Мертві душі

           Andofthosereflectionstheupshotwasthathedecidedtojoinhimselftothestoutersectionoftheguests,amongwhomhehadalreadyrecognisedseveralfamiliarfaces—namely,thoseofthePublicProsecutor(amanwithbeetlingbrowsovereyeswhichseemedtobesayingwithawink,“Comeintothenextroom,myfriend,forIhavesomethingtosaytoyou”—though,inthemain,theirownerwasamanofgraveandtaciturnhabit),ofthePostmaster(aninsignificant-lookingindividual,yetawould-bewitandaphilosopher),andofthePresidentoftheLocalCouncil(amanofmuchamiabilityandgoodsense).ThesethreepersonagesgreetedChichikovasanoldacquaintance,andtotheirsalutationsherespondedwithasidelong,yetasufficientlycivil,bow.Also,hebecameacquaintedwithanextremelyunctuousandapproachablelandownernamedManilov,andwithalandownerofmoreuncouthexteriornamedSobakevitch—thelatterofwhombegantheacquaintancebytreadingheavilyuponChichikov’stoes,andthenbegginghispardon.Next,Chichikovreceivedanofferofa“cutin”atwhist,andacceptedthesamewithhisusualcourteousinclinationofthehead.Seatingthemselvesatagreentable,thepartydidnotrisetherefromtillsuppertime;andduringthatperiodallconversationbetweentheplayersbecamehushed,asisthecustomwhenmenhavegiventhemselvesuptoareallyseriouspursuit.EventhePostmaster—atalkativemanbynature—hadnosoonertakenthecardsintohishandsthanheassumedanexpressionofprofoundthought,pursedhislips,andretainedthisattitudeunchangedthroughoutthegame.