Page:Dead Souls - A Poem by Nikolay Gogol - vol2.djvu/163

Rh 'Dirty, your Excellency,' Tchitchikov prompted him.

'"Love us dirty, for any one will love us clean." Ha, ha, ha, ha!' And the general's huge frame began quivering with laughter. His shoulders which had once worn fringed epaulettes shook as though they were still wearing fringed epaulettes.

Tchitchikov permitted himself also a peal of laughter, but out of respect for the general he pitched it on the letter e: 'He, he, he, he, he!' and his frame too began quivering with laughter, though his shoulders did not shake, for they had never worn fringed epaulettes.

'I can fancy what a nice set the unshaven fellows were!' said the general, still laughing.

'Yes, your Excellency, in any case three days sitting up without sleep is like keeping a fast: they were exhausted, they were exhausted, your Excellency,' said Tchitchikov, still laughing.

Ulinka sank into a low chair and put her hand before her lovely eyes; as though vexed that there was no one who could share her indignation, she said: 'I don't know, but it merely makes me angry.'

And indeed the feelings in the hearts of the three persons present were extremely strange in their incongruity. One was amused by the uncompromising tactlessness of the German; another was amused at the funny trick the rogues had played: the third was distressed that an injustice had been committed with impunity. All that was lacking was a fourth to ponder over