Page:Dead Souls - A Poem by Nikolay Gogol - vol1.djvu/112

100 'No, take him, feel his ears.'

To gratify him Tchitchikov felt the dog's ears, saying as he did so: 'Yes, he will make a good dog.'

'And feel how cold his nose is. Take hold of it.'

Not wishing to offend him Tchitchikov touched the dog's nose too, and said: 'He'll have a good scent.'

'He's a real bull-dog,' Nozdryov went on. 'I must own I've been keen to get a bull-dog for ever so long. Here, Porfiry, take him away.'

Porfiry, putting his arm round the puppy, carried him off to the chaise.

'I say, Tchitchikov, you absolutely must come back with me now; it's only three miles, we shall whisk there like the wind, and then, if you like, you can go on to Sobakevitch.'

'Well,' thought Tchitchikov to himself, 'why shouldn't I really go to Nozdryov's. Isn't he as good as any one else and he has just lost money too. He is ready for anything, as one can see. So one might get him to give one something for nothing. Very well, let us go,' he said, 'but on condition you don't keep me; my time's precious.'

'Well, you darling, that's right! That's capital! Stay! I must give you a kiss for that.'

Hereupon Nozdryov and Tchitchikov kissed each other.

'First-rate; we will set off, the three of us!'

'No, let me off, please,' said the fair man, 'I must get home.'