Мертві душі
Chapter 4
Infact,thedocumentsinquestionemployedanythingandeverythingasmaterial,eventoannouncingthatsuchandsuchanindividualhadanillegitimateson,thatsuchandsuchanotherkeptapaidmistress,andthatsuchandsuchathirdwastroubledwithagadaboutwife;wherebytherebecameinterwovenwithandweldedintoChichikov’spasthistoryandthestoryofthedeadsoulssuchacropofscandalsandinnuendoesthatbynomannerofmeanscouldanymortaldecidetowhichoftheserubbishyromancestoawardthepalm,sinceallthempresentedanequalclaimtothathonour.Naturally,when,atlength,thedossierreachedtheGovernor-Generalhimselfitsimplyflabbergastedthepoorman;andeventheexceptionallycleverandenergeticsecretarytowhomhedeputedthemakingofanabstractofthesameverynearlylosthisreasonwiththestrainofattemptingtolayholdofthetangledendoftheskein.IthappenedthatjustatthattimethePrincehadseveralotherimportantaffairsonhand,andaffairsofaveryunpleasantnature.
