Мертві душі
Chapter 1
Toresume,however—ourtravellerremovedhiscap,anddivestedhisneckofaparti-colouredwoollenscarfofthekindwhichawifemakesforherhusbandwithherownhands,whileaccompanyingthegiftwithinterminableinjunctionsastohowbestsuchagarmentoughttobefolded.True,bachelorsalsowearsimilargauds,but,intheircase,Godaloneknowswhomayhavemanufacturedthearticles!Formypart,Icannotendurethem.Havingunfoldedthescarf,thegentlemanordereddinner,andwhilstthevariousdisheswerebeinggotready—cabbagesoup,apieseveralweeksold,adishofmarrowandpeas,adishofsausagesandcabbage,aroastfowl,somesaltedcucumber,andthesweettartwhichstandsperpetuallyreadyforuseinsuchestablishments;whilst,Isay,thesethingswereeitherbeingwarmeduporbroughtincold,thegentlemaninducedthewaitertoretailcertainfragmentsoftittle-tattleconcerningthelatelandlordofthehostelry,theamountofincomewhichthehostelryproduced,andthecharacterofitspresentproprietor.Tothelast-mentionedinquirythewaiterreturnedtheanswerinvariablygiveninsuchcases—namely,“Mymasterisaterriblyhardman,sir.”CuriousthatinenlightenedRussiasomanypeoplecannoteventakeamealataninnwithoutchatteringtotheattendantandmakingfreewithhim!NeverthelessnotALLthequestionswhichthegentlemanaskedwereaimlessones,forheinquiredwhowasGovernorofthetown,whoPresidentoftheLocalCouncil,andwhoPublicProsecutor.
