Мертвые души
Chapter 2
Inshort,oneneeds,beforedoingthis,tocarryoutaprolongedprobingwiththeaidofaninsightsharpenedintheacuteschoolofresearch.
OnlyGodcansaywhatManilov’srealcharacterwas.Aclassofmenexistswhomtheproverbhasdescribedas“menuntothemselves,neitherthisnorthat—neitherBogdanofthecitynorSelifanofthevillage.”AndtothatclasswehadbetterassignalsoManilov.Outwardlyhewaspresentableenough,forhisfeatureswerenotwantinginamiability,butthatamiabilitywasaqualityintowhichthereenteredtoomuchofthesugaryelement,sothathiseverygesture,hiseveryattitude,seemedtoconnoteanexcessofeagernesstocurryfavourandcultivateacloseracquaintance.Onfirstspeakingtotheman,hisingratiatingsmile,hisflaxenhair,andhisblueeyeswouldleadonetosay,“Whatapleasant,good-temperedfellowheseems!”yetduringthenextmomentortwoonewouldfeelinclinedtosaynothingatall,and,duringthethirdmoment,onlytosay,“Thedevilaloneknowswhatheis!”Andshould,thereafter,onenothastentodepart,onewouldinevitablybecomeoverpoweredwiththedeadlysenseofennuiwhichcomesoftheintuitionthatnothingintheleastinterestingistobelookedfor,butonlyaseriesofwearisomeutterancesofthekindwhichareapttofallfromthelipsofamanwhosehobbyhasoncebeentouchedupon.ForeverymanHAShishobby.
