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You are my guest." And Manilov pointed towards the doorway. "Make no difficulty about it, I pray," urged Chichikov. "I beg of you to make no difficulty about it, but to pass into the room." "Pardon me, I will not. Never could I allow so distinguished and so welcome a guest as yourself to take second place." "Why call me 'distinguished, my dear sir? I beg of you to proceed."
On that facade he and his wife and friend would drink afternoon tea in the open air, and discuss interesting subjects; after which, in a fine carriage, they would drive to some reunion or other, where with their pleasant manners they would so charm the company that the Imperial Government, on learning of their merits, would raise the pair to the grade of General or God knows what that is to say, to heights whereof even Manilov himself could form no idea.
And Manilov, with a slight gesture of the head, looked meaningly into Chichikov's face, while displaying in his every feature, including his closely-compressed lips, such an expression of profundity as never before was seen on any human countenance unless on that of some particularly sapient Minister of State who is debating some particularly abstruse problem.
"How like you our town?" queried Madame. "Have you spent an agreeable time in it?" "Very," replied Chichikov. "The town is an exceedingly nice one, and I have greatly enjoyed its hospitable society." "And what do you think of our Governor?" "Yes; IS he not a most engaging and dignified personage?" added Manilov. "He is all that," assented Chichikov.
In short, almost every man has his hobby or his leaning; yet Manilov had none such, for at home he spoke little, and spent the greater part of his time in meditation though God only knows what that meditation comprised! Nor can it be said that he took much interest in the management of his estate, for he never rode into the country, and the estate practically managed itself.
"Nay; be YOU pleased to do so." "And why?" "For the reason which I have stated." And Manilov smiled his very pleasantest smile. Finally the pair entered simultaneously and sideways; with the result that they jostled one another not a little in the process. "Allow me to present to you my wife," continued Manilov. "My dear Paul Ivanovitch."
"Then, that being so, it is another matter, and I have nothing to urge against it," said Manilov, apparently reassured to the full. "Very well," remarked Chichikov. "Then we need only to agree as to the price." "As to the price?" began Manilov, and then stopped.
"What charming children!" said Chichikov as he gazed at the pair. "And how old are they?" "The eldest is eight," replied Manilov, "and the younger one attained the age of six yesterday." "Themistocleus," went on the father, turning to his first-born, who was engaged in striving to free his chin from the bib with which the footman had encircled it.
Taking up his hat, therefore, he rose to make his adieus. "What? Are you departing already?" said Manilov, suddenly recovering himself, and experiencing a sense of misgiving. At that moment his wife sailed into the room. "Is Paul Ivanovitch leaving us so soon, dearest Lizanka?" she said with an air of regret. "Yes. Surely it must be that we have wearied him?" her spouse replied.
At the same time, Manilov and his wife were quite satisfied with each other. More than eight years had elapsed since their marriage, yet one of them was for ever offering his or her partner a piece of apple or a bonbon or a nut, while murmuring some tender something which voiced a whole-hearted affection. "Open your mouth, dearest" thus ran the formula "and let me pop into it this titbit."
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