Мертвые души
Chapter 2
Infact,IshouldbeveryhappytocalluponHIM.”
“Neverwouldhepermitthat,yourExcellency.Hewouldgreatlyprefertobethefirsttomakeadvances.”AndChichikovaddedtohimself:“WhatastrokeofluckthoseGeneralswere!Otherwise,theLordknowswheremytonguemighthavelandedme!”
Atthismomentthedoorintotheadjoiningroomopened,andthereappearedinthedoorwayagirlasfairasarayofthesun—sofair,indeed,thatChichikovstaredatherinamazement.Apparentlyshehadcometospeaktoherfatherforamoment,buthadstoppedshortonperceivingthattherewassomeonewithhim.Theonlyfaulttobefoundinherappearancewasthefactthatshewastoothinandfragile-looking.
“MayIintroduceyoutomylittlepet?”saidtheGeneraltoChichikov.“Totellyouthetruth,Idonotknowyourname.”
“Thatyoushouldbeunacquaintedwiththenameofonewhohasneverdistinguishedhimselfinthemannerofwhichyouyourselfcanboastisscarcelytobewonderedat.”AndChichikovexecutedoneofhissidelong,deferentialbows.
“Well,Ishouldbedelightedtoknowit.”
“ItisPaulIvanovitchChichikov,yourExcellency.”Withthatwenttheeasybowofamilitarymanandtheagilebackwardmovementofanindia-rubberball.
“Ulinka,thisisPaulIvanovitch,”saidtheGeneral,turningtohisdaughter.“Hehasjusttoldmesomeinterestingnews—namely,thatourneighbourTientietnikovisnotaltogetherthefoolwehadatfirstthoughthim.Onthecontrary,heisengageduponaveryimportantwork—uponahistoryoftheRussianGeneralsof1812.
