Мертві душі
Chapter 3
”Andhegavetheanimalanothercut,andthenshoutedtothetrio,“Geeup,mybeauties!”anddrewhiswhipgentlyacrossthebacksoftheskewbald’scomrades—notasapunishment,butasasignofhisapproval.Thatdone,headdressedhimselftotheskewbaldagain.
“Doyouthink,”hecried,“thatIdon’tseewhatyouaredoing?Youcanbehavequitedecentlywhenyoulike,andmakeamanrespectyou.”
Withthathefelltorecallingcertainreminiscences.
“TheywereNICEfolk,thosefolkatthegentleman’syonder,”hemused.“IDOloveachatwithamanwhenheisagoodsort.WithamanofthatkindIamalwayshail-fellow-well-met,andgladtodrinkaglassofteawithhim,ortoeatabiscuit.OneCAN’Thelprespectingadecentfellow.Forinstance,thisgentlemanofmine—why,everyonelooksuptohim,forhehasbeenintheGovernment’sservice,andisaCollegiateCouncillor.”
Thussoliloquising,hepassedtomoreremoteabstractions;until,hadChichikovbeenlistening,hewouldhavelearntanumberofinterestingdetailsconcerninghimself.However,histhoughtswerewhollyoccupiedwithhisownsubject,somuchsothatnotuntilaloudclapofthunderawokehimfromhisreveriedidheglancearoundhim.Theskywascompletelycoveredwithclouds,andthedustyturnpikebeginningtobesprinkledwithdropsofrain.Atlengthasecondandanearerandalouderpealresounded,andtheraindescendedasfromabucket.
