Мертвые души
Chapter 2
Surelyitmustbethatwehaveweariedhim?”herspousereplied.
“Bynomeans,”assertedChichikov,pressinghishandtohisheart.“Inthisbreast,madam,willabideforeverthepleasantmemoryofthetimewhichIhavespentwithyou.Believeme,Icouldconceiveofnogreaterblessingthantoreside,ifnotunderthesameroofasyourselves,atalleventsinyourimmediateneighbourhood.”
“Indeed!”exclaimedManilov,greatlypleasedwiththeidea.“HowsplendiditwouldbeifyouDIDcometoresideunderourroof,sothatwecouldreclineunderanelmtreetogether,andtalkphilosophy,anddelvetotheveryrootofthings!”
“Yes,itWOULDbeaparadisaicalexistence!”agreedChichikovwithasigh.NeverthelessheshookhandswithMadame.“Farewell,sudarina,”hesaid.“AndfarewelltoYOU,myesteemedhost.DonotforgetwhatIhaverequestedyoutodo.”
“RestassuredthatIwillnot,”respondedManilov.“OnlyforacoupleofdayswillyouandIbepartedfromoneanother.”
Withthatthepartymovedintothedrawing-room.
“Farewell,dearestchildren,”ChichikovwentonashecaughtsightofAlkidandThemistocleus,whowereplayingwithawoodenhussarwhichlackedbothanoseandonearm.“Farewell,dearestpets.Pardonmeforhavingbroughtyounopresents,but,totellyouthetruth,Iwasnot,untilmyvisit,awareofyourexistence.However,nowthatIshallbecomingagain,Iwillnotfailtobringyougifts.Themistocleus,toyouIwillbringasword.Youwouldlikethat,wouldyounot?”
“Ishould,”repliedThemistocleus.
