Page:Dead Souls - A Poem by Nikolay Gogol - vol2.djvu/241

Rh town. I should have had to do that in any case, not on my own account, but for the children. They must have teachers for scripture, music, and dancing. You can't get that in the country, you know.'

'Hasn't a crust of bread, but wants his children to be taught dancing!' thought Tchitchikov.

'Queer!' thought Platonov.

'Well, we must have something to sprinkle the bargain with,' said Hlobuev. 'Hey, Kiryushka! bring us a bottle of champagne, my lad.'

'Hasn't a crust of bread, but has champagne!' thought Tchitchikov.

Platonov did not know what to think.

The champagne was brought in. They drank three glasses each and grew livelier. Hlobuev unbent and became clever and charming; witticisms and anecdotes were continually dropping from him. Much knowledge of men and the world was apparent in his talk! He had seen many things so well and so truly; he sketched in a few words the neighbouring landowners so aptly and smartly; he saw the failings and mistakes of all of them so clearly; he knew so well the history of the spendthrift gentry—and why and how and through what they had come to ruin; he could reproduce their most trifling habits with such originality and insight, that they were both fascinated by his talk and were prepared to declare that he was a very intelligent man.

'Listen,' said Platonov, taking him by the