Page:Dead Souls - A Poem by Nikolay Gogol - vol2.djvu/269

Rh to pay forty roubles, fifty even, but give me something good. … What I think is: either have a thing that really is the best, or else have nothing at all. Isn't that right?'

'Perfectly right!' said Tchitchikov. 'Why give oneself a lot of trouble if not to have really good things.'

'Show me some cloth at a moderate price,' they heard a voice say behind them, which seemed to Tchitchikov familiar. He turned round and saw Hlobuev. It did not seem that he was buying cloth from extravagance, for the coat he had on was very shabby.

'Ah, Pavel Ivanovitch! Do let me have a talk with you at last. There's no meeting with you anywhere. I have been to find you several times; you were never at home.'

'My good friend, I have been so busy that upon my soul I have had no time.' He looked from side to side as though trying to escape from an interview, and he saw Murazov coming into the shop. 'Afanasy Vassilyevitch! Ah, upon my word!' said Tchitchikov. 'What a delightful meeting!' and after him Vishnepokromov repeated, 'Afanasy Vassilyevitch!' Hlobuev repeated, 'Afanasy Vassilyevitch!' And last of all the well-bred shopkeeper, taking his hat from his head and flourishing it with his arm stretched out at full length, brought out, 'Afanasy Vassilyevitch, our humble respects!' On all the faces appeared that doglike ingratiating servility which sinful man exhibits before a millionaire,