Мертві душі
Chapter 1
Yetrecentlythelocalpaperhadsaid(aproposofagala)that,“ThankstotheeffortsofourCivilGovernor,thetownhasbecomeenrichedwithapleasauncefullofumbrageous,spaciously-branchingtrees.Evenonthemostsultrydaytheyaffordagreeableshade,andindeedgratifyingwasittoseetheheartsofourcitizenspantingwithanimpulseofgratitudeastheireyesshedtearsinrecognitionofallthattheirGovernorhasdoneforthem!”
Next,afterinquiringofagendarmeastothebestwaysandmeansoffindingthelocalcouncil,thelocallaw-courts,andthelocalGovernor,shouldhe(Chichikov)haveneedofthem,thegentlemanwentontoinspecttheriverwhichranthroughthetown.Enroutehetoreoffanoticeaffixedtoapost,inorderthathemightthemoreconvenientlyreaditafterhisreturntotheinn.Also,hebestoweduponaladyofpleasantexteriorwho,escortedbyafootmanladenwithabundle,happenedtobepassingalongawoodensidewalkaprolongedstare.Lastly,hethrewaroundhimacomprehensiveglance(asthoughtofixinhismindthegeneraltopographyoftheplace)andbetookhimselfhome.There,gentlyaidedbythewaiter,heascendedthestairstohisbedroom,drankaglassoftea,and,seatinghimselfatthetable,calledforacandle;whichhavingbeenbroughthim,heproducedfromhispocketthenotice,helditclosetotheflame,andconneditstenour—slightlycontractinghisrighteyeashedidso.Yettherewaslittleinthenoticetocallforremark.
