Мертвые души
Chapter 7
True,hehaddifferencesofopinionwiththem,andseriousdifferencesatthat;butalwaysthesewereskilfullyadjustedbyhisslappingtheoffendedonesjoviallyontheshoulder,drinkingaglassofteawiththem,promisingtocallattheirhousesandplayagameofchess,askingaftertheirbelongings,and,shouldhelearnthatachildoftheirswasill,prescribingthepropermedicine.Inshort,heborethereputationofbeingaverygoodfellow.
Onperceivingthefeasttobeready,thehostproposedthathisguestsshouldfinishtheirwhistafterluncheon;whereuponallproceededtotheroomwhenceforsometimepastanagreeableodourhadbeenticklingthenostrilsofthosepresent,andtowardsthedoorofwhichSobakevitchinparticularhadbeenglancingsincethemomentwhenhehadcaughtsightofahugesturgeonreposingonthesideboard.Afteraglassfulofwarm,olive-colouredvodkaapiece—vodkaofthetinttobeseenonlyinthespeciesofSiberianstonewhereofsealsarecut—thecompanyappliedthemselvestoknife-and-forkwork,and,insodoing,evincedtheirseveralcharacteristicsandtastes.
