Мертві душі
Chapter 7
Weareinearnestonthissubject.”
“ButwhyshouldIfightyoutoothandnail?”saidChichikov,smiling.“Marriagewouldnotcomeamisstome,wereIbutprovidedwithabetrothed.”
“Thenabetrothedyoushallhave.Whynot?Wewilldoasyouwish.”
“Verywell,”assentedChichikov.
“Bravo,bravo!”thecompanyshouted.“LonglivePaulIvanovitch!Hurrah!Hurrah!”Andwiththateveryoneapproachedtoclinkglasseswithhim,andhereadilyacceptedthecompliment,andaccepteditmanytimesinsuccession.Indeed,asthehourspassedon,thehilarityofthecompanyincreasedyetfurther,andmorethanoncethePresident(amanofgreaturbanitywhenthoroughlyinhiscups)embracedthechiefguestofthedaywiththeheartfeltwords,“Mydearestfellow!Myownmostpreciousoffriends!”Nay,heevenstartedtocrackhisfingers,todancearoundChichikov’schair,andtosingsnatchesofapopularsong.TothechampagnesucceededHungarianwine,whichhadtheeffectofstillfurtherhearteningandenliveningthecompany.Bythistimeeveryonehadforgottenaboutwhist,andgivenhimselfuptoshoutinganddisputing.Everyconceivablesubjectwasdiscussed,includingpoliticsandmilitaryaffairs;andinthisconnectionguestsvoicedjejuneopinionsfortheexpressionofwhichtheywould,atanyothertime,havesoundlyspankedtheiroffspring.
