Мертві душі
Chapter 4
”
“Gotothecoachbuilder’s,”commandedChichikov,“andhavesledge-runnersfittedtothekoliaska.”
Chichikovthenmadehiswayintothetown—thoughnotwiththeobjectofpayingfarewellvisits(inviewofrecentevents,thatmighthavegivenrisetosomeawkwardness),butforthepurposeofpayinganunobtrusivecallattheshopwherehehadobtainedtheclothforhislatestsuit.Therehenowpurchasedfourmorearshinsofthesamesmoked-grey-shot-with-flame-colourmaterialashehadhadbefore,withtheintentionofhavingitmadeupbythetailorwhohadfashionedthepreviouscostume;andbypromisingdoubleremunerationheinducedthetailorinquestionsotohastenthecuttingoutofthegarmentsthat,throughsittingupallnightoverthework,themanmighthavethewholereadybybreakofday.True,thegoodsweredeliveredatrifleaftertheappointedhour,yetthefollowingmorningsawthecoatandbreechescompleted;andwhilethehorseswerebeingputto,Chichikovtriedontheclothes,andfoundthemequaltothepreviouscreation,eventhoughduringtheprocesshecaughtsightofabaldpatchonhishead,andwasledmournfullytoreflect:“Alas!WhydidIgivewaytosuchdespair?SurelyIneednothavetornmyhairoutsofreely?”
Then,whenthetailorhadbeenpaid,ourheroleftthetown.ButnolongerwashetheoldChichikov—hewasonlyaruinofwhathehadbeen,andhisframeofmindmighthavebeencomparedtoabuildingrecentlypulleddowntomakeroomforanewone,whilethenewonehadnotyetbeenerectedowingtothenon-receiptoftheplansfromthearchitect.
