Мертвые души
Chapter 1
AboveallthingsdidTientietnikovtakeitintohisheadthat,whenconversingwithhissuperiors,Lienitsinbecame,ofthemoment,astickofluscioussweetmeat,butthat,whenconversingwithhisinferiors,heapproximatedmoretoavinegarcruet.Certainitisthat,likeallpetty-mindedindividuals,Lienitsinmadeanoteofanyonewhofailedtoofferhimagreetingonfestivaldays,andthatherevengedhimselfuponanyonewhosevisiting-cardhadnotbeenhandedtohisbutler.Eventuallytheyouth’saversionalmostattainedthepointofhysteria;untilhefeltthat,comewhatmight,heMUSTinsultthefellowinsomefashion.Tothattaskheappliedhimselfconamore;andsothoroughlythathemetwithcompletesuccess.Thatistosay,heseizedonanoccasiontoaddressLienitsininsuchfashionthatthedelinquentreceivednoticeeithertoapologiseortoleavetheService;andwhenofthesealternativeshechosethelatterhisunclecametohim,andmadeaterrifiedappeal.“ForGod’ssakerememberwhatyouaredoing!”hecried.“Tothinkthat,afterbeginningyourcareersowell,youshouldabandonitmerelyforthereasonthatyouhavenotfalleninwiththesortofDirectorwhomyouprefer!Whatdoyoumeanbyit,whatdoyoumeanbyit?Wereotherstoregardthingsinthesameway,theServicewouldfinditselfwithoutasingleindividual.Reconsideryourconduct—foregoyourprideandconceit,andmakeLienitsinamends.”
“But,dearUncle,”thenephewreplied,“thatisnotthepoint.
