Мертві душі
Chapter 2
“Thetownisanexceedinglyniceone,andIhavegreatlyenjoyeditshospitablesociety.”
“AndwhatdoyouthinkofourGovernor?”
“Yes;IShenotamostengaginganddignifiedpersonage?”addedManilov.
“Heisallthat,”assentedChichikov.“Indeed,heisamanworthyofthegreatestrespect.Andhowthoroughlyheperformshisdutyaccordingtohislights!Wouldthatwehadmorelikehim!”
“Andthetactfulnesswithwhichhegreetseveryone!”addedManilov,smiling,andhalf-closinghiseyes,likeacatwhichisbeingtickledbehindtheears.
“Quiteso,”assentedChichikov.“Heisamanofthemosteminentcivilityandapproachableness.Andwhatanartist!NevershouldIhavethoughthecouldhaveworkedthemarvelloushouseholdsamplerswhichhehasdone!Somespecimensofhisneedleworkwhichheshowedmecouldnotwellhavebeensurpassedbyanyladyintheland!”
“AndtheVice-Governor,too—heisaniceman,ishenot?”inquiredManilovwithrenewedblinkingsoftheeyes.
“Who?TheVice-Governor?Yes,amostworthyfellow!”repliedChichikov.
“AndwhatoftheChiefofPolice?Isitnotafactthathetooisinthehighestdegreeagreeable?”
“Veryagreeableindeed.Andwhataclever,well-readindividual!WithhimandthePublicProsecutorandthePresidentoftheLocalCouncilIplayedwhistuntilthecocksutteredtheirlastmorningcrow.Heisamostexcellentfellow.”
“Andwhatofhiswife?”queriedMadameManilov.“Isshenotamostgraciouspersonality?”
“Oneofthebestamongmylimitedacquaintance,”agreedChichikov.
