Мертві душі
Chapter 2
Againthetutor’sattitudebecamewhollyoneofconcentration.
“St.Petersburg,”repliedThemistocleus.
“Andwhatothercity?”
“Moscow,”respondedtheboy.
“Cleverlittledear!”burstoutChichikov,turningwithanairofsurprisetothefather.“Indeed,Ifeelboundtosaythatthechildevincesthegreatestpossiblepotentialities.”
“Youdonotknowhimfully,”repliedthedelightedManilov.“Theamountofsharpnesswhichhepossessesisextraordinary.Ouryoungerone,Alkid,isnotsoquick;whereashisbrother—well,nomatterwhathemayhappenupon(whetheruponacowbugoruponawater-beetleoruponanythingelse),hislittleeyesbeginjumpingoutofhishead,andherunstocatchthething,andtoinspectit.ForHIMIamreservingadiplomaticpost.Themistocleus,”addedthefather,againturningtohisson,“doyouwishtobecomeanambassador?”
“Yes,Ido,”repliedThemistocleus,chewingapieceofbreadandwagginghisheadfromsidetoside.
Atthismomentthelacqueywhohadbeenstandingbehindthefutureambassadorwipedthelatter’snose;andwellitwasthathedidso,sinceotherwiseaninelegantandsuperfluousdropwouldhavebeenaddedtothesoup.Afterthattheconversationturneduponthejoysofaquietlife—thoughoccasionallyitwasinterruptedbyremarksfromthehostessonthesubjectofactingandactors.Meanwhilethetutorkepthiseyesfixeduponthespeakers’faces;andwheneverhenoticedthattheywereonthepointoflaughingheatonceopenedhismouth,andlaughedwithenthusiasm.
