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Happy is the writer who misses the characters. Dead Souls

N. Gogol

Volume 1
Chapter 7
(Excerpt)

Happy is the traveler who, after a long, boring road with its cold, slush, mud, sleepless stationmasters, with the rattling of bells, repairs, squabbles, coachmen, blacksmiths and all kinds of road scoundrels, he finally sees a familiar roof with lights rushing towards him, and familiar rooms will appear before him, the joyful cry of people running out to meet them, the noise and running around of children and soothing quiet speeches, interrupted by flaming kisses , domineering to destroy all the sad from the memory. Happy is the family man who has such a corner, but woe to the bachelor!

At the mere name of his, young people are already trembling. ardent hearts, reciprocal tears shine in all his eyes ... There is no equal to him in strength - he is a god! But such is not the destiny, and another is the fate of the writer, who dared to bring out everything that is every minute before his eyes and that indifferent eyes do not see - all the terrible, amazing mire of trifles that have entangled our life, the whole depth of the cold, fragmented, everyday characters with which ours is teeming. an earthly, sometimes bitter and boring road, and with the strong strength of an inexorable chisel that dared to expose them convexly and brightly to the eyes of the people! He cannot gather popular applause, he cannot see grateful tears and the unanimous delight of the souls excited by him; a sixteen-year-old girl with a dizzy head and heroic enthusiasm will not fly towards him; he will not forget in the sweet charm of the sounds he himself has expelled; finally, he cannot escape from the modern court, the hypocritically insensitive modern court, which will call the creatures cherished by him insignificant and low, will allot him a contemptible corner in the row of writers who insult humanity, will give him the qualities of the heroes depicted by him, will take away his heart, and soul, and the divine flame of talent. For the modern court does not recognize that the glasses are equally wonderful, looking around the suns and conveying the movements of unnoticed insects; for not: the modern court recognizes that much depth of soul is needed in order to illuminate the picture taken from a contemptible life, and elevate it to the pearl of creation; for the modern court does not recognize that high enthusiastic laughter is worthy to stand next to high lyrical movement and that there is a whole abyss between it and the antics of a farce buffoon! The modern court does not recognize this and will turn everything into reproach and reproach unrecognized writer; without separation, without answer, without participation, like a familyless traveler, he will be left alone in the middle of the road. Severe is his field, and he will bitterly feel his loneliness.

And for a long time it was determined for me by a wonderful power to go hand in hand with my strange characters to survey the whole vastly rushing life, to survey it through laughter visible to the world and invisible, unknown to it tears! And the time is still far away when, in a different key, a menacing blizzard of inspiration will rise from a head clothed in holy horror and in the brilliance and will sense in a confused trembling the majestic thunder of other speeches ...

On the road! on the road! away the wrinkle that had crept over the forehead and the stern twilight of the face!

At once and suddenly we plunge into life with all its soundless chatter and bells and see what Chichikov is doing.

Which of the domestic prose writers or poets addressed the topic of the purpose of artistic creativity, and in what way is their position consonant with the thoughts of the author of "Dead Souls"?

Read the text fragment below and complete tasks B1-B7; C1-C2.

Happy is the traveler who, after a long, boring road with its cold, slush, mud, sleepy stationmasters, jingling of bells, repairs, squabbles, coachmen, blacksmiths and all kinds of road scoundrels, finally sees a familiar roof with lights rushing towards him, and acquaintances will appear before him rooms, the joyful cry of people running out to meet them, the noise and running of children, and soothing quiet speeches, interrupted by flaming kisses, powerful to destroy all sadness from memory. Happy is the family man who has such a corner, but woe to the bachelor!

public eyes! He cannot gather popular applause, he cannot see grateful tears and the unanimous delight of the souls excited by him; a sixteen-year-old girl with a dizzy head and heroic enthusiasm will not fly towards him; he will not forget in the sweet charm of the sounds he himself has expelled; finally, he cannot escape from the modern court, the hypocritically insensitive modern court, which will call the creatures cherished by him insignificant and low, will allot him a contemptible corner in the row of writers who insult humanity, will give him the qualities of the heroes depicted by him, will take away from him his heart, and soul, and the divine flame of talent. For the modern court does not recognize that the glasses are equally wonderful, looking around the suns and conveying the movements of unnoticed insects; for the modern court does not recognize that much depth of soul is needed in order to illuminate the picture taken from a contemptible life and elevate it to the pearl of creation; for the modern court does not recognize that high enthusiastic laughter is worthy to stand next to high lyrical movement and that there is a whole abyss between it and the antics of a farce buffoon! The modern court does not recognize this and will turn everything into a reproach and reproach to the unrecognized writer; without separation, without answer, without participation, like a familyless traveler, he will be left alone in the middle of the road. Severe is his field, and he will bitterly feel his loneliness.

N. V. Gogol "Dead Souls"

Explanation.

The theme of the poet and poetry, the purpose of artistic creativity is heard in the poems of Pushkin, Lermontov, Nekrasov, Mayakovsky, M. Bulgakov's novel "The Master and Margarita", etc.

Traditionally, progressive poets and writers considered the goal of creativity in Russian literature to be serving the people, their country. In the above passage, Gogol emphasizes that this fulfillment of his appointment as a poet or writer cannot always be appreciated by those whom he serves, often leads to misunderstanding, since, acting as a prophet, the poet (writer) is opposed to the crowd. The same fate awaited the Master in Bulgakov's novel.

Happy is the writer who, past boring, nasty characters, striking in their sad reality, approaches characters that show the high dignity of a man, who from the great pool of daily revolving images chose only a few exceptions, who never changed the sublime order of his lyre, did not descend from the top to his poor, worthless brethren, and, without touching the earth, he plunged into his images far removed from it and exalted. His wonderful destiny is doubly enviable: he is among them, as in his own family; and meanwhile his glory is far and loudly carried. He fumigated human eyes with an intoxicating smoke; he wonderfully flattered them, hiding the sadness in life, showing them a wonderful person. Everyone, applauding, rushes after him and rushes after his solemn chariot. They call him the great world poet, soaring high above all other geniuses of the world, as an eagle soars above other high-flying ones. At his name alone, young passionate hearts are already filled with trembling, response tears shine in all eyes ... There is no equal to him in strength - he is a god! But such is not the destiny, and another is the fate of the writer, who dared to bring out everything that is every minute before his eyes and that indifferent eyes do not see - all the terrible, amazing mire of trifles that have entangled our life, the whole depth of the cold, fragmented, everyday characters with which ours is teeming. an earthly, sometimes bitter and boring road, and with the strong strength of an inexorable chisel that dared to expose them convexly and brightly to the eyes of the people! He cannot gather popular applause, he cannot see grateful tears and the unanimous delight of the souls excited by him; a sixteen-year-old girl with a dizzy head and heroic enthusiasm will not fly towards him; he will not forget in the sweet charm of the sounds he himself has expelled; finally, he cannot escape from the modern court, the hypocritically insensitive modern court, which will call the creatures cherished by him insignificant and low, will allot him a contemptible corner in the row of writers who insult humanity, will give him the qualities of the heroes depicted by him, will take away his heart, and soul, and the divine flame of talent. For the modern court does not recognize that the glasses are equally wonderful, looking around the suns and conveying the movements of unnoticed insects; for not: the modern court recognizes that much depth of soul is needed in order to illuminate the picture taken from a contemptible life, and elevate it to the pearl of creation; for the modern court does not recognize that high enthusiastic laughter is worthy to stand next to high lyrical movement and that there is a whole abyss between it and the antics of a farce buffoon! The modern court does not recognize this and will turn everything into a reproach and reproach to the unrecognized writer; without separation, without answer, without participation, like a familyless traveler, he will be left alone in the middle of the road. Severe is his field, and he will bitterly feel his loneliness.

(N.V. Gogol, Dead Souls.)

Happy is the traveler who, after a long, boring road with its cold, slush, and mud, finally sees his native roof. Happy is the family man who has such a corner, but woe to the bachelor!

Happy is the writer who, past characters that are boring, nasty, striking in their sad reality, approaches characters that show the high dignity of man. Everyone, applauding, rushes after his solemn chariot. But such is not the fate, and another is the fate of the writer who dared to bring out the amazing mire of trifles, everyday characters and expose them convexly and brightly to the eyes of the people! Everything will be turned into a reproach to such a writer. Severe is his field, and he will bitterly feel his loneliness.

And for a long time yet I will walk hand in hand with my heroes and look at life through laughter visible to the world and invisible, unknown to it tears!

On the road! Away with the stern twilight of the face!

Let's plunge into life at once and see what Chichikov is doing.

He woke up at good mood, jumped out of bed and in his nightgown, forgetting his gravity, made two jumps around the room, slapping himself very deftly with the heel of his foot. And without getting dressed, he set to work. He built the fortress himself. What I needed, I wrote, rewrote, and in two hours everything was ready. When he looked at these sheets, at the peasants who had definitely once been peasants, an incomprehensible feeling took possession of him. Each bill of sale seemed to have its own character. The peasants belonging to Korobochka almost all had appendages and nicknames. Plyushkin's note was short in style. Sobakevich's register was striking in its unusual fullness and richness. Looking at the names, he was touched and said: “My fathers, how many of you are stuffed here! what have you been doing in your lifetime? how did you get along?" And his eyes involuntarily settled on one surname - Pyotr Savelyev Disrespect-Kory something. “Oh, how long! Were you a master, or just a man, and what kind of death did you clean up? A! here is the carpenter Stepan Cork, a hero who would be fit for the guard! Tea, all provinces came with an ax ... Where did you clean up? Maxim Telyatnikov, shoemaker. I know, I know you, my dear. “Drunk like a shoemaker,” says the proverb. And what kind of a man is this: Elizabeth Sparrow. Scoundrel Sobakevich, and here he cheated! Even her name was written in a masculine manner not by Elizabeth, but by Elizabeth. Chichikov immediately crossed it out. “Grigory What kind of person were you? Whether you traded as a cab, but your horses and mittens liked the forest tramp, or simply, for no reason at all, turned into a tavern, and then right into the hole and remember your name. Ah, the Russian people! does not like to die a natural death! What are you, pigeons? Chichikov shifted his gaze to the paper with the runaway peasants. - Did you feel bad at Plyushkin's, or do you just like to take a walk? Are you sitting in prisons, or have you stuck with new masters? Abakum Fyrov! you brother what? where, in what places do you wander? Did you get carried away to the Volga and did you fall in love with the free life, sticking to the barge haulers? .. "

“Heh, heh! twelve o'clock!" said Chichikov, glancing at his watch. He quickly dressed himself, splashed himself with cologne, took the papers and went to civil chamber, make a purchase. Before he had time to go out into the street, dragging a bear covered with brown cloth on his shoulders, when at the turn he ran into a gentleman also in bears covered with brown cloth. It was Manilov. They embraced each other. In the most subtle turns, he told how he flew to hug Pavel Ivanovich. Chichikov did not know how to answer. Manilov brought a list of peasants. Chichikov bowed with gratitude. The friends joined hands and went into the ward together, supporting and protecting each other in every possible way. Entering the institution, they found a table of a serf expedition, at which sat a man of prudent years. The whole middle of his face protruded forward and went into his nose - in a word, it was that face that is called in everyday life a pitcher snout. His name was Ivan Antonovich.

I have this business, - said Chichikov, turning to the official, - I bought peasants, I need to make a bill of sale. All papers are ready. So why not finish the job today!

Today it is impossible, - said Ivan Antonovich.

However, as far as speeding things up, Ivan Grigoryevich, the chairman, is a great friend of mine...

Why, Ivan Grigoryevich is not alone, - Ivan Antonovich said sternly,

Chichikov understood the catch that Ivan Antonovich wrapped up and said:

Others won't be offended either.

Go to Ivan Grigoryevich, let him give an order, but the matter will not stand up for us.

Chichikov took a piece of paper out of his pocket, placed it in front of Ivan Antonovich, who

He did not notice at all and immediately covered her with a book. Chichikov was about to point to her, but Ivan Antonovich made a sign that it was not necessary.

Entering the chairman, they saw that he was not alone, Sobakevich was sitting with him. The chairman received Pavel Ivanovich in his arms. Even Sobakevich got up from his chair. Ivan Grigorievich was already notified of the purchase of Chichikov, he began to congratulate Pavel Ivanovich.

Now, - said Chichikov, - I will ask, if possible, to formalize this matter today. Tomorrow I would like to leave the city.

All this is good, fortresses will be made today, but you still live with us.

They called Ivan Antonovich, and the chairman gave the appropriate instructions.

Don't forget, Ivan Grigoryevich, - prompted Sobakevich, - you need two witnesses on each side. Send now to the prosecutor, he is an idle man, the lawyer does all the work for him. The inspector of the medical board, right, at home. Moreover, who is closer - Trukhachevsky, Begushkin, they all burden the earth for nothing!

The chairman sent a clerk after them all, and they sent for the trusted Korobochka, the son of the archpriest. Fortresses seem to have produced good action to the chairman. Looking into Chichikov's eyes, he said:

So that's how! Pavel Ivanovich! So you have purchased.

Yes, why don't you tell Ivan Grigorievich, - Sobakevich entered into the conversation, - what exactly you have acquired. After all, what a people! just gold. After all, I sold them the coachman Mikheev.

Mikheev sold! - said the chairman, - he altered the droshky for me. Only... You told me that he died...

Who, Mikheev died? Sobakevich didn't hesitate at all. - It was his brother who died, and he is now healthier than before. Yes, I not only sold Mikheev. And Cork Stepan, a carpenter, Milushkin, a bricklayer, Telyatnikov Maxim, a shoemaker, - said Sobakevich and waved his hand.

But excuse me, Pavel Ivanovich, - asked the chairman, - how do you buy peasants without land?

On conclusion ... to the Kherson province.

Oh, those are great places.

As the conversation continued, witnesses gathered. Famous Ivan Antonovich managed very quickly. The bills of sale were drawn up.

So, - said the chairman, - it remains only to spray the purchase.

I'm ready, - said Chichikov. - Name the time and place.

No, you misunderstood. You are our guest, we should be treated. Let's go to the police chief. He is a miracle worker with us: he only has to blink, passing by the fish row. Here we will have a bite!

The guests gathered in the house of the police chief. The police chief was in some ways a father figure and benefactor in the city. He visited the merchant's shops as if he were in his own pantry. Merchants loved him precisely because he was not proud. And it’s true, he baptized their children and even though sometimes he fought them hard, but somehow extremely cleverly: he would pat on the shoulder, and give him tea, and play checkers, and ask about everything: how things are, what and how. The opinion of the merchants was that Alexei Ivanovich, "even though he will take you, he will certainly not give you away." The guests, having drunk a glass of vodka, proceeded to the table with forks. Sobakevich from a distance noticed a sturgeon lying on a large platter to the side. He attached himself to the sturgeon and in a quarter of an hour he finished it off, leaving one tail. Having finished with the sturgeon, Sobakevich sat down in an armchair and paid no attention to anything else. The first toast was drunk to the health of the new Kherson landowner. Then for health future wife him, beauties. Everyone approached Pavel Ivanovich and began to beg him to stay at least two more weeks in the city.

Here we marry you here.

Why not get married, - Pavel Ivanovich grinned, - there would be a bride.

The bride will

Chichikov cheered with everyone. It turned out to be incredibly fun. Everyone was talking at once about everything. Our hero already imagined himself a real Kherson landowner. In a cheerful disposition, he began to read poems to Sobakevich, but the latter only blinked his eyes. Chichikov realized that he had already begun to untie himself too much and that it was time to go home. He was sent to the hotel in the prosecutor's droshky. The coachman was an experienced fellow, he ruled with one hand and supported the master with the other. In the hotel, Selifan was given orders: to gather all the newly resettled peasants in order to make a general roll call. Selifan listened, listened, then said to Petrushka: “Undress the master!” Undressed, Chichikov, after tossing and turning in bed for a while, fell asleep resolutely like a Kherson landowner.

"Dead Souls. 07 Volume 1 - Chapter VII"

Happy is the traveler who, after a long, boring road, with its cold, slush, mud, sleepy stationmasters, jingling of bells, repairs, squabbles, coachmen, blacksmiths and all kinds of road scoundrels, finally sees a familiar roof with lights rushing towards him, and will appear before familiar rooms, the joyful cry of people running out to meet them, the noise and running of children, and soothing quiet speeches, interrupted by flaming kisses, powerful to destroy everything sad from memory. Happy is the family man who has such a corner, but woe to the bachelor!

Happy is the writer who, past boring, nasty characters that amaze with their sad reality, approaches characters that show the high dignity of a man, who from the great pool of daily revolving images chose only a few exceptions, who never changed the sublime order of his lyre, did not descend from the top his to his poor, insignificant brothers and, not touching the earth, all plunged into his images far torn away from her and exalted. His wonderful destiny is doubly enviable: he is among them, as in his own family; and meanwhile his glory is far and loudly carried. He fumigated human eyes with an intoxicating smoke; he wonderfully flattered them, hiding the sadness in life, showing them a wonderful person. Everything, applauding, rushes after him and rushes after his solemn chariot. They call him the great world poet, soaring high above all other geniuses of the world, as an eagle soars above other high-flyers. At his name alone, young passionate hearts are already filled with trembling, response tears shine in all eyes ... There is no equal to him in strength - he is a god! But such is not the fate, and another is the fate of the writer, who dared to bring out everything that is every minute before the eyes and that indifferent eyes do not see, all the terrible, amazing mire of trifles that have entangled our life, the whole depth of the cold, fragmented, everyday characters with which our earthly life is teeming. , sometimes a bitter and boring road, and with the strong strength of an inexorable chisel that dared to expose them convexly and brightly in the eyes of the people! He cannot gather popular applause, he cannot see grateful tears and the unanimous delight of the souls excited by him; a sixteen-year-old girl with a dizzy head and heroic enthusiasm will not fly towards him; he will not forget in the sweet charm of the sounds he himself has expelled; finally, he cannot avoid the modern court, the hypocritically insensitive modern court, which will call the creatures cherished by him insignificant and low, will allot him a contemptible corner in the row of writers who insult humanity, will give him the qualities of the heroes depicted by him, will take away from him both heart and soul , and the divine flame of talent. For the modern court does not recognize that the glasses are equally wonderful, looking around the suns and conveying the movements of unnoticed insects; for the modern court does not recognize that much depth of soul is needed in order to illuminate the picture taken from a contemptible life and elevate it to the pearl of creation; for the modern court does not recognize that high enthusiastic laughter deserves to stand next to high lyrical movement and that there is a whole abyss between it and the antics of a farce buffoon! The modern court does not recognize this and will turn everything into a reproach and reproach to the unrecognized writer; without separation, without answer, without participation, like a familyless traveler, he will be left alone in the middle of the road. Severe is his field, and he will bitterly feel his loneliness.

And for a long time yet it is determined for me by the wondrous power to walk hand in hand with my strange heroes, to survey the whole vastly rushing life, to survey it through laughter visible to the world and invisible, unknown to it tears! And the time is still far away when, in a different way, a formidable blizzard of inspiration will rise from a head clothed in holy horror and in the brilliance, and the majestic thunder of other speeches will be felt in a confused trembling ...

On the road! on the road! away the wrinkle that had crept over the forehead and the stern twilight of the face! At once and suddenly let's plunge into life, with all its soundless chatter and bells, and see what Chichikov is doing.

Chichikov woke up, stretched his arms and legs, and felt that he had slept well. After lying on his back for about two minutes, he snapped his hand and remembered with a beaming face that he now had almost four hundred souls. He immediately jumped out of bed, not even looking at his face, which he sincerely loved and in which, as it seems, he found the chin most attractive of all, for he very often boasted of it in front of one of his friends, especially if this happened while shaving. "Look," he usually said, stroking it with his hand, "what a chin I have: quite round!" But now he did not look either at his chin or at his face, but directly, as he was, he put on morocco boots with carved designs of all kinds of colors, which the city of Torzhok briskly sells, thanks to the negligent impulses of Russian nature, and, in Scots, in one short shirt, forgetting his sedateness and decent middle years, he made two jumps around the room, slapping himself very deftly with the heel of his foot. Then at the same moment he set to work: he rubbed his hands in front of the casket with the same pleasure as the incorruptible zemstvo court, which has left for the investigation, rubs them, approaching the snack, and at the same hour took the papers out of it. He wanted to finish everything as soon as possible, without putting it off indefinitely. He himself decided to compose fortresses, write and rewrite, so as not to pay anything to clerks. The formal order was completely known to him; he briskly set out in large letters: one thousand eight hundred such and such a year, then after that in small letters: I, the landowner such and such, and everything that follows. Everything was ready by two o'clock. When he later looked at these leaves, at the peasants who, for sure, were once peasants, worked, plowed, drank, drove, deceived the bar, or maybe they were just good peasants, then some strange, incomprehensible to him feeling took possession of him. Each of the little notes seemed to have some special character, and through that, it was as if the peasants themselves received their own own character. The peasants who belonged to Korobochka almost all had appendages and nicknames. Plyushkin's note was notable for its brevity in syllable: often only the initial words of names and patronymics were displayed, and then two dots. Sobakevich's register was striking in its unusual fullness and thoroughness: not one of the muzhik's laudable qualities was omitted: one was said to be "a good carpenter", to the other it was attributed "thinks and does not take drunkenness." It was also indicated in detail who was the father and who was the mother, and what kind of behavior both were; only one Fedotov wrote: "The father is unknown, but was born from a yard girl Kapitolina, but of good character and not a thief." All these details gave a special air of freshness: it seemed as if the peasants had been alive only yesterday. Looking at their names for a long time, he was touched by the spirit and, sighing, said: “My fathers, how many of you are stuffed here! what have you, my hearts, been doing in your lifetime? And his eyes involuntarily rested on one surname, it was famous Peter Savelyev Disrespect-trough, which once belonged to the landowner Korobochka. Again, he could not restrain himself from saying: "Oh, what a long one, in the whole line you parted! Were you a master or just a peasant, and what kind of death did you clean up? In a tavern or in the middle of the road, did a sleepy clumsy convoy run over you? Cork Stepan, a carpenter, of exemplary sobriety. Ah! here he is, Stepan Probka, here is that hero who would have been fit for the guard! Tea, all the provinces came with an ax in his belt and boots on his shoulders, ate a penny of bread and two dried fish, and in a purse, tea , every time he dragged home the security officers by a hundred, and maybe he sewed the state one into canvas pants or stuffed it into a boot - where did you get it? from the crossbar, flopped to the ground, and only some Uncle Mikhei standing near you, scratching his head with his hand, said: “Oh, Vanya, you got hurt!”, and he himself, tied with a rope, climbed into your place. Heh, shoemaker, drunk as a shoemaker, says the proverb. I know, I know you, my dear; if you want, I’ll tell you your whole story: you studied with a German who fed you all together, beat you on the back with a belt for inaccuracy and didn’t let you go out to hang out, and you were a miracle, not a shoemaker, and the German didn’t praise you, burning with his wife or with a comrade. And how did your teaching end: "But now I'll start my own house," you said, "yes, not like a German, what stretches out of a penny, but suddenly I'll get rich." And so, having given the master a decent quitrent, you started a little shop, having collected a bunch of orders, and went to work. I got some cheap rotten leather somewhere and won, exactly, twice on each boot, but after two weeks your boots burst, and you were scolded in the meanest way. And now your shop is deserted, and you go to drink and wallow in the streets, saying: "No, it's bad in the world! There is no life for a Russian person: the Germans are always in the way." What kind of man is this: Elizabeth Sparrow? Fu you abyss: a woman! how did she get in here? Scoundrel Sobakevich, and here he cheated!" Chichikov was right: it was, for sure, a woman. How she got there is unknown, but she was so skillfully spelled out that from a distance one could mistake her for a peasant, and even her name ended in the letter ?, then - there is not Elizabeth, but Elizabeth. However, he did not take this with respect and immediately crossed her out. What kind of person were you? Whether he worked as a cab driver, and, having got a troika and a matting wagon, forever renounced his home, his native lair, and went to trudge with the merchants to the fair. Did you give your soul to God on the road, or did your friends leave you for some fat and red-cheeked soldier's girl, or did your belt mittens and three squat but strong skates get accustomed to the forest tramp, or, perhaps, yourself, lying on the floor, I thought and thought, but for no reason, I turned into a tavern, and then right into the hole, and remember your name. Ah, the Russian people! does not like to die a natural death! And what are you, my darlings?" he continued, turning his eyes to the paper, where Plyushkin's fugitive souls were marked: "even though you are still alive, what's the use of you! the same as the dead, and where are you now your fast legs? Did you feel bad at Plyushkin's, or are you simply walking through the woods out of your will and tearing up passers-by? Are you sitting in prisons, or are you stuck with other masters and plow the land? Eremey Karyakin, Nikita Volokita, his son Anton Volokita - these, and by the nickname it is clear that they are good runners. Popov, a courtyard man, should be literate: I did not pick up a knife, I tea, but stole in a noble way. But now you, without a passport, were caught by the police captain. You stand cheerfully at the confrontation. "Whose are you?" says the police captain, having screwed you with some strong word at this sure opportunity. "Such and such a landowner," you answer briskly. "Why are you here?" says the captain. "Released for quitrent," you answer without hesitation. "Where is your passport?" - "At the owner, the tradesman Pimenov." - "Call Pimenov! Are you Pimenov?" - "I'm Pimenov." - "Did he give you his passport?" - "No, he did not give me any passport." - "What are you lying about?" says the police captain with the addition of some strong words. "That's right," you answer briskly: "I didn't give it to him, because I came home late, but I gave it to Antip Prokhorov, the bell ringer." - "Call the ringer! Did he give you a passport?" - "No, I did not receive a passport from him." - "Why are you lying again!" says the police captain, sealing his speech with some strong words. "Where is your passport?" - "I had it," you say briskly: "yes, it may be, you see, somehow dropped it on the road." - "And the soldier's overcoat," says the police captain, nailing you again in addition to some strong word: "Why did you steal it? And the priest also has a chest with copper money?" - "No way," you say, without moving: "I have never been in the thieves' business." - "And why did they find your overcoat?" - "I can not know: it's true, someone else brought it." - "Oh, you, beast, beast!" says the police captain, shaking his head and holding his hips. "And stuff stocks on his feet, and take him to jail." - "Excuse me! I would love to," you answer. And so, taking a snuffbox out of your pocket, you amiably treat some two invalids who are stuffing stocks on you, and ask them how long they have been retired and what war they were in. And now you are living in prison, while your case is pending in court. And the court writes: to escort you from Tsarevokokshaisk to the prison of such and such a city, and that court writes again: to escort you to some Vesyegonsk, and you move from prison to prison and say, examining the new dwelling: “No, here is the Vesyegonsk prison it will be cleaner: even if it’s in grandmas, there is a place, and there is more society! - "Abakum Fyrov! What are you, brother, what? Where, in what places are you wandering? Have you drifted to the Volga, and have you fallen in love with a free life, sticking to barge haulers? .." Here Chichikov stopped and thought a little. What was he thinking about? Did he think about the fate of Abakum Fyrov, or did he think about it, by himself, as every Russian thinks, no matter what age, rank and condition, when he thinks about the revelry of a wide life. And really, where is Fyrov now? He walks noisily and cheerfully on the grain pier, having arranged with the merchants. Flowers and ribbons on the hat; dances, songs, the whole square is in full swing, and meanwhile the porters, with shouts, abuse and prodding, hooking nine poods on their backs with a hook, noisily pour peas and wheat into deep vessels, bring down coolies with oats and cereals, and far away they can see all over heaps of heaps of sacks heaped into a pyramid, like kernels, and the entire grain arsenal peeps out enormously, until it is all loaded into deep ships-suryak and rushes like a goose along with spring ice endless fleet. There you will earn enough, barge haulers! and together, as you used to walk and rage, you will set to work and sweat, dragging the strap under one endless song, like Rus'.

"Ehe, heh! twelve o'clock!" said Chichikov at last, glancing at his watch. "Why am I so dug in? Yes, even if I did the job, otherwise, for no reason at all, I first blocked the nonsense, and then thought. What a fool I really am!" Having said this, he changed his Scottish costume for a European one, tightened his full stomach with a buckle, sprinkled himself with cologne, took a warm cap in his hands and, with papers under his arm, went to the civil chamber to make a bill of sale. He was in a hurry not because he was afraid to be late, he was not afraid to be late, for the chairman was a familiar person and could extend and shorten his presence at his will, like the ancient Zeus of Homer, who lengthened the days and sent fast nights when it was necessary to stop scolding heroes dear to him or give them a means to fight; but he himself felt a desire to bring things to an end as soon as possible; until then everything seemed to him restless and awkward; nevertheless, the thought came: that the souls are not quite real and that in such cases such a burden is always needed to be quickly removed from the shoulders. Before he had time to go out into the street, thinking about all this and at the same time dragging a bear covered with brown cloth on his shoulders, when at the very turn into the alley he ran into a gentleman also in bears covered with brown cloth and in a warm cap with ears. The gentleman cried out, it was Manilov. They immediately embraced each other and remained on the street in this position for about five minutes. The kisses on both sides were so strong that both front teeth almost hurt all day. Manilov was left with joy only his nose and lips on his face, his eyes completely disappeared. For a quarter of an hour he held Chichikov's hand in both hands and heated it terribly. In turns of the most subtle and pleasant, he told how he flew to hug Pavel Ivanovich; the speech was concluded with such a compliment, which is only appropriate for one girl with whom they go to dance. Chichikov opened his mouth, still not knowing how to thank himself, when suddenly Manilov took out from under his fur coat a piece of paper rolled up into a tube and tied with a pink ribbon, and handed it very deftly with two fingers.

"What's this?"

"Guys".

"A!" He immediately unrolled it, ran his eyes over and marveled at the purity and beauty of the handwriting: "Nicely written," he said, "no need to rewrite. And a border around! Who made the border so skillfully?"

"Well, don't ask," said Manilov.

"Oh, my God! I'm really ashamed that I caused so many difficulties."

"There are no difficulties for Pavel Ivanovich."

Chichikov bowed with gratitude. Upon learning that he was going to the chamber to complete the bill of sale, Manilov expressed his readiness to accompany him. Friends joined hands and walked together. At every slight rise, or hill, or step, Manilov supported Chichikov and almost lifted him with his hand, adding with a pleasant smile that he would not allow Pavel Ivanovich to bruise his legs in any way. Chichikov felt ashamed, not knowing how to thank him, for he felt that he was somewhat heavy. In such mutual services they finally reached the square where the offices were located; a large three-story stone house, all white as chalk, probably to represent the purity of the souls of the posts located in it; the other buildings on the square did not match the immensity of the stone house. These were: a guardhouse, near which a soldier stood with a gun, two or three cabbies, and finally long fences with famous fence inscriptions and drawings scratched with charcoal and chalk; there was nothing else in this secluded, or, as we say, beautiful square. From the windows of the second and third floors, the incorruptible heads of the priests of Themis sometimes protruded and at the same moment hid again: probably at that time the chief entered the room. The friends did not go up, but ran up the stairs, because Chichikov, trying to avoid being held by the arms by Manilov, quickened his pace, and Manilov, for his part, flew forward, trying not to let Chichikov get tired, and therefore both were very out of breath when entered a dark corridor. Neither in the corridors nor in the rooms was their gaze struck by cleanliness. They didn't care about her back then; and that which was dirty, remained dirty, without taking on an attractive appearance. Themis just what it is, in a negligee and a dressing gown received guests. It would be necessary to describe the office rooms through which our heroes passed, but the author has a strong timidity towards all public places. If he happened to pass them even in a brilliant and ennobled form, with lacquered floors and tables, he tried to run as quickly as possible, humbly lowering and lowering his eyes to the ground, and therefore he does not know at all how everything prospers and flourishes there. Our heroes saw a lot of paper, both rough and white, bent heads, wide necks, tailcoats, coats of provincial cut, and even just some kind of light gray jacket, which came off very abruptly, which, turning its head to one side and laying it almost on the very paper, wrote out briskly and some kind of protocol about the acquisition of land or a description of an estate seized by some peaceful landowner, quietly living out his life under the court, having made himself and children and grandchildren under his protection, but in fits and starts short expressions uttered hoarse voice: "Lend, Fedosey Fedoseevich, business for No. 368!" "You're always going to drag the cork out of the state-owned inkwell somewhere!" Sometimes a more majestic voice, no doubt one of the chiefs, was heard imperatively: "Now, copy it! otherwise they will take off their boots and you will sit with me for six days without eating." The noise from the feathers was great and looked like several wagons with brushwood were passing through a forest littered a quarter of an arshin with withered leaves.

Chichikov and Manilov went up to the first table, where two more officials were sitting. young years, and asked: "Let me know where the affairs of the fortresses are here?"

"What do you need?" said both officials, turning around.

"And I need to apply."

"And what did you buy this?"

"I would like to know first where the fortress table is, here or elsewhere?"

"Yes, tell me first what you bought and at what price, so we'll tell you where, otherwise you can't know."

Chichikov immediately saw that the officials were simply curious, like all young officials, and wanted to give more weight and significance to themselves and their occupations.

"Listen, dear ones," he said, "I know very well that all the affairs of the fortresses, no matter the price, are in one place, and therefore I ask you to show us the table, and if you do not know what you have is done, so we will ask others." The officials did not answer this, one of them only pointed his finger at the corner of the room, where some old man was sitting at the table, rewriting some papers. Chichikov and Manilov walked between the tables straight to him. The old man was very attentive.

"Let me know," said Chichikov with a bow: "is there business on the fortresses?"

The old man raised his eyes and said with an emphasis: "There are no cases of fortresses here."

"Where is it?"

"It's on a fortress expedition."

"And where is the fortress expedition?"

"This is at Ivan Antonovich's."

"And where is Ivan Antonovich?"

The old man pointed to another corner of the room. Chichikov and Manilov went to Ivan Antonovich. Ivan Antonovich had already turned one eye back and looked sideways at them, but at the same moment he plunged even more attentively into writing.

"Let me know," said Chichikov with a bow: "is there a fortress table here?"

Ivan Antonovich did not seem to have heard, and was completely absorbed in the papers without answering anything. It was suddenly evident that he was already a man of prudent years, not like a young chatterer and a helicopter dancer. Ivan Antonovich seemed to be well over forty years old; his hair was black and thick; the entire middle of his face protruded forward and went into his nose, in a word, it was that face that is called in the hostel a jug snout.

"May I ask if there is a fortress expedition here?" Chichikov said.

"Here," said Ivan Antonovich, turning his pitcher-shaped snout and taking a sip again to write.

“But my business is this: I bought peasants from various owners of the local district for the conclusion: there is a bill of sale, it remains to be done.”

"Are there any sellers?"

"Some are here, and others have a power of attorney."

"Did you bring the request?"

"I also brought a request. I would like ... I need to hurry ... so, can't I, for example, finish the job today?"

"Yes, today! It's impossible today," said Ivan Antonovich. "We need to make more inquiries, whether there are still prohibitions." "However, as far as speeding things up, Ivan Grigoryevich, the chairman, is a great friend of mine..."

"But Ivan Grigoryevich is not alone; there are others," said Ivan Antonovich sternly.

Chichikov understood the catch, which Ivan Antonovich wrapped up, and said: "Others will not be offended either, I myself served, I know the matter ..."

"Go to Ivan Grigoryevich," said Ivan Antonovich in a somewhat gentler voice: "let him give the order to whom he follows, but the case will not stand up for us."

Chichikov, taking a piece of paper out of his pocket, placed it in front of Ivan Antonovich, which he did not notice at all and immediately covered it with a book. Chichikov was about to point it out to him, but Ivan Antonovich indicated with a movement of his head that it was not necessary to show it.

"Here, he will lead you into the presence!" said Ivan Antonovich, nodding his head, and one of the clergy who were right there, who made sacrifices to Themis with such zeal that both sleeves burst at the elbows and the lining had long since climbed out of there, for which he received a collegiate registrar in his time, served our friends as once Virgil served Dante, and led them into the presence room, where there were only wide chairs, and in them, in front of the table behind a mirror and two thick books, sat one, like the sun, the chairman. At this point, the new Virgil felt such reverence that he did not dare to put his foot there and turned back, showing his back, worn out like a matting, with something stuck somewhere chicken feather. Entering the hall of presence, they saw that the chairman was not alone; Sobakevich was sitting next to him, completely eclipsed by the mirror. The arrival of the guests made an exclamation, government chairs were pushed back noisily. Sobakevich also got up from his chair and became visible from all sides with his long sleeves. The chairman took Chichikov into his arms, and the room of presence resounded with kisses; asked each other about health; it turned out that both had lower back pain, which was immediately attributed to a sedentary life. The chairman, it seemed, had already been notified by Sobakevich about the purchase, because he began to congratulate, which at first somewhat confused our hero, especially when he saw that both Sobakevich and Manilov, both sellers with whom the matter had been settled privately, were now standing together facing each other. to friend. However, he thanked the chairman and, turning immediately to Sobakevich, asked:

"And how is your health?"

"Thank God, I won't complain," Sobakevich said. And sure enough, there was nothing to complain about: it was more likely that the iron could catch a cold and cough than this marvelously molded landowner.

"Yes, you have always been famous for your health," said the chairman, "and your late father was also a strong man."

"Yes, one went after a bear," answered Sobakevich.

"It seems to me, however," said the chairman, "that you would also knock down the bear if you wanted to go against him."

"No, I won't knock you down," answered Sobakevich, "the dead man was stronger than me." And, sighing, he continued: “No, now the wrong people; even though it’s my life, what kind of life?

"Why is your life not red?" said the chairman.

"Not good, not good," said Sobakevich, shaking his head. "Just judge, Ivan Grigoryevich: I've been living in my fifth decade, I've never been sick; even if my throat hurts, a boil or a boil jumped out ... No, it's not good! Someday you will have to pay for it." Here Sobakevich plunged into melancholy.

"Eck it!" both Chichikov and the chairman thought at the same time: "What the hell are you trying to blame!"

"I have a letter for you," said Chichikov, taking Plyushkin's letter out of his pocket.

"From whom?" said the chairman and, having opened it, exclaimed: “Ah! from Plyushkin. He still vegetates in the world. What fate! richest man! And now..."

"A dog," said Sobakevich, "a swindler, starved all people to death."

"If you please, if you please," said the chairman, after reading the letter: "I am ready to be an attorney. When do you want to make a bill of sale, now or after?"

“Now,” said Chichikov, “I will even ask you, if possible, today; because tomorrow I would like to leave the city: I brought both the fortress and the request.”

"It's all good, just as you wish, we won't let you out so early. Fortresses will be made today, but you still live with you. Now I'll give an order," he said and opened the door to the office room, full of officials , which have become like industrious bees scattered over honeycombs, if only honeycombs can be likened to clerical affairs. "Ivan Antonovich here?"

"Call him here!"

Already known to readers Ivan Antonovich the pitcher snout appeared in the hall of presence and bowed respectfully.

"Here, Ivan Antonovich, take all these fortresses..."

“Don’t forget, Ivan Grigoryevich,” Sobakevich picked up, “witnesses will be needed, although two on each side. Inspector of the medical board, he is also an idle man and, probably, at home, if he has not gone somewhere to play cards, and there are many people who are closer: Trukhachevsky, Begushkin - they all burden the earth for nothing!

"Exactly, exactly!" said the chairman, and at the same hour sent a clerk after them all.

"I'll also ask you," said Chichikov, "send for the attorney of one landowner, with whom I also made a deal, the son of Archpriest Father Kiril; he serves with you."

"Well, let's send for him!" said the chairman. "Everything will be done, but don't give anything to officials, I ask you about this. My friends don't have to pay." Having said this, he immediately gave some order to Ivan Antonovich, which apparently did not please him. The fortresses seemed to have had a good effect on the chairman, especially when he saw that all the purchases were worth almost a hundred thousand rubles. For several minutes he looked into Chichikov's eyes with an expression of great pleasure, and finally said:

"Got it," answered Chichikov.

"Good deed! Right, good deed!"

"Yes, I see for myself that I could not undertake a better deed. Be that as it may, a person's goal is still not defined if he has not finally become a firm foot on a solid foundation, and not on some free-thinking chimera of youth." Here he very opportunely scolded for liberalism, and rightly so, all young people. But it is remarkable that in his words there was still some kind of unsteadiness, as if he immediately said to himself: "Oh, brother, you are lying, and even more so!" He did not even glance at Sobakevich and Manilov, for fear of seeing something on their faces. But he was afraid in vain: Sobakevich's face did not move, and Manilov, enchanted by the phrase, only shook his head approvingly with pleasure, plunging into the position in which a music lover is when the singer outdid the violin itself and squeaked such a thin note bird throat.

"But why don't you tell Ivan Grigorievich," Sobakevich replied: "what exactly? You acquired exactly this; and you, Ivan Grigorievich, why don't you ask what purchase they made? After all, what a people! just gold. After all, I sold them and carriage maker Mikheev".

"No, as if Mikheev was also sold?" said the chairman. "I know Mikheev, a carriage maker: a glorious master; he remade the droshky for me. Just excuse me, how ... After all, you told me that he died ..."

"Who, Mikheev died?" said Sobakevich, not at all embarrassed. “It was his brother who died, but he was alive and became healthier than before. The other day he set up such a britzka that you can’t do it in Moscow either. He really only works for one sovereign and work.”

"Yes, Mikheev is a glorious master," said the chairman, "and I even wonder how you could part with him."

“Yes, it’s like Mikheev alone! And Stepan Cork, a carpenter, Milushkin, a brickmaker, Maxim Telyatnikov, a shoemaker, - after all, everyone went, he sold everyone!” And when the chairman asked why they went, being people necessary for the house and artisans, Sobakevich answered, waving his hand: "Ah! I just found dope: give it, I say, I will sell it, and I sold it foolishly!" Whereupon he hung his head as if he himself repented of this matter, and added: "Here is a gray-haired man, but he still has not gained his mind."

"But excuse me, Pavel Ivanovich," said the chairman, "how do you buy peasants without land? Is it a conclusion?"

"To the conclusion."

"Well, the conclusion is another matter. But in what places?"

"To the places ... to the Kherson province."

"Oh, there are excellent lands, only not inhabited," said the chairman, and responded with great praise about the growth of the grasses there. "Is there enough land?"

"Sufficient, as much as necessary for the purchased peasants."

"River or pond?"

"River. However, there is a pond." Saying this, Chichikov inadvertently glanced at Sobakevich, and although Sobakevich was still motionless, it seemed to him that it was written on his face: "Oh, you're lying! There is hardly a river and a pond, and indeed the whole earth!"

While the conversations continued, little by little witnesses began to appear: the public prosecutor familiar to the reader, the inspector of the medical board, Trukhachevsky, Begushkin and others, according to Sobakevich, burdening the earth for nothing. Many of them were completely unfamiliar to Chichikov: those who were missing and superfluous were recruited right there from the chamber officials. They also brought not only the son of Archpriest Father Cyril, but even the Archpriest himself. Each of the witnesses placed himself with all his merits and ranks, some in reverse type, some in jambs, some simply, almost upside down, placing letters that were not even seen in the Russian alphabet. The famous Ivan Antonovich managed very quickly, the fortresses were written down, marked, entered in the book and where they should be, with the acceptance of half a percent and for a print in Vedomosti, and Chichikov had to pay a very small amount. Even the chairman gave an order to take only half of the duty money from him, and the rest was attributed in some unknown way to the account of some other petitioner.

"So," said the chairman, when it was all over, "the only thing left now is to spray the purchase."

"I'm ready," Chichikov said. "It depends only on you to set the time. It would be a sin on my part if, for such a pleasant company, I did not open another or third bottle of sparkling wine."

“No, you didn’t take the matter that way: we’ll put on the effervescent one ourselves,” said the chairman: “it’s our duty, our duty. You are our guest: we should be treated. Do you know what, gentlemen! let's all go, just as we are, to the police chief; he is a miracle worker with us: he has only to blink, passing by a fish row or a cellar, so we, you know, how we will have a bite! and at this opportunity and in a whistle.

No one could refuse such an offer. Witnesses already at one name of the fish row felt an appetite; all the same hour they took up caps and hats, and the presence ended. As they passed through the chancery, Ivan Antonovich, the pitcher-snout, bowing politely, said quietly to Chichikov: "The peasants were bought for a hundred thousand, and for their labors they gave only one little white one."

"Why, what peasants," Chichikov answered him, also in a whisper: "an empty and worthless people, and not worth half." Ivan Antonovich realized that the visitor was of a strong character and would not give more.

"And why did they buy a soul from Plyushkin?" Sobakevich whispered in his other ear.

"And why was Sparrow credited?" Chichikov said to him in reply.

"Which sparrow?" Sobakevich said.

"Yes, a woman, Elisaveta Sparrow, also a letter? They put it at the end."

"No, I did not attribute any Sparrow," said Sobakevich and went to the other guests.

The guests finally arrived in a crowd at the house of the police chief. The police chief was, as it were, a miracle worker: as soon as he heard what was the matter, at that very moment he called to the quarterly, brisk fellow in varnished over-the-knee boots, and, it seems, he whispered only two words in his ear, but added only: "You understand!", and there, in another room, during the time that the guests were playing whist, beluga, sturgeons, salmon, pressed caviar, freshly salted caviar, herring, stellate sturgeon, cheeses, smoked tongues and balyks appeared on the table, it was all from the side of the fish row. Then there were additions from the host's side, kitchen products: a pie with a head, which included the cartilage and cheeks of a 9-pood sturgeon, another pie with milk mushrooms, spinners, butter, vzvarentsy. The police chief was in some ways a father figure and benefactor in the city. He was among the citizens just like in his own family, and he visited the shops and the gostiny yard as if he were in his own pantry. In general, he sat, as they say, in his place and comprehended his position to perfection. It was even difficult to decide whether he was created for a place or a place for him. The matter was so cleverly handled that he received twice as much income against all his predecessors, and meanwhile earned the love of the whole city. The first merchants loved him very much, precisely because he was not proud; and it’s true that he baptized their children, made friends with them, and even though sometimes he fought them hard, but somehow extremely cleverly: he would pat on the shoulder, and laugh, and drink tea, promise to come himself to play checkers, ask about everything : how are you, what and how. If he finds out that the cub is somehow sick, and he will advise the medicine; in a word, well done! He’ll ride in a droshky, give order, and meanwhile he’ll say a word to that or another: “What, Mikheich! We should someday finish playing uphill.” "Yes, Alexei Ivanovich," he answered, taking off his cap, "it would be necessary." "Well, brother, Ilya Paramonych, come to me to look at the trotter: it will overtake yours, and put your own in the running ones; we'll try." The merchant, who was obsessed with the trotter, smiled at this with particular eagerness, as they say, and, stroking his beard, said: "Let's try, Alexei Ivanovich!" Even all the inmates, who usually took off their hats at this time, looked at each other with pleasure and seemed to want to say: "Aleksey Ivanovich good man" In a word, he managed to acquire a perfect nationality, and the opinion of the merchants was such that Alexei Ivanovich "even though he will take it, he will certainly not give you away."

Noticing that the appetizer was ready, the police chief suggested that the guests finish their whist after breakfast, and they all went into that room, from where the wafting smell had long begun to pleasantly tickle the nostrils of the guests, and where Sobakevich had long looked in the door, outlining from a distance a sturgeon lying aside on a large platter. The guests, having drunk a glass of vodka of a dark, olive color, which happens only on Siberian transparent stones, from which seals are cut in Rus', proceeded from all sides with forks to the table and began to reveal, as they say, each of his character and inclinations, leaning on someone caviar, some for salmon, some for cheese. Sobakevich, leaving all these trifles without any attention, attached himself to the sturgeon, and while they drank, talked and ate, he drove it all in a little over a quarter of an hour, so that when the police chief remembered him and, saying: , gentlemen, will this work of nature appear?", approached him with a fork along with others, then he saw that only one tail remained from the work of nature; and Sobakevich hissed as if it were not him, and, going up to the plate, which was far away from the others, he poked with a fork at some kind of dried little fish. Having finished the sturgeon, Sobakevich sat down in an armchair and no longer ate or drank, but only screwed up his eyes and blinked. The police chief did not seem to like to spare wine; there were no toasts. The first toast was drunk, as readers, perhaps, will guess for themselves, to the health of the new Kherson landowner, then to the prosperity of his peasants and their happy resettlement, then to the health of his future wife, a beauty, which tore a pleasant smile from the lips of our hero. They approached him from all sides and began to beg him convincingly to stay at least for two weeks in the city: “No, Pavel Ivanovich! as you wish yourself, it turns out, only to cool down the hut: on the threshold, and back! No, you will spend time with us Here we are marrying you: isn't it true, Ivan Grigoryevich, we are marrying him?"

"We're getting married, we're getting married!" picked up by the chairman. "No matter how you push your hands and feet, we will marry you! No, father, you got here, so don't complain. We don't like joking."

"Well, why bother with your arms and legs," said Chichikov, grinning, "marriage is not yet such a thing that there would be a bride."

"There will be a bride, how not to be? Everything will be, everything you want! .."

"And if it will..."

"Bravo, stay!" everyone shouted: "Vivat, cheers, Pavel Ivanovich! hurray!" And everyone came up to him to clink glasses with glasses in their hands. Chichikov cheered with everyone. "No, no, not yet!" those who were more cheerful spoke, and again clucked their glasses; then they climbed for the third time to clink glasses, and clinked glasses for the third time. In a short time, everyone became unusually cheerful. The chairman, who was a sweet man, when he was cheerful, hugged Chichikov several times, saying in an outpouring of the heart: "You are my soul! my mother!", And even, snapping his fingers, went to dance around him, singing famous song : "Oh, you are such and such a Kamarinsky man." After the champagne, the Hungarian champagne was opened, which gave even more spirit and amused the society. Whist was decidedly forgotten; they argued, shouted, talked about everything, about politics, even about military affairs, expressed free thoughts, for which at another time they themselves would have flogged their children. We immediately resolved many of the most difficult issues. Chichikov never felt in such a cheerful disposition, imagined himself already a real Kherson landowner, talked about various improvements: about a three-field economy, about the happiness and bliss of two souls, and began to read Sobakevich a message in Werther's verse to Charlotte, to which he only clapped his eyes , sitting in armchairs, because after the sturgeon felt a great urge to sleep. Chichikov himself realized that he had already begun to untie himself too much, asked for a carriage and took advantage of the prosecutor's droshky. The prosecutor's coachman, as it turned out on the road, was an experienced fellow, because he drove with only one hand, and thrusting the other back, he held the master with it. Thus, already on the prosecutor's droshky, he drove to his hotel, where for a long time all sorts of nonsense was spinning in his tongue: a blond bride with a blush and a dimple on her right cheek, Kherson villages, capitals. Selifan was even given some economic orders to gather all the newly resettled peasants in order to make a personal roll call to everyone. Selifan listened in silence for a very long time and then left the room, saying to Petrushka: "Go undress the master!" Petrushka began to take off his boots and almost dragged the master himself to the floor along with them. But at last the boots were taken off, the master undressed properly, and after tossing and turning for some time on the bed, which creaked mercilessly, he fell asleep as a resolutely Kherson landowner. And Petrushka, meanwhile, carried out pantaloons and a lingonberry-colored tailcoat with a spark into the corridor, which, spreading it on a wooden hanger, began to beat with a whip and a brush, throwing dust on the entire corridor. Preparing to take them off, he looked down from the gallery and saw Selifan returning from the stable. Their eyes met and instinctively understood each other: the master had fallen asleep, and it was possible to look in some places. At the same hour, after taking his tailcoat and trousers into the room, Petrushka went downstairs, and both went off together, saying nothing to each other about the purpose of the trip, and joking along the way about something completely foreign. They made a short walk: they just crossed to the other side of the street, to the house that was opposite the hotel, and entered a low, smoke-stained glass door that led almost to the basement, where a lot of people were already sitting at wooden tables: both shaved and not shaved. beards, and in unsheathed sheepskin coats, and simply in a shirt, and some in a frieze overcoat. What Petrushka and Selifan did there, God knows them, but they left an hour later, holding hands, maintaining perfect silence, showing each other great attention and warning each other against all angles. Hand in hand, not letting go of each other, they climbed the stairs for a quarter of an hour, finally overcame it and went up. Petrushka stopped for a minute in front of his low bed, thinking about how to lie down more decently, and lay down completely across, so that his legs rested on the floor. Selifan himself lay down on the same bed, placing his head on Petrushka's belly and forgetting that he should not have slept here at all, but perhaps in the men's room, if not in the stable near the horses. Both fell asleep at the same moment, snoring of unheard-of density, to which the master from the other room answered with a thin, nasal whistle. Soon, after them, everything calmed down, and the hotel fell into a deep sleep; only in one little window was light still visible, where lived some lieutenant who had come from Ryazan, a big, apparently, hunter for boots, because he had already ordered four pairs and was constantly trying on a fifth. Several times he went up to the bed in order to throw them off and lie down, but could not in any way: the boots, as if, were well-tailored, and for a long time he raised his leg and examined the briskly and wonderfully stitched heel.

Nikolai Gogol - Dead Souls. 07 Volume 1 - Chapter VII, read text

Happy is the writer who misses the characters. Dead Souls

"Dead Souls. 07 Volume 1 - Chapter VII"

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