Мертві душі
Chapter 7
Lastly,he,inthemostpleasantandexquisitetermspossible,intimatedtohisfriendthathehadjustbeenonhiswaytoembracePaulIvanovitch;anduponthisfollowedacomplimentofthekindwhichwouldmorefittinglyhavebeenaddressedtoaladywhowasbeingaskedtoaccordapartnerthefavourofadance.Chichikovhadopenedhismouthtoreply—thoughevenHEfeltatalosshowtoacknowledgewhathadjustbeensaid—whenManilovcuthimshortbyproducingfromunderhiscoatarollofpapertiedwithredriband.
“Whathaveyouthere?”askedChichikov.
“Thelistofmysouls.”
“Ah!”AndasChichikovunrolledthedocumentandranhiseyeoverithecouldnotbutmarvelattheelegantneatnesswithwhichithadbeeninscribed.
“Itisabeautifulpieceofwriting,”hesaid.“Infact,therewillbenoneedtomakeacopyofit.Also,ithasaborderarounditsedge!Whoworkedthatexquisiteborder?”
“Donotaskme,”saidManilov.
“DidYOUdoit?”
“No;mywife.”
“Dear,dear!”Chichikovcried.“TothinkthatIshouldhaveputhertosomuchtrouble!”
“NOTHINGcouldbetoomuchtroublewherePaulIvanovitchisconcerned.”
Chichikovbowedhisacknowledgements.Next,onlearningthathewasonhiswaytothemunicipalofficesforthepurposeofcompletingthetransfer,Manilovexpressedhisreadinesstoaccompanyhim;whereforethepairlinkedarminarmandproceededtogether.
