Мертві душі
Chapter 3
Meanwhiletheraincontinuedtobeatsonorouslydownuponthewoodenroof,andcouldbeheardtricklingintoawaterbutt;norforasinglemomentdidthedogsceasetobarkwithallthestrengthoftheirlungs.Oneofthem,throwingupitshead,keptventingahowlofsuchenergyanddurationthattheanimalseemedtobehowlingforahandsomewager;whileanother,cuttinginbetweentheyelpingsofthefirstanimal,keptrestlesslyreiterating,likeapostman’sbell,thenotesofaveryyoungpuppy.Finally,anoldhoundwhichappearedtobegiftedwithapeculiarlyrobusttemperamentkeptsupplyingthepartofcontrabasso,sothathisgrowlsresembledtherumblingofabasssingerwhenachorusisinfullcry,andthetenorsarerisingontiptoeintheireffortstocompassaparticularlyhighnote,andthewholebodyofchoristersarewaggingtheirheadsbeforeapproachingaclimax,andthiscontrabassoaloneistuckinghisbeardedchinintohiscollar,andsinkingalmosttoasquattingpostureonthefloor,inordertoproduceanotewhichshallcausethewindowstoshiverandtheirpanestocrack.Naturally,fromacaninechorusofsuchexecutantsitmightreasonablybeinferredthattheestablishmentwasoneoftheutmostrespectability.Tothat,however,ourdamp,coldherogavenotathought,forallhismindwasfixeduponbed.Indeed,thebritchkahadhardlycometoastandstillbeforeheleaptoutuponthedoorstep,missedhisfooting,andcamewithinanaceoffalling.
