Мертві душі
Chapter 2
Probablyhewasamanofgratefulheartwhowishedtorepayhisemployersforthegoodtreatmentwhichhehadreceived.Once,however,hisfeaturesassumedalookofgrimnessas,fixinghiseyesuponhisvis-a-vis,theboys,hetappedsternlyuponthetable.ThishappenedatajuncturewhenThemistocleushadbittenAlkidontheear,andthesaidAlkid,withfrowningeyesandopenmouth,waspreparinghimselftosobinpiteousfashion;until,recognisingthatforsuchaproceedinghemightpossiblybedeprivedofhisplate,hehastenedtorestorehismouthtoitsoriginalexpression,andfelltearfullytognawingamuttonbone—thegreasefromwhichhadsooncoveredhischeeks.
EverynowandagainthehostesswouldturntoChichikovwiththewords,“Youareeatingnothing—youhaveindeedtakenlittle;”butinvariablyherguestreplied:“Thankyou,Ihavehadmorethanenough.Apleasantconversationisworthallthedishesintheworld.”
Atlengththecompanyrosefromtable.Manilovwasinhighspirits,and,layinghishanduponhisguest’sshoulder,wasonthepointofconductinghimtothedrawing-room,whensuddenlyChichikovintimatedtohim,withameaninglook,thathewishedtospeaktohimonaveryimportantmatter.
“Thatbeingso,”saidManilov,“allowmetoinviteyouintomystudy.”Andheledthewaytoasmallroomwhichfacedtheblueoftheforest.“Thisismysanctum,”headded.
“Whatapleasantapartment!”remarkedChichikovasheeyeditcarefully.And,indeed,theroomdidnotlackacertainattractiveness.
