Мертві душі
Chapter 4
Yet,ingeneral,hepossessedneitheralovefornoratalentforunderhanddealings,and,hadnotfateandcircumstancesfavouredChichikovbycausingLienitsin’swifetoentertheroomatthatmoment,thingsmighthaveturnedoutverydifferentlyfromwhattheydid.Madamewasapale,thin,insignificant-lookingyounglady,butnonethelessaladywhoworeherclothesalaSt.Petersburg,andcultivatedthesocietyofpersonswhowereunimpeachablycommeilfaut.Behindher,borneinanurse’sarms,camethefirstfruitsoftheloveofhusbandandwife.Adoptinghismosttellingmethodofapproach(themethodaccompaniedwithasidelonginclinationoftheheadandasortofhop),Chichikovhastenedtogreettheladyfromthemetropolis,andthenthebaby.Atfirstthelatterstartedtobellowdisapproval,butthewords“Agoo,agoo,mypet!”addedtoalittlecrackingofthefingersandasightofabeautifulsealonawatchchain,enabledChichikovtoweedletheinfantintohisarms;afterwhichhefelltoswingingitupanddownuntilhehadcontrivedtoraiseasmileonitsface—acircumstancewhichgreatlydelightedtheparents,andfinallyinclinedthefatherinhisvisitor’sfavour.Suddenly,however—whetherfrompleasureorfromsomeothercause—theinfantmisbehaveditself!
“MyGod!”criedMadame.“Hehasgoneandspoiltyourfrockcoat!”
Trueenough,onglancingdownwards,Chichikovsawthatthesleeveofhisbrand-newgarmenthadindeedsufferedahurt.
