Мертвые души

           Stilllinkedtogether—neveroncereleasingtheirmutualhold—theyspentthenextquarterofanhourinattemptingtonegotiatethestairsoftheinn;butatlengtheventhatascenthadbeenmastered,andtheyproceededfurtherontheirway.Haltingbeforehismeanlittlepallet,Petrushkastoodawhileinthought.Hisdifficultywashowbesttoassumearecumbentposition.Eventuallyhelaydownonhisface,withhislegstrailingoverthefloor;afterwhichSelifanalsostretchedhimselfuponthepallet,withhisheadrestinguponPetrushka’sstomach,andhismindwhollyobliviousofthefactthatheoughtnottohavebeensleepingthereatall,butintheservant’squarters,orinthestablebesidehishorses.Scarcelyamomenthadpassedbeforethepairwereplungedinslumberandemittingthemostraucoussnores;towhichtheirmaster(nextdoor)respondedwithsnoresofawhistlingandnasalorder.Indeed,beforelongeveryoneintheinnhadfollowedtheirsoothingexample,andthehostelrylayplungedincompleterestfulness.Onlyinthewindowoftheroomofthenewly-arrivedlieutenantfromRiazandidalightremainburning.Evidentlyhewasadevoteeofboots,forhehadpurchasedfourpairs,andwasnowtryingonafifth.Severaltimesheapproachedthebedwithaviewtotakingoffthebootsandretiringtorest;buteachtimehefailed,forthereasonthatthebootsweresoalluringintheirmakethathehadnochoicebuttoliftupfirstonefoot,andthentheother,forthepurposeofscanningtheirelegantwelts.