereditscelestialorigin,andcouldnotbedivertedfromthepathofvirtue.Yetstillhehunghishead,for,whilehisambitionhadcometolife,itcouldfindnosortofoutlet.Truly‘twerewellifithadNOTcometolife,forthroughoutthetimethathewaslisteningtoprofessorswhogesticulatedontheirchairshecouldnothelprememberingtheoldpreceptorwho,invariablycoolandcalm,hadyetknownhowtomakehimselfunderstood.Towhatsubjects,towhatlectures,didtheboynothavetolisten!—tolecturesonmedicine,andonphilosophy,andonlaw,andonaversionofgeneralhistorysoenlargedthateventhreeyearsfailedtoenabletheprofessortodomorethanfinishtheintroductionthereto,andalsotheaccountofthedevelopmentofsomeself-governingtownsinGermany.NoneofthestuffremainedfixedinTientietnikov’sbrainsaveasshapelessclots;forthoughhisnativeintellectcouldnottellhimhowinstructionoughttobeimparted,itatleasttoldhimthatTHISwasnottheway.Andfrequently,atsuchmomentshewouldrecallAlexanderPetrovitch,andgivewaytosuchgriefthatscarcelydidheknowwhathewasdoing.
