Мертві душі

           Although,unfortunately,theoccurrenceofabadharvestretainedmanylandownersattheircountryhouses,thelocaltchinovniks(whomthefailureoftheharvestdidNOTtouch)proceededtoletthemselvesgo—asalso,totheirundoing,didtheirwives.Thereadingofbooksofthetypediffused,inthesemoderndays,fortheinoculationofhumanitywithacravingfornewandsuperioramenitiesoflifehadcausedeveryonetoconceiveapassionforexperimentingwiththelatestluxury;andtomeetthiswanttheFrenchwinemerchantopenedanewestablishmentintheshapeofarestaurantashadneverbeforebeenheardofintheprovince—arestaurantwheresuppercouldbeprocuredoncreditasregardedone-half,andforanunprecedentedlylowsumasregardedtheother.Thisexactlysuitedbothheadsofboardsandclerkswhowerelivinginhopeofbeingablesomedaytoresumetheirbribes-takingfromsuitors.Therealsodevelopedatendencytocompeteinthematterofhorsesandliveriedflunkeys;withtheresultthatdespitethedampandsnowyweatherexceedinglyelegantturnoutstooktoparadingbackwardsandforwards.WhencetheseequipageshadcomeGodonlyknows,butatleasttheywouldnothavedisgracedSt.Petersburg.Fromwithinthemmerchantsandattorneysdoffedtheircapstoladies,andinquiredaftertheirhealth,andlikewiseitbecameararesighttoseeabeardedmaninaroughfurcap,sinceeveryonenowwentaboutclean-shavenandwithdirtyteeth,aftertheEuropeanfashion.

           “Sir,Ibegofyoutoinspectmygoods,”saidatradesmanasChichikovwaspassinghisestablishment.