Мертві душі
Chapter 4
Hehadbeenunawarethatbothinourcapitalsandinourprovincialtownsthereexistsaclassofmenwhoselivesareanenigma—menwho,thoughtheywillseemtohaveexhaustedtheirsubstance,andtohavebecomeenmeshedindebt,willsuddenlybereportedasinfunds,andonthepointofgivingadinner!Andthough,atthisdinner,theguestswilldeclarethatthefestivalisboundtobetheirhost’slastfling,andthatforacertaintyhewillbehaledtoprisononthemorrow,tenyearsormorewillelapse,andtherascalwillstillbeatliberty,eventhough,inthemeanwhile,hisdebtswillhaveincreased!
InthesamewaydidtheconductofKhlobuev’smenageaffordacuriousphenomenon,foronedaythehousewouldbethesceneofasolemnTeDeum,performedbyapriestinvestments,andthenextofastageplayperformedbyatroupeofFrenchactorsintheatricalcostume.Again,onedaywouldseenotamorselofbreadinthehouse,andthenextdayabanquetandgenerouslargessegiventoapartyofartistsandsculptors.Duringtheseseasonsofscarcity(sufficientlyseveretohaveledanyonebutKhlobuevtoseeksuicidebyhangingorshooting),themasterofthehousewouldbepreservedfromrashactionbyhisstronglyreligiousdisposition,which,contrivinginsomecuriouswaytoconformwithhisirregularmodeoflife,enabledhimtofallbackuponreadingthelivesofsaints,ascetics,andothersofthetypewhichhasrisensuperiortoitsmisfortunes.
