Dead Souls - Gogol Nikolai Vasilievich.pdf - Cove Systems

something seemed to be wanting in the
establishment. For instance, although the
drawing-room was filled with beautiful
furniture, and upholstered in some fine silken
material which clearly had cost no
inconsiderable sum, two of the chairs lacked
any covering but bast, and for some years past
the master had been accustomed to warn his
guests with the words, "Do not sit upon these
chairs; they are not yet ready for use." Another
room contained no furniture at all, although, a
few days after the marriage, it had been said:
"My dear, to-morrow let us set about procuring
at least some TEMPORARY furniture for this
room." Also, every evening would see placed
upon the drawing-room table a fine bronze
candelabrum, a statuette representative of the
Three Graces, a tray inlaid with
mother-of-pearl, and a rickety, lop-sided
copper invalide. Yet of the fact that all four
articles were thickly coated with grease
neither the master of the house nor the
mistress nor the servants seemed to entertain
the least suspicion. At the same time, Manilov