Мертві душі

           “Shouldyouwhipme,youwillwhipme,andIshallhavenothingtocomplainof.WhyshouldyounotwhipmeifIdeserveit?‘Tisforyoutodoasyoulike.Whippingsarenecessarysometimes,forapeasantoftenplaysthefool,anddisciplineoughttobemaintained.IfIhavedeservedit,beatme.Whyshouldyounot?”

           Thisreasoningseemed,atthemoment,irrefutable,andChichikovsaidnothingmore.Fortunatelyfatehaddecidedtotakepityonthepair,forfromafartheirearscaughtthebarkingofadog.Pluckingupcourage,Chichikovgaveordersforthebritchkatoberighted,andthehorsestobeurgedforward;andsinceaRussiandriverhasatleastthismerit,that,owingtoakeensenseofsmellbeingabletotaketheplaceofeyesight,hecan,ifnecessary,driveatrandomandyetreachadestinationofsomesort,Selifansucceeded,thoughpowerlesstodiscernasingleobject,indirectinghissteedstoacountryhousenearby,andthatwithsuchacertaintyofinstinctthatitwasnotuntiltheshaftshadcollidedwithagardenwall,andtherebymadeitclearthattoproceedanotherpacewasimpossible,thathestopped.AllthatChichikovcoulddiscernthroughthethickveilofpouringrainwassomethingwhichresembledaverandah.SohedispatchedSelifantosearchfortheentrancegates,andthatprocesswouldhavelastedindefinitelyhaditnotbeenshortenedbythecircumstancethat,inRussia,theplaceofaSwissfootmanisfrequentlytakenbywatchdogs;ofwhichanimalsanumbernowproclaimedthetravellers’presencesoloudlythatChichikovfoundhimselfforcedtostophisears.