Мертвые души
Chapter 2
Thewallswerepaintedasortofblueish-greycolour,andthefurnitureconsistedoffourchairs,asettee,andatable—thelatterofwhichboreafewsheetsofwriting-paperandthebookofwhichIhavebeforehadoccasiontospeak.Butthemostprominentfeatureoftheroomwastobacco,whichappearedinmanydifferentguises—inpackets,inatobaccojar,andinalooseheapstrewnaboutthetable.Likewise,bothwindowsillswerestuddedwithlittleheapsofash,arranged,notwithoutartifice,inrowsofmoreorlesstidiness.Clearlysmokingaffordedthemasterofthehouseafrequentmeansofpassingthetime.
“Permitmetoofferyouaseatonthissettee,”saidManilov.“Hereyouwillbequieterthanyouwouldbeinthedrawing-room.”
“ButIshouldprefertosituponthischair.”
“Icannotallowthat,”objectedthesmilingManilov.“Thesetteeisspeciallyreservedformyguests.Whetheryouchooseorno,uponityouMUSTsit.”
AccordinglyChichikovobeyed.
“Andalsoletmehandyouapipe.”
“No,Ineversmoke,”answeredChichikovcivilly,andwithanassumedairofregret.
“Andwhy?”inquiredManilov—equallycivilly,butwitharegretthatwaswhollygenuine.
“BecauseIfearthatIhaveneverquiteformedthehabit,owingtomyhavingheardthatapipeexercisesadesiccatingeffectuponthesystem.”
“Thenallowmetotellyouthatthatismereprejudice.Nay,Iwouldevengosofarastosaythattosmokeapipeisahealthierpracticethantotakesnuff.
