Мертві душі
Chapter 3
”
SoChichikovmadetheattempt;andinverytruththevealwasbeyondallpraise,androomwasfoundforit,eventhoughonewouldhavesupposedthefeatimpossible.
“FancythisgoodfellowremovingtoSt.PetersburgorMoscow!”saidtheguesttohimself.“Why,withascaleoflivinglikethis,hewouldberuinedinthreeyears.”Forthatmatter,Pietukhmightwellhavebeenruinedalready,forhospitalitycandissipateafortuneinthreemonthsaseasilyasitcaninthreeyears.
Thehostalsodispensedthewinewithalavishhand,andwhattheguestsdidnotdrinkhegavetohissons,whothusswallowedglassafterglass.Indeed,evenbeforecomingtotable,itwaspossibletodiscerntowhatdepartmentofhumanaccomplishmenttheirbentwasturned.Whenthemealwasover,however,theguestshadnomindforfurtherdrinking.Indeed,itwasallthattheycoulddotodragthemselvesontothebalcony,andtheretorelapseintoeasychairs.Indeed,themomentthatthehostsubsidedintohisseat—itwaslargeenoughforfour—hefellasleep,andhisportlypresence,convertingitselfintoasortofblacksmith’sbellows,startedtovent,throughopenmouthanddistendednostrils,suchsoundsascanhavegreetedthereader’searbutseldom—soundsasofadrumbeingbeatenincombinationwiththewhistlingofafluteandthestridenthowlingofadog.
“Listentohim!”saidPlaton.
Chichikovsmiled.
“Naturally,onsuchdinnersasthat,”continuedtheother,“ourhostdoesNOTfindthetimedull.Andassoonasdinnerisendedtherecanensuesleep.
