Мертві душі
Chapter 2
“Nay,butevenTHATwereworthnothinghadnotoneafriendwithwhomtoshareone’slife,”remarkedManilov.
“True,true,”agreedChichikov.“Withoutafriend,whatareallthetreasuresintheworld?‘Possessnotmoney,’awisemanhassaid,‘butrathergoodfriendstowhomtoturnincaseofneed.’”
“Yes,PaulIvanovitch,”saidManilovwithaglancenotmerelysweet,butpositivelyluscious—aglanceakintothemixturewhichevencleverphysicianshavetorenderpalatablebeforetheycaninduceahesitantpatienttotakeit.“Consequentlyyoumayimaginewhathappiness—whatPERFECThappiness,sotospeak—thepresentoccasionhasbroughtme,seeingthatIampermittedtoconversewithyouandtoenjoyyourconversation.”
“ButWHATofmyconversation?”repliedChichikov.“Iamaninsignificantindividual,and,beyondthat,nothing.”
“Oh,PaulIvanovitch!”criedtheother.“Permitmetobefrank,andtosaythatIwouldgivehalfmypropertytopossessevenaPORTIONofthetalentswhichyoupossess.”
“Onthecontrary,Ishouldconsideritthehighesthonourintheworldif—”
Thelengthstowhichthismutualoutpouringofsoulwouldhaveproceededhadnotaservantenteredtoannounceluncheonmustremainamystery.
“Ihumblyinviteyoutojoinusattable,”saidManilov.“Also,youwillpardonusforthefactthatwecannotprovideabanquetsuchasistobeobtainedinourmetropolitancities?Wepartakeofsimplefare,accordingtoRussiancustom—weconfineourselvestoshtchi10,butwedosowithasingleheart.Come,Ihumblybegofyou.
