Мертві душі
Chapter 4
Onlearningoftheplaceofconfinementofthewomanwhohadbeenarrested,hepresentedhimselfatthedoors,andpassedsowellforasmartyoungofficerofgendarmerythatthesentrysalutedandsprangtoattention.
“Haveyoubeenondutylong?”askedSamosvitov.
“Sincethismorning,yourExcellency.”
“Andshallyousoonberelieved?”
“Inthreehoursfromnow,yourExcellency.”
“PresentlyIshallwantyou,soIwillinstructyourofficertohaveyourelievedatonce.”
“Verygood,yourExcellency.”
Hasteninghome,thereafter,attopspeed,anddonningtheuniformofagendarme,withafalsemoustacheandapairoffalsewhiskers—anensembleinwhichthedevilhimselfwouldnothaveknownhim,SamosvitovthenmadeforthegaolwhereChichikovwasconfined,and,enroute,impressedintotheservicethefirststreetwomanwhomheencountered,andhandedherovertothecareoftwoyoungfellowsoflikesortwithhimself.Thenextstepwastohurrybacktotheprisonwheretheoriginalwomanhadbeeninterned,andtheretointimatetothesentrythathe,Samosvitov(withwhiskersandriflecomplete),hadbeensenttorelievethesaidsentryathispost—aproceedingwhich,ofcourse,enabledthenewly-arrivedrelieftoensure,whileperforminghisself-assumedturnofduty,thatforthewomanlyingunderarrestthereshouldbesubstitutedthewomanrecentlyrecruitedtotheplot,andthattheformershouldthenbeconveyedtoaplaceofconcealmentwhereshewashighlyunlikelytobediscovered.
