Мертві душі
Chapter 4
HowtheauthoritieshadcometosuspectandtoascertainallthisGodonlyknows,butthefactremainsthattherehadfallenintothehandsofthoseauthoritiesinformationconcerningmattersofwhichChichikovhadbelievedonlyhimselfandthefourwallstobeaware.True,foratimethesemattersremainedwithinthecognisanceofnonebutthefunctionariesconcerned,andfailedtoreachChichikov’sears;butatlengthaletterfromaconfidentialfriendgavehimreasontothinkthatthefatwasabouttofallintothefire.Saidtheletterbriefly:“Dearsir,Ibegtoadviseyouthatpossiblylegaltroubleispending,butthatyouhavenocauseforuneasiness,seeingthateverythingwillbeattendedtobyyoursverytruly.”Yet,inspiteofitstenor,theepistlereassureditsrecipient.“Whatageniusthefellowis!”thoughtChichikovtohimself.Next,tocompletehissatisfaction,histailorarrivedwiththenewsuitwhichhehadordered.Notwithoutacertainsenseofpridedidourheroinspectthefrockcoatofsmokedgreyshotwithflamecolourandlookatitfromeverypointofview,andthentryonthebreeches—thelatterfittinghimlikeapicture,andquiteconcealinganydeficienciesinthematterofhisthighsandcalves(though,whenbuckledbehind,theylefthisstomachprojectinglikeadrum).True,thecustomerremarkedthatthereappearedtobeaslighttightnessundertherightarmpit,butthesmilingtailoronlyrejoinedthatthatwouldcausethewaisttofitallthebetter.
