Page:Dead Souls - A Poem by Nikolay Gogol - vol1.djvu/48

36 'What do you think of our town?' inquired Madame Manilov. 'Have you passed your time there pleasantly?'

'A very nice town, a fine town,' replied Tchitchikov, 'and I have spent a most agreeable time: the society is most amiable.'

'And what did you think of our governor?' said Madame Manilov.

'He really is a most estimable and genial man, isn't he?' added Manilov.

'Perfectly true,' assented Tchitchikov, 'a most estimable man. And how thoroughly he throws himself into his duties, how thoroughly he understands them! If only there were more men like him!'

'How well he understands, you know, entertaining all sorts; what delicacy he displays in his manners!' Manilov chimed in with a smile, and he almost closed his eyes with gratification like a tom-cat who is being gently scratched behind his ears.

'A most affable and agreeable man,' continued Tchitchikov, 'and what a clever man he is! I could never have imagined it: how well he embroiders all sorts of patterns. He showed me some of his handiwork, a purse: not many ladies could have embroidered it so well.'

'And the deputy-governor, isn't he a charming man?' said Manilov, again screwing up his eyes.

'A most worthy man, most worthy,' answered Tchitchikov.

'And let me ask you, what was your impression