Page:Dead Souls - A Poem by Nikolay Gogol - vol2.djvu/199

Rh General Betrishtchev, my intimate friend, and I may say my benefactor, asked me to visit his relations. Relations of course are relations, but to some extent I may say I am going on my own account, for apart from the benefit that may accrue from the point of view of the digestion, the mere fact of seeing the world and what people are doing … say what you will, is a living book, a second education.'

'Yes, to have a look at different places is not a bad thing.'

'Your observation is most just,' replied Tchitchikov, 'it certainly is not a bad thing. You see things that otherwise you would not see, and meet people you would not otherwise meet. Talk with some people is as precious as gold. Teach me, honoured Konstantin Fyodorovitch, teach me, I appeal to you. I await your precious words as heavenly manna.'

Skudronzhoglo was embarrassed. 'But what, teach you what? I have had a very second-rate education myself.'

'Wisdom, honoured sir, wisdom! the wisdom that will enable me to manage an estate as you do, and like you to succeed in making it yield a revenue not in dreams but in real fact; to obtain like you, possessions that are not visionary, but are real and actual, and so performing the duty of a citizen to win the respect of my countrymen.'

'Do you know what?' said Skudronzhoglo, 'stay a day here with me. I will show you all