Мертвые души

           ThisledPlushkintoconcludethathisguestmustbethekindofunconscionablefoolwho,whilepretendingtohavebeenamemberoftheCivilService,hasinrealityservedinthearmyandrunafteractresses;whereforetheoldmannolongerdisguisedhisdelight,butcalleddownblessingsalikeuponChichikov’sheadanduponthoseofhischildren(hehadnevereveninquiredwhetherChichikovpossessedafamily).Next,heshuffledtothewindow,and,tappingoneofitspanes,shoutedthenameof“Proshka.”Immediatelysomeoneranquicklyintothehall,and,aftermuchstampingoffeet,burstintotheroom.ThiswasProshka—athirteen-year-oldyoungsterwhowasshodwithbootsofsuchdimensionsasalmosttoengulfhislegsashewalked.ThereasonwhyhehadenteredthusshodwasthatPlushkinonlykeptonepairofbootsforthewholeofhisdomesticstaff.Thisuniversalpairwasstationedinthehallofthemansion,sothatanyservantwhowassummonedtothehousemightdonthesaidbootsafterwadingbarefootedthroughthemudofthecourtyard,andentertheparlourdry-shod—subsequentlyleavingthebootswherehehadfoundthem,anddepartinginhisformerbarefootedcondition.Indeed,hadanyone,onaslushywinter’smorning,glancedfromawindowintothesaidcourtyard,hewouldhaveseenPlushkin’sservitorsperformingsaltatoryfeatsworthyofthemostvigorousofstage-dancers.

           “Lookatthatboy’sface!”saidPlushkintoChichikovashepointedtoProshka.“Itisstupidenough,yet,layanythingaside,andinatricehewillhavestolenit.