Мертві душі

           Wemakethennicelyhere,andtheydonottakelonginthemaking.”

           Soshedepartedtotranslateherthoughtsintoaction,aswellastosupplementthepiewithotherproductsofthedomesticcuisine;while,forhispart,Chichikovreturnedtothedrawing-roomwherehehadspentthenight,inordertoprocurefromhisdispatch-boxthenecessarywriting-paper.Theroomhadnowbeensetinorder,thesumptuousfeatherbedremoved,andatablesetbeforethesofa.Depositinghisdispatch-boxuponthetable,heheavedagentlesighonbecomingawarethathewassosoakedwithperspirationthathemightalmosthavebeendippedinariver.Everything,fromhisshirttohissocks,wasdripping.“Mayshestarvetodeath,thecursedoldharridan!”heejaculatedafteramoment’srest.Thenheopenedhisdispatch-box.Inpassing,ImaysaythatIfeelcertainthatatleastSOMEofmyreaderswillbecurioustoknowthecontentsandtheinternalarrangementsofthatreceptacle.WhyshouldInotgratifytheircuriosity?Tobeginwith,thecentreoftheboxcontainedasoap-dish,with,disposedaroundit,sixorsevencompartmentsforrazors.Nextcamesquarepartitionsforasand-box17andaninkstand,aswellas(scoopedoutintheirmidst)ahollowofpens,sealing-wax,andanythingelsethatrequiredmoreroom.Lastlytherewereallsortsoflittledivisions,bothwithandwithoutlids,forarticlesofasmallernature,suchasvisitingcards,memorialcards,theatretickets,andthingswhichChichikovhadlaidbyassouvenirs.